71

H.—l

I recommend your Board to establish a grammar school at Blenheim, which may serve as a secondary school for the whole Education District of Marlborough, provided — (a.) Provision be made for the education of girls: (..) No pupil be admitted unless he or she has passed the Second Standard of the primary school : (c.) That the subjects taught include English, Latin, French or German, algebra, Euclid, physical science, music, drawing, drill, and some mechanical and industrial exercises : (d.) That at least two acres of land be obtained for a site : (c.) That the headmaster hold a first-class certificate as a competent teacher, and receive at least £350 per annum and accommodation for boarders : (fi) That the school be separately classified for classical, mathematical, and physical knowledge, and so worked that pupils may attain distinction in one or more of such classes: (y.) That the fee bo £2 per quarter, but no parent shall pay more than £3 per quarter for any number of children in the same family. IX. Honor Certificates. 1 beg to propose for adoption by your Board the following scheme for examination in subjects which may be taught in schools in addition to those included in tho standards: — 1. Examination made once a year, at such time and places as the Board may appoint. 2. Only scholars passed in Standard 11. can become candidates. 3. Candidates must give notice of intention to sit, stating the subjects selected. 4. Any one or more subjects miiy be taken. 5. Candidates taking needlework should produce specimens of their work. Other work will be done during the hours of examination. 6. One hundred will be the maximum marks, and sixty the pass marks, in each subject, ten marks being allowed for neatness in writing and orderly arrangement of matter. 7. It will be possible to obtain an Honor Certificate in any one or more subjects, which will be stated in the certificate when issued. 8. The following are the subjects of examination : — (1.) English: The critical study of an English author. Cowper's " Task," chaps, i., ii., is named for first examination. (2.) Elements of Latin : Grade I. —" Principia Latina "to end of Ex. xxxii., with very easy unseen sentences for translation. Grade II. —" Principia Latina," parts i. and ii. (3.) Elements of French : Delille's First French Exercises and Grammar, with easy passages for translation. (4.) Needlework : Plain sewing and knitting. (5.) Drawing : Freehand outline. Easy practical geometry. (6.) Higher arithmetic. (7.) Algebra : Grade I. —First four rules ; simple fractions, including easy G. C. M. and L. C. M. Very easy simple equations. Grade II. —To easy quadratic equations. (8.) Physical geography. Laws of matter, heat, light, the atmosphere, and simple natural phenomena. Other subjects, if approved and arranged for by the Board six months before the examination. ****** XII. Conclusion. My report is full, because, at this transition period of educational administration in New Zealand, the fullest information will probably be required. My suggestions are the result of patient thought, and I trust they will be found useful. I have, &c, Robert Lee, A. P. Seymour, Esq., Inspector of Schools. Chairman, Education Board for the District of Marlborough.

NELSON. Sir— sth July, 1877. I have the honor to lay before you my annual report on tho Nelson public schools, which includes the period between Ist July, 1876, and 30th June, 1877. The names of 4,958 children appear on the rolls for the past twelve months, being an increase of 45 on the previous year's numbers. Seventy-three schools are entered on the return, three of which— waipuna, South Spit, and Karamea —are at present closed. The average rate of attendance, 73 per cent., is very fair, when the unavoidable deductions on account of sickness, bad roads, and wet weather are considered. Although the number of those who have remained at school after they were twelve years old, 982, is still far below what it ought to be, I have had the satisfaction of recording 118 more names under this head than were set down in last year's returns. The usual summary, showing what progress is being made in each subject, and how it is being taught, will serve to make the statistics given in the annual return more intelligible. I am aware that the simple method of tabulating results, initiated by my predecessor more than twenty years ago, and which I have retained with slight alterations until now, njight be improved upon