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WELLINGTON. Extract from the Report of the Inspectors of Schools. Nine district high schools, with a total roll of 354 pupils at the time of the Inspectors' visit, are in operation in this district, Of these schools, six take the Department's full rural course. The reports of Inspectors and instructors to the effect that good work, is being done are borne out by the following results taken from public examination records: Matriculation, pass 10, partial pass, 4; Public Service Entrance, pass 2(i ; Intel-mediate, pass 16; recommended for senior free place, 29; awarded Senior National Scholarships, 2. NELSON.' Extract from the Report of the Education Board. Secondary departments are in operation at Westport, Reefton. Motueka, and Takaka. With the exception of Hie Takaka District High School the roll numbers have shown increases, especially at Westport. The Board has had under consideration during the year the question of disestablishing the Westport District High School with a view to enlarging the scope of the Technical High School at Hint place. It is hoped that this proposal will be brought into effect at an early date. Considering the circumstances now prevailing and the better inducements offered to teachers in secondary schools, the Board has nevertheless been able to maintain a satisfactory staff in flic secondary departments. An effort has been made to establish a rural course at the Takaka District High School. The local School Committee has assisted the Board very materially in this matter, and approximately £200 has been raised in the district towards the cost of the erection of a manualtraining school, without which the carrying-on of a rural course would be impracticable. The manual-training school is now in course of erection, but the Board's efforts to obtain an assistant qualified to teach most of the subjects of the rural course have so far been unsuccessful. It is evident that the salary that can be offered to such a teacher is quite'insufficient to attract a capable person. Extract from the Report of the Inspector of Schools. The four district high schools, at Westport, Reefton, Takaka, and Motueka, continue in operation. The average attendance in the secondary department of each for the year was —Westport, G5 ; Reefton, 24; Motueka, 24; and Takaka, 19. The courses of instruction are, as usual, mainly based on the requirements for the Public Service Entrance Examination, while in some the Matriculation standard is attained. Commercial subjects and subjects of manual training are taught, but: only one class takes a full commercial course, and only two are fully equipped for manual training. Instruction has been well imparted, and the work has been taken up by the pupils with considerable zeal. CANTERBURY. Extract from the Reports of the Chief Instructor and Assistant Instructor in Agriculture. In addition to the district high schools previously taking the rural course, Akaroa District High School claimed a portion of our time. In the southern portion of the district the school staff has taken almost the whole of the classes, but it has always been necessary for the instructors to take these classes in the northern district, and this has absorbed 50 per cent, of our time, an altogether too large proportion. Science laboratories have been erected at Kaiapoi and Oxford; experimental plots have been procured at Kaiapoi and Akaroa ; a cookery-room was also erected at Oxford, and the experimental plots at Oxford, Lincoln, ami Darlield have been remodelled on more up-to-date lines. Several very instructive field-days were conducted, those on (he farms of Messrs. Parlane and Knight in connection with the breeding of live-stock and the shearing and classing of wool, &c, being worthy of special mention. The number of district high schools in Canterbury taking agriculture and related subjects was 10, the number of pupils receiving instruction being 256. Work in agriculture at the four district high schools in South Canterbury has been carried on regularly, Geraldine taking the full rural course for the first time. Owing to the demand for youths' labour the attendance has gone down considerably during the year, at Waiuiate and Pleasant Point in particular. At the latter school the area, under cultivation had lo be reduced by fully half. Successful lucerne plots are now' established at three district high schools, the seed beingsown in rows. At Pleasant Point, in addition, however, Ave have sown down half an acre broadcast. The ground was clean, well cultivated, in part limed and inocluated, and from present appearances v ill be a success. OTA.GO. Extract from the Report of the Education Board. The average attendances in the secondary departments of the district high schools were: Balclulha, (i I ; Normal, 53; Lawrence, 40; Mosgiel, 40; Port Chalmers, 25; Palmerston, 231; Alexandra, 22 ; Tapanui, 21 ; Tokomairiro, 8 : total, 293, or four less than for the previous year. The following shows the successes of these pupils at the various examinations held in 1917 : — Number of Number Candidates. Successful. Matriculation Examination ... ... ... ... 43 3 I Public Service Examination ... ... ... ... 72 55 Senior Scholarships Examination ... ... ... ... 20 13