E.—ll

A carpenter's shop was provided some years ago, and a competent instructor at a fee of ss. a term, boys providing their own tools and materials. For the first two years after its establishment eight boys or thereabouts attended, with favourable results. Very little, if any, advantage of it has. been taken for some years. Some parents objected to pay the cost of tools and materials, and it must also be added that the boys grew to look on it as irksome. During school hours instruction is given in botany and agricultural science, freehand, geometrical and mechanical drawing, shorthand, and book-keeping. If desired, practical surveying may be taken out of school hours, and from time to time boys have availed themselves of the opportunity. Girls. Highest. —Arithmetic—■ Whole subject. Algebra, including theory of quadratics, ratio, proportion, and variation. Geometry —Books I. to VI. Trigonometry to solution of triangles. Latin— Livy, Hannibalian War ; Kennedy's Grammar. French—Brachet, Grammar; L'Ancien Begime et la Bevolution; easy pieces into French. History —William 111. to Victoria. Geography —General. Grammar, to standard of junior scholarship ; text-books, Morris and Mason's. Botany—Matriculation standard. Theory of Music —Matriculation standard. Lowest. —Arithmetic—Compound rules, weights and measures, simple practice, bills of parcels, reduction. History—Gardiner, 1603 to 1670. Geography—New Zealand, Australia, England. Grammar —Parts of speech, easy parsing and analysis. Object lessons on plant-life chiefly ; reading, spelling, drawing (freehand), needlework, and drill. Classes are held in drawing (freehand and model), botany, and needlework. 4. Scholarships. The schools gave free education to thirty holders of scholarships given by the School Commissioners and twenty given by the Education Board.

GISBOBNE HIGH SCHOOL. 1. Beport of the Board. Sir, Gisborne, 18th May, 1898. I have the honour to transmit the accounts of the Gisborne High School Board of Governors. Secondary education in the Gisborne and Poverty Bay District is still admirably supplied by the Gisborne District High School. As you are aware, the Education Board are guaranteed against loss in supplying secondary education in the upper standards of the school. The Governors have much pleasure in reporting to you their entire satisfaction with the arrangement made. I have, &c, The Hon. the Minister for Education, Wellington. C. A. de Lautour, Hon. Sec.

2. General Statement of Accounts for the Year ending 31st December, 1897. Receipts. £ s. d. Expenditure. £ s. d. To Balance .. .. .. 509 9 9 By Scholarships.. .. .. .. 139 8 0 Current income from reserves .. .. 80 0 0 Prizes .. .. .. .. 2 18 6 Interest on investments .. .. 97 11 3 Printing, stationery, and advertising .. 14 7 Paid by School Commissioners.. .. 223 19 8 Fees paid for pupils'instruction in techniInterest on deposit account .. .. 411 6 cal cookery .. .. .. 410 0 Renewal portion of Grayson's loan received as insurance money .. .. 124 13 9 Subsidy to Education Board .. .. 184 4 6 Mortgage—J". Parker.. .. .. 325 0 0 Balance .. .. .. .. 133 12 3 £915 U 7 £915 11 7 W. Morgan, Chairman. C. A. de Lautour, Secretary. Examined and found correct.—J. K. Warburton, Controller and Auditor-General.

NELSON COLLEGES. 1. Beport of the Governors. During the year the term of office of three members of the Council expired—namely, the Hon. Mr. Barnicoat, Mr. Sclanders, and Colonel Pitt. His Excellency the Governor has reappointed the former and latter, while Mr. T. H. Bannehr takes the place of Mr. Sclanders. The annual reports of the Examiners again refer very highly to the work, as a whole, at both colleges. The Boys' College. The average number on the roll has continued satisfactory during the past year, while at the present time the number both of boarders and day pupils is largely increased. Four boys passed their University Terms Examinations, and the present year shows a large increase in the number of students keeping terms at the college. Three boys entered for the University Junior Scholarship Examination, and, although they failed to obtain scholarships, all of them got into the " Pass with credit " list.

11