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a Gammack scholarship, and resigned his University scholarship to hold it. E. E. Hall was elected to the other Gammack scholarship, which was vacant by resignation. W. J. C. Wilson, W. Simpson, and W. Chrystall passed the medical preliminary examination. Fifteen boys matriculated—J. G. Lancaster, J. F. H. Carpenter, W. F. Alexander, and F. D. Banks won senior scholarships given by the North Canterbury Board of Education. E. E. Hall, H. S. Cordery, and J. W. Harvey obtained, respectively the third, eleventh, and nineteenth (equal) places in the Junior Civil Service examination. Among old pupils A. G. Henderson and E. L. Mcllroy obtained their M.A. degree with third-class honours, and T. A. Murphy with second-class honours. A. E. Craddoek won the Senior University Scholarship for physical science. A. Muir was placed first among those said to have passed the Senior Civil Service examination with distinction. As regards the staff, Mr. T. W. Cane has been made a full-time master. There were thirty-eight free boys attending the school during the first term of 1897, in addition to thirteen Board scholars, who receive their scholarships from the North Canterbury Board of Education. The free boys will in future be composed— (a) Of boys who come next in order to the winners of the scholarships given by the North Canterbury Board of Education, and who obtain at least half-marks, five of whom will be elected every year with exhibitions tenable for three years ; (b) of boys elected at the school first term entrance examination, four of whom will be elected every year, with exhibitions tenable for two years ; (c) of eight boys elected for one year from among those already in the school, and called "Foundation exhibitioners." (a) and (b) are called respectively "Governors' exhibitioners" and " Entrance exhibitioners." In addition to these, special boys are from time to time "continued on " free for one year. There were four such boys in the first term of 1897. In 1896 there were no entrance exhibitioners, but there were eight Governors' exhibitions (each tenable for three years); henceforth there will be five such Governors' exhibitions, and four entrance exhibitions (each tenable for two years). Manual and Technical Instruction. —There is a suitable workshop, fitted with excellent lathes, joiners' benches, and tools, in which instruction is given in carpentering, the use of tools, &c, out of school hours. The fee is 2s. 6d. per term, and covers instruction for two hours per week. During part of the time boys do work that the instructor may require, during the rest of the time they are allowed to make articles for themselves, which may, with the approval of the instructor, be taken home. The cost of timber where appreciable must be paid, and any work may be reserved for exhibition. Boys must purchase certain necessary tools or hire them at Is. per term. Mr. S. H. Seager supervises the workshop and carries out a regular course of instruction. In addition to this there is a modern form, where boys, instead of Latin, learn sloyd and shorthand. Sloyd comprises the making of models in cardboard, wood, iron, &c, of drawings previously made to scale. Apart from this, in the general school 134 boys were taught drawing, first term, 1897, of whom 93 learnt geometrical drawing; 151 boys learnt chemistry, first term, 1897; and 121 boys physics. It will thus be seen that with complete arrangements for drawing and science boys obtain instruction in the main principles underlying technical education, and they have the essential elements of manual work in carpentry and sloyd. Elementary sloyd is taught to the youngest boys in place of French, and modelling is about to be introduced. For science teaching the school possesses two well-equipped laboratories, with sinks, sets of reagents, furnace, &c. There is also a lecture-room with properly equipped lecturing table, containing sink, gas, water-tap, &c. The room has raised benches, and can accommodate sixty to write and over a hundred for oral instruction. For modeldrawing boys go to the School of Art. There is a dark room also close to the new laboratory for photography. Museum. How in the year 1873 the Museum was placed under the administration of the Board, and how the collections gradually from small beginnings increased under the anxious care of the late Sir Julius yon flaast, are matters of history. The usual report of the Curator is presented herewith. School op Art. The present building was originally erected in the year 1877 for the purpose of being used as a Girls' High School ; subsequently it was arranged to establish therein the School of Art, and to remove the Girls' High School to a more commodious site. In 1893 it was found necessary to add two more class-rooms. The table annexed will show the number of students in attendance at the school during the first term of each year, since its opening in 1882 : — Morning Evening Saturday Morning Evening Saturday Class. Class. Class. Class. Class. Class 1882 ... ... 28 63 Nil. 1890 ... 28 69 Nil.' 1883 ... ... 45 67 „ 1891 ... 30 75 66 1884 ... ... 51 49 „ 1892 ... 31 69 81 1885 ... ... 28 62 „ 1893 . ... 28 85 80 1886 ... ... 19 51 „ 1894 ... 32 115 95 1887 ... ... 18 58 „ 1895 ... 38 102 75 1888 ... ... 21 60 „ 1896 ... 38 98 77 1889 ... ... 31 75 „ 1897 ... 32 101 97 During the present year correspondence has taken place between the Board and the Department of Education with a view to obtaining financial assistance for the school, under " The Manual and Technical Elementary Instruction Act, 1895." The report of the Art Master is attached.