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tion by the appointment of Mr. E. T. Norris, M.A. Four pupils passed the Matriculation Examination, one pupil obtained a Senior Education Board Scholarship, and sixteen passed the Junior Civil Service Examination, nine passing with credit. New School. —As stated in the last report, the new school was found not to be adequate and efficient for teaching the number of pupils attending the school. Additions are now nearing completion, consisting of a large assembly-room and a science-room, which will be sufficient for all requirements for some years to come. School Attendance. —The roll-number of pupils attending the school is much the same as last year—viz., 100, with an average attendance of, say, ninety. The Board notes that a considerable number of pupils have not in the past availed themselves of the full two years' term of junior free place, but that this tendency is being corrected, and the Board expects that in future practically all pupils will continue for the full two years' term, and proceed to the Senior Free Place Examinations. The Board notes also that in this district the average age of passing the proficiency examination for the past four years is as nearly as possible 13 years 9 months. At the examinations in the centres are held during the months of July and August, the result is that a considerable proportion of pupils are over fourteen years of age on the Ist December preceding their admission to the secondary school, and thus are either debarred from obtaining their free place or have to be admitted to free places without bringing in capitation. The Board regards this as an argument for extending the age under which a properly qualified free pupil may be admitted to a free place—say, to fifteen years of age. The Board also regrets the widespread ignorance of the conditions under which pupils may obtain these free places, and has now prepared a circular in which all these conditions are set forth up to the entry of the University colleges. Classes in woodwork, cookery, and sewing have been held throughout the year. The school was inspected in September by Mr. T. H. Gill, M.A., LL.B., Secondary School Inspector. 2. Work of the Highest and Lowest Classes. Highest. —English—Vl —Nesfield's Grammar and Composition, to page 295, omitting chapters 25 and 27; Tennyson, Enoch Arden, Princess (Parts I-IV). Latin—Vl—Csesar, Gallic War, Book II; Cicero, De Amicitia, to end of chapter 11; Longmans' Latin Course. French —Chardenal's Second Course; Le Tour dv Monde: sight translation, phonetic script. Arithmetic—Goyen, to page 300. Algebra—-Hall and Knight, to end of chapter 29; graps, graphic methods of solving equations. Geometry-—Baker and Bourne, I-IV; exercises from Hall and Stevens. Geography— Longmans' Series, Book II; as for Matriculation. Botany—Evans's Botany; the subject generally as for Matriculation. Drawing—Freehand, geometrical, and model as for Matriculation. Lowest. —English—Nesfield's Grammar and Composition, to page 83; Goyen's Composition, to page 105; Scott's Ivanhoe (Longmans' abridged edition); Lay of Last Minstrel, to page 17 (Longmans' abridged edition); parsing, analysis, synthesis, essays. Latin —Scott and Jones's First Latin Course: Went's Facillima, to page 32; Fables of Orbilius, to page 17. French— Hogben's Methode Naturelle, to page 77; conjugation of etre, avoir, and regular verbs of first and second conjugations. Arithmetic —Goyen's Higher Arithmetic, to page 102. Algebra— Varley's Algebra for Junior Students, to page 100; fundamental rules; simple equataions and problems; factors, H.C.F. and L.C.M., fractions. Geometry—Baker and Bourne, Book I and exercises to page 58. Botany —Evans's Botany, to page 200. Book-keeping —Grierson's Bookkeeping, to page 71. Geography (commercial) —Lyde's Man and his Markets, to page 83. Drawing—Freehand and model. Sewing — Plain needlework. Woodwork — Department's first-year exercises. Cookery. 3. General Statement of Accounts for the Year ended 31st December, 1907. Receipts. £ s. d. Expenditure. £ s. d. Government capitation— Dr. balance at beginning of year .. .. 1,012 16 3 For free places .. .. .. 712 5 10 Management— Under Manual and Technical Instruction Office salary .. .. .. .. 50 0 0 Regulations.. .. ~ .. 81 13 0 Other office expenses .. .. .. 2 12 i Current income from reserves .. .. 651 11 10 Teachers'salaries and allowances.. .. 927 1 8 School fees .. .. .. .. 42 0 0 Prizes .. .. .. .. .. 9 10 0 Other receipts— Printing, stationery, and advertising .. 19 9 6 H. Friediander, Esq., donation .. .. 50 0 0 Cleaning, fuel, light, &o. .. .. 38 10 11 J. Studholrne, Esq., donation .. .. 25 0 0 Fencing, repairs, &o. .. .. .. 27 8 6 Exchange paid on cheque .. .. 0 0 6 Miscellaneous (rates, &c.) .. .. 23 4 2 Dr. balance at end of year .. .. 735 18 11 Interest on current account .. .. 63 18 0 Other expenditure— Bank charge, 10s., and exchange on cheque, 6d... .. .. .. .. 0 10 6 Technical classes, £85 ; insurance, £5 10s. 90 10 0 Gas Company, and water-supply, £7 16s. ; B. Meechan, swimming instructor, £15 ss. .. .. .. .. 23 1 0 C. W. Purnell, leases, £6 17s. 3d. ; Sports Association, £3 .. .. .. 9 17 3 £2,298 10 1 £2,298 10 1 D. Thomas, Chairman. John Davison, Secretary. Examined and found correct. — J. K. Wakburton, Controller and Auditor-General.