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7 Bepobt of the Examinee in Mathematics. Sib, — Canterbury College, 18th December 1883. I have the honour to report that I have examined the Girls' High School in mathematics. The whole school was examined in arithmetic , the Fourth, Fifth, and Sixth Classes in algebra, the Fifth and Sixth in Euclid, and the Sixth in trigonometry The First Class, which is small, was examined in the first four rules of arithmetic, both simple and compound, and in this class, as was perhaps to be expected, some of the girls are deficient. In the next class the work was of a rather more advanced character, and was satisfactorily done. In the Third Class the arithmetic was good, and the style of the papers and the writing were almost uniformly excellent. The results were not nearly so satisfactory in the Fourth Class. This class appears to have been taught in three divisions, both in arithmetic and in algebra, and I cannot but think that better results would have been attained if only two divisions had been attempted. On the present occasion, at least one girl in each division obtains very high marks in arithmetic, whilst others mark decidedly low. In the algebra in this class, I think that an attempt has been made to cover too much ground beginners in mathematics must not be hurried - time and practice alone can produce good results. The present Fourth Class is so uneven in acquirement that lam doubtful whether it can be advantageously taught by one teacher In the Fifth Class the arithmetic was good, the algebra satisfactory, and the Euclid, though tco uneven, was fair In the Sixth Class the arithmetic was good. In the other mathematical subjects done by this class—viz., Euclid, algebra, and trigonometry-—there are practically two divisions. The upper one did satisfactorily the work required by the University of New Zealand for its Junior Scholarships ; the lower division have quite a year's work before them to reach that standard. In Euclid, in both Classes V and VI. more attention ought to be give to easy exercises and riders. The style of work in both of the upper classes was generally very good. I have, &c, The Chairman, Board of Governors. C. H. H. Cook.

8. Bepobt of J H. Pope, Esq., Inspectob of Schools. Sib, — Education Department, Wellington, 7th December, 1883. I have the honour to report that, in accordance with your instructions, I visited and inspected the Christchurch Girls' High School on the 30th ultimo. The annual examinations hai been begun before my visit took place , thus I had no opportunity of seeing the school in its ordinary working condition, or of observing the methods employed in teaching, it was, however, quite possible to form a fairly clear idea of the organization and discipline of the school, and of the kind and amount of instruction given in it. The staff consists of Miss H. Connon, M.A., Lady Principal, Miss Grossman, 8.A., Miss Pike, and Miss Cambridge. There are other teachers for extra subjects. During the current year the Lady Principal has taken charge of the higher mathematical work, Miss Grossman has attended to the Latin. There are now eighty pupils on the roll, they attend very regularly, the average being about seventy-six. The subjects taught and the time devoted to each subject may be learned from the two following tables, ■which give also a fair idea of the work of the whole school:— bOTJECI - Time. Time. Mathematics . 6 hours. 5 hours. Latin 6 ~ 3f , English .. 41- „ 4- „ Geography and history 2 ~ 3 ~ French 2 2J ~ Science (or extra English) 1 ~ 2 ~ Singing ..1 1 ~ Drawing 2 ~ 2 ~ Preparation Of ~ 0 , Drill .. 0 „ .. 1 Sewing 0 „ OJ „ Writing 0 OJ „ 25 hours. 25 hours. A considerable quantity of work (not included in these tables), such as German, the subjects for the Junior Scholarships examinations, &&., is done out of the ordinary school hours. The work seems to be judiciously distributed over the school time devoted to it, and the organization generally is thoroughly satisfactory I learn that the time required for home preparation is, on the average, as follows Class VI. (Upper), 3 1- hours daily Class VI. (Lower), 3 hours daily, Class V., 2J- hours daily Class IV., 2 hours daily No one could say that the pupils and teachers of this Echool do not work hard enough and long enough. The school tone is very good. Judging from the appearance of fatigue visible in the faces of nearly all the school girls, I should, be inclined to say that they take even too much interest in their work, and that the desire to obtain good places in the school and the spirit of emulation are so strong here that the pupils are led to do very much more work than is good for them. It should, perhaps, bo remembered, though, that it is near the end of the school-year, when the work presses more hardly than it does at any other time, and that this may account, to a certain extent, for the symptoms of the effects of very high pressure that are observable. It is, however, hard to believe that, what with the ordinary school work, preparation for examinations by the University Professors,