E.—l2

13

Poison is captain, Messrs. Dakin and Spencer lieutenants. The headmaster is a Lieut.-Colonel in the New Zealand Defence Forces. All these take part in the drill, and are assisted by the District Drill Instructor. Swimming: For many years the headmaster gave daily instruction during the summer months in the sea, but, after a fatal shark accident, this practice was discontinued. A small swimming-bath in the school-grounds was done away with when the water-meters were introduced. It was just big enough to take two boys at a time. There is no public swim-ming-bath, but a movement is on foot to construct one. Consequently, there is no instruction at present, but all the masters are qualified to instruct, and nearly all the boys can swim. Girls. —Freehand and model-drawing are taken once a week. Needlework by all but V. (i.e., highest form) once a week in the highest forms, twice a week in lower forms. Class-singing is taken throughout school. Drilling by all classes two afternoons in the week ; in school gymnasium during winter months.

5. Scholarships. The school gave free education to twenty-five holders o£ scholarships given by the School Commissioners and sixteen by the Education Board.

GISBORNE HIGH SCHOOL. The Gisborne High School Board has to report that secondary education in this district continues to be carried on with efficiency and satisfaction under the supervision of the Hawke's Bay Education Board. The Board of Governors find any expenditure reasonably required in order to vigorously carry on the secondary classes in the Gisborne District High School. W. Morgan, Chairman.

General Statement of Accounts for the Year ended 31st December, 1899. Receipts. £ s. d. Expenditure. £ s. d. Balance .. .. .. 271 6 11 Balance .. .. .. .. 15 5 10 Current income from reserves .. .. 80 0 0 Scholarships .. .. .. .. 109 12 0 Interest on moneys invested, &o. .. 158 18 0 Prizes .. .. .. .. 315 0 Paid by School Commissioners .. .. 264 5 4 Advertising .. .. .. .. 0 11 0 Interest on deposit account .. .. 3 0 0 Interest .. .. .. .. 0 2 6 Repayment mortgage .. .. .. 500 0 0 Bank charge .. .. .. .. 0 5 0 Balance .. .. .. .. 95 6 5 Subsidy Hawke's Bay Education Board .. 115 18 5 Mortgages .. .. .. .. 1,120 0 0 Balance .. .. .. .. 7 6 11 £1,372 16 8 £1,372 16 8 W. Morgan, Chairman. C. A. de Lautour, Secretary. Examined and found correct.— J. K. Warburton, Controller and Auditor-General. [Note. —This balance-sheet does not include £1,950 lent on mortgage.—Sec. Educ]

NELSON COLLEGE. Staff. Boys' College. —Mr. W. S. Littlejohn, M.A.; Mr. T. A. H. Wing, M.A.; Mr. James Drummond, M.A. ; Mr. E. F. W. Cooke ; Mr. P. Milner, M.A.; Mr. C. A. Craig, M.A.; Eev. E. C. Isaac ; Sergeant-Major Healy ; Miss Scaly ; the staff of the Nelson School of Music. Girls' College.—Miss B. E. Gibson, M.A.; Miss E. Gribben, B.A. ; Miss E. H. Pearoe, M.A. ; Miss E. Graham, 8.A.; Miss M. N. Gellatly, M.A.; Mrs. E. F. W. Cooke; Miss Huddleston ; Sergeant-Major Healy; the staff of the Nelson School of Music. 1. Eeport op the Governors. It is with satisfaction that the Governors have again to report good progress in both the colleges during the year. The work done has, on the whole, secured the commendation of the examiners, whilst the successes obtained by the Girls' College in the recent contest for the New Zealand University Scholarships are most gratifying. Boys' College. Seventeen candidates passed the University Matriculation examination, five of them taking the Junior Scholarship papers. Five undergraduates of the University have continued their studies at the College. The boys of the fifth and fourth forms look the drawing examination of the Wellington Technical School, and the results were extremely satisfactory. Mr. F. A. Pogson has been bracketed with another for the New Zealand University Senior Scholarship in Latin, a high distinction, and has at the same time completed his B.A. degree. Mr. E. H. Strong has taken his M.A. degree with second-class honours in Latin and English. Mr. E. Moore has passed his final examination for the LL.B. degree, and Mr. F.Milner, M.A., and Mr. A. C. Maginnity the second part of the three sections for the same degree. Mr. F. Stuckey and Mr. E. K. Mules have completed the first of the two sections of examinations for the B.A. degree.