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as a rule the pupils in most of our small country schools pass the Sixth Standard at an earlier age than they do in the large town and city schools. Besides, Ido not think the State should be called on to pay for secondary education to any pupils who do not show at least average ability in the primary schools before they pass the Sixth Standard. As the Secondary Schools Regulations read at present there are cases of hardships, as the standard examinations in Otago are begun about the month of June and are not ended till December. Some pupils easily pass the Sixth Standard before they are fourteen years of age, but if they at once enter the secondary schools on passing Standard VI. they may only get five or even four terms as free pupils, instead of six terms as intended by the Secondary School Regulations. (See your letter to the Chairman of the Otago Education Board dated 7th April, 1904.) I think if the regulations were altered so as to allow any pupil who had passed the Sixth Standard under the age of fourteen years at any time of the year to enter as a free pupil either during the year they pass Standard VI. or not later than the beginning of the next high-school year. There are a number of cases where pupils pass the Sixth Standard under fourteen years of age, but are over fourteen by the 31st December next, and therefore cannot enter the high school in the beginning of the following year as free pupils because they were over fourteen years on the previous 31st December, and if they enter, say, in September of the year in which they passed the Sixth Standard they are only entitled to four terms as free pupils. As you state in your letters to the Education Board of Otago before referred to, " The intention is that the tenure of a free place in a secondary school shall date from 31st December preceding the date of the pupil's admission to the secondary school." You will see that any pupil entering a secondary school in the second or third terms in any year will only be entitled to another full year, and in some cases if they wait till the beginning of the following year they may be ove T fourteen years of age on the 31st December preceding. 2. The great majority of children who will do credit either to the school or themselves will, in my opinion, show merit before they are thirteen or fourteen years of age. I think that the widespread belief is founded on fact. 3. Certainly not; they should begin at thirteen years of age or even earlier. 4. I am not aware that a large number of pupils fifteen years of age would affect the organization of a secondary school, but I think it would seriously affect the good results which should be shown by secondary schools at the end of each year, as a pupil who could not pass Standard VI. till over fourteen could not be expected to do as much credit to the school as one who could pass the standard test at twelve or thirteen years of age. 5. I think if the age-limit was raised, and the test for admission made more strict, the result would be very much the same as at present, as any pupil who cannot pass the Sixth Standard at fourteen years of age would not be able to pass an entrance examination higher than Sixth Standard subjects, as he could not pass in subjects which he had never been taught. 6. I think if the regulations were amended so as to authorise High School Boards, under clause 3 (d), to give a free place for every £30 or even £40 instead of £50 as at present, each School Board would be able to meet all cases of deserving pupils who might be excluded by the age-limit of fourteen years. There are two or three cases in this district of children of poor parents, who show considerable merit, who are precluded from taking advantage of secondary education as free pupils on account of the agelimit, but if the regulations were amended in the direction I have indicated in answering queries 1 and 6 those cases would be met. You will see that, having allotted the full number of free places allowed by the regulations under clause 3 (d), we are unable to give relief to any more, and unless some of the pupils who are now in the school as free pupils under clause 3 (d) drop out we may not have any openings for any pupils under clause 3 (d) next year. The foregoing are my opinions on the whole subject, and I have to apologize for being so long in answering your letter, as I have been so busy with other matters that I had not the time until now to give your inquiry the consideration that it required. I have, &c, The Secretary for Education, Wellington. Donald Borrie, Chairman.

Southland Boys' and Girls' High Schools Board. Sir, — Invercargill, 23rd June, 1904. I have the honour to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the 26th ultimo, covering a copy of letter of the sth February from the Chairman of the Otago High Schools Board. In reply I have to inform you that this Board is of opinion that the present regulations should have a fair trial before further alterations are made in them, as the Board approves on the whole of the regulations now in force. I have, &c, The Secretary for Education, Wellington. Charles Rout, Secretary.

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