H.—l

103

Eegulations. Boarders residing in the College will be under the direct supervision of the Principal and Mrs. Wilson. The only extras are the necessary books, which all the pupils are expected to provide for themselves, and for the boarders the necessary clothes, washing, and pocket-money. The course of instruction comprises English grammar, history, geography, arithmetic, mensuration, Latin, French, drawing, and drill, which are taught throughout the school; and in the upper forms, in addition to the foregoing, English literature, algebra, geometry, trigonometry, Greek, German, and one or more branches of physical science. The College is open to all boys residing with their parents or guardians, or in any boarding-house recognized by the Governors, entirely irrespective of creed; and the curriculum is so arranged that the younger boys are enabled, without any separate, or special preparation, to qualify for admission into offices or the lower branches of the Civil Service; while those who remain longer receive a thorough public-school training in English, mathematics, and either classics or modern languages, and physical science, so as to fit them for competition at the Home or colonial Universities, for the learned professions, or for the higher departments of the Civil Service. There are two "Turnbull" Scholarships of the annual value of £25 each, open to all matriculated students of the University of New Zealand attending the College, and two annual "Turnbull" prizes of £15 and £10 each —the first to the best student of the year in all branches, and the second to the most proficient in mathematics and natural science. There are also four scholarships, affording a free education at the College, open to scholars from any primary or elementary school within the provincial district, after competitive examination in such subjects as are prescribed to be taught at such schools; in addition to which there is an annual prize of £10, the gift of the Hon. Mr. Levin, and other prizes given by the Governors. The Governors have succeeded in obtaining for the exclusive use of the College a reserve of seventy-five acres, adjoining the Adelaide Eoad, the most healthy situation in Wellington ; and have erected thereon, at a cost of £9,000, most ample and carefully-designed buildings, providing all requisite accommodation in class-rooms, museum, library, laboratory, dormitories, dining-room, bathrooms, &c, with an abundant supply of spring-water laid on to all parts of the building; and, in addition to the College grounds, arrangements have been made for obtaining for the boys the use of the town Cricket Ground adjoining.

PRINCIPAL'S ANNUAL REPORT FOR 1877. Sic, — I have the honor to submit my annual report on the progress and working of the College. The attendance during the past year has been —For the first term, 93; second term, 82 ; and the third term, 80—making an average of 85 for the year, as against 117 for last year. This large decrease has been, no doubt, partly caused by the sickness at the College during 1876 ; but I trust that the feeling of uneasiness on that account will not long continue, as I am sure that there is not the least ground for it. The health of the boys generally, and of the boarders in particular, during the past year has been excellent. lam not conscious of any other reason to justify a decrease in numbers :on the contrary, I think that the reports of your Examiners will show that the work of the past year has been sound and efficient, while the standard has been very considerably raised, so much so that I have felt able to establish a Sixth Form, the work of which has been guided by the requirements of the New Zealand University B.A. Examination. A reference to the University Calendar will show that this is by no means a low standard, as regards either the quantity or the quality of the work. The work of the Upper and Lower Fifth Forms has been that prescribed by the regulations for the Senior and Junior Cambridge Local Examinations respectively, which were held here during last week under the superintendence of the Eev. W. H. West, B.A. These three forms comprise 19 boys, and out of these we have sent vp —or are going to send up next month—for New Zealand B.A. (both sections), 1 candidate; New Zealand B.A. (compulsory sections), 2 candidates; New Zealand Scholarships, 8 candidates ; Cambridge Local Senior Examination, 4 candidates ; Cambridge Local Junior Examination, 8 candidates; Civil Service, 2 candidates—making a total of 21 entries for public examinations in addition to the regular College examination ; so that I think it cannot fairly be said that we shrink from submitting our work-to impartial inspection. The elder boys have been undergoing examination for a fortnight without interruption, on several occasions for eight hours a day, without showing any signs of flagging, which may be taken as a proof that they have acquired the power of steady and sustained work. In addition to these examinations we have also held the usual matriculation examination, for which there were 3 candidates ; and the primary scholarship examination, for which 21 candidates presented themselves. They were examined as usual in English grammar, history, geography, and arithmetic, with some elementary questions in natural philosophy. I have to recommend Eeginald Greville, of the Thorndon School, for the vacant scholarship, while William Callaghan and William Eidler, from the same school, are very little behind him. The general excellence of the work shown up is proved by the fact that, out of the 21 candidates, there were only two who failed to get over the half marks in the combined subjects—history, geography, English grammar, and arithmetic —while the neatness and method were admirable. In view of the excellence of the work now being done by the primary schools, and the raising of our own standard, it seem to me that the time has arrived when it is desirable to impose some restrictions on admission to the College, both as to age and attainments, of a more definite character than we have now. At present, at one end of our school we have the B.A. examination, at the other end the making of pothooks, and this is too wide a field to be satisfactorily maintained in efficient working without great waste of power. By the regulations recently issued by the Judges of the Supreme Court our examinations are admitted as a qualification in general knowledge for the legal profession. This is a step of great importance, as being a recognition of the principle that special examinations, which do not go beyond an ordinary school course either in range of subjects or difficulty, are very undesirable, and can only tend lo foster " cramming."