H.—3a,

3

schools. There is, however, every prospect of a great improvement being effected shortly in the state of higher education in Wellington. The Provincial Council and authorities are fully alive to the importance of the subject, and have provided, or are providing, by endowments and grants, for giving much greater efficiency to the College. A liberal salary for the next four years has been guaranteed to secure the services of an able head master from Europe. Dr. Vaughan has been requested and authorised to select in England a scholar of repute to undertake the post. Eunds will not be wanting for tho erection of suitable buildings and accommodation. There seems no reason to doubt that in the course of a year or two good results will be effected by these efforts. Lectures were given during the last session of the Wellington College, in connection with the University, on the following subjects : — Classics, by H. Gr. Tuckey, 8.A., St. John's, Cambridge. Mathematics, by W. S. Hamilton, Edinburgh Training College. English Language and Literature, by T. W. Bowden, 8.A., Magdalen Hall, Oxford. These lectures were given prior to my undertaking the office of Inspector, and were, I am informed, duly visited and reported on to you by the Bishop of Wellington. This year the Governors have determined on instituting a course of lectures on Natural Science in place of the above (the ordinary curriculum of the College, including the before-mentioned subjects.) Arrangements have been made with Captain Hutton, P.G.S., to become Professor of Natural Science to the College. Captain Hutton has accordingly commenced two courses of lectures in geology. One of these is delivered in the evenings twice a-week at the Maori House, and is attended by twelve or thirteen pupils, a number which, as the lectures go on, may probably increase. Tho other is delivered in the temporary class rooms of the Wellington College three days a-week, in the afternoon, and is attended by twenty students, nearly all pupils from the College or School. Tlie Canterbury Collegiate Union is affiliated to the University, but the several members of that Union, or at any rate Christ's College, seem to consider that the affiliation in their corporate capacity does not necessarily extend to them as separate teaching bodies. In consequence of this nice distinction some formal difficulty and delay took place before I was admitted to the inspection of the practical working and the course of instruction pursued in Christ's College. The utmost courtesy, consistent with firmness, was shown by the authorities of the College in the handling of this difficulty, and a compromise was at length arrived at. I can report to you most favourably on the standard of education and general character and tone of the school of Christ's College. Accommodation is provided for boarders in the houses of two masters, resident in the College Buildings, and also at Mr. Cotterell's, outside the walls. The boys at these several houses appear to be thoroughly well cared for. Erom the number of boys at the school (120 odd), a large proportion of whom are boarders, both from Canterbury and other Provinces, Christ's College exhibits to a great extent the character of an English public school of the second magnitude, such for instance as fiepton or Uppingham. The play grounds, the buildings, the appliances and the surroundings are all calculated to produce, and I believe do produce, a healthy spirit of pride in the boys, that they belong to the place, and tend to foster in them a generous ambition of doing nothing unworthy of what they consider the first school in New Zealand. As the lower school is not in the opinion of the authorities included in the affiliation to the University, I will not express in detail any opinion, however favourable, as to the efficiency of it. The University scholars and candidates for scholarships, and the boys in the same forms with them, are exceedingly well taught in classics by Mr. Worthy. The standard reached is quite on a par with that generally attained by boys of the same age in many English schools. The same is no doubt true of the mathematics under Mr. Corfe, the present head master. It is, however, unnecessary for me to dwell on this head, as the reports of the University examiners extend to all the boys I was in theory, and except as a matter of courtesy, supposed to inspect. The Collegiate Union, as an affiliated body, keeps the University terms. Lectures were given in Trinity term, 1873, on the following subjects:— Classics, by E. A. Worthy, 8.A., Mondays and Thursdays, at 8 p.m., and for University Scholars, at 9 a.m. Mathematics, by C. C. Corfe, B.A. Tuesdays and Fridays, from Bto 10 p.m., in Euclid and Algebra; Wednesdays, from Bto 10 p.m., Logarithms. Geology, Mineralogy and Palaeontology, by Dr. Haast, F.E.S. On Tuesdays and Eridays, from 3 to 4 p.m., Zoology, by L. Powell, M.D. Mondays and Thursdays, from 7 to 8 p.m., English Language and Literature, by Rev. C. Eraser, M.A. Tuesdays and Eridays, from 7 to 8 p.m., Jurisprudence, by C. J. Foster, L.L.D. Thursdays, at 7 p.m., Modern Languages, by Eev. C. Turrell, M.A. ; Wednesdays and Saturdays, from 6.30 to 8 p.m. In Trinity term, 1872, lectures were delivered in Classics, attendance, 22; Mathematics, 12; Physical Science, 37 ; Modern Languages, 43. Michaelmas term, 1872. —Classics, 15; Mathematics, 8 ; Physical Science, 15 ; Modern Languages, 26 ; History, 5 (by H. J. Tancred, Esq., Chancellor of the University); Geology, 17. Lent term, 1873, English, 14; Mathematics, 10; Botany, 16 ; Classics, 15; Modern Languages, 21; Jurisprudence, 4. I had the pleasure of .attending in person one lecture of each of the courses being delivered in Trinity term, 1873, with the exception of Dr. Foster's on jurisprudence. The attendance at these lectures was not so numerous as the figures put down above for the terms of 1872 and Lent term 1573. The shortness of the days, the depth of winter, and the inclemency of the weather, together with the fact that several of the courses were only just commencing will account for this. The Collegiate Union are fortunate in having available for purposes of illustration the very excellent Museum of Christchurch, which is under the care of Dr. Haast. The remarks which I have made on the character of the evening lectures at Auckland apply, although in a somewhat modified degree, to those at Christchurch. The evening lectures on latin, mathematics, and modern languages