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The programme for the highest and lowest classes is as follows: — Highest. —Tho following subjects for junior scholarship, New Zealand University: Latin, French, mathematics, inorganic chemistry, elementary mechanics of solids and fluids. Lowest.— Outlines of English history and geography, object lessons and their reproduction, simple rules of arithmetic, and French.

WHANGABEI HIGH SCHOOL. Statement of Receipts and Expenditure for the Year ending 31st December, 1885. Receipts. £ s. d. Expenditure. £ s. d. To Balance in hand and in bank at begin- By Office expenses (postage and stationery) .. 0 5 0 ning of year .. .. .. 47 4 5 Teachers'salaries and allowances .. 16 13 4 School foes .. .. .. ..816 Printing, stationery, and advertising .. 060 Books, &c., sold, and other refunds .. 817 0 Rents, insurance, and taxes .. .. 15 3 0 Balance in hand and in bank at end of year .. .. .. .. 31 15 7 £64 2 11 j £64 2 11 Wm. Bedlington, Chairman and Secretary. Memorandum. —These accounts were for the year 1884, but paid in 1885. School closed since end of December, 1884.— W. B. Examined, and found to be correct. —L. A. Dureieu, Auditor. Arrears still due. —Eees, £15 Bs. ; for books, 4s. 6d.

NEW PLYMOUTH HIGH SCHOOL. 1. Ebpobt of the Board of Governors. Sib,— I have the honour to forward the annual. report of the Board of Governors of the New Plymouth High School ; also the statement of receipts and expenditure for the year ending the 31st December, 1885. During the year girls have been admitted to the school, and the experiment, so far, has been very successful, the applications for admission being in excess of the accommodation. Owing to the limited size of the only class-room available, the Board have been compelled to limit the number of pupils, and, as the financial position will not admit of the necessary expenditure required to provide sufficient accommodation, several girls have been refused the benefits of the school. When funds are available, the Board intend to enlarge the class-room, so that girls shall have the same privileges of admission to the school now enjoyed by boys. The falling-off in the attendance of boys alluded to in the last report has not been remedied to the extent it ought to be, considering the advantages offered in the way of a superior education at very low school fees. This is in some measure owing to the want of facility offered by the railway, country boys being placed at a great disadvantage, as they can rarely get to the school by train before 11 a.m. The limited population of the district also limits the number of pupils ; but this will be remedied gradually, as the population is steadily increasing. Taking into consideration the limited population within a convenient distance from school, and the absence of a considerable number of persons who have realised wealth, the school has been reasonably successful, and, in the face of many difficulties, has performed good honest work in the education of pupils attending it. Owing to the constant struggle the Board of Governors have had in order to make revenue meet expenditure, there has been no money available to obtain the assistance of outside examiners of sufficient standing to make an annual examination of the school; consequently the Board are unable to compare the progress of the pupils with that of similar secondary schools in the colony. ,The Board of Governors earnestly urge on the Government the necessity of periodical examinations being made by Government examiners for the whole of the secondary schools. A portion of the cost might fairly be charged against each institution, in the proportion of the number of pupils taught in the schools. If this were done, a more comprehensive knowledge would bo obtained of the work performed in these schools, and if in any respect the results were found to be unsatisfactory a remedy could be promptly applied. The usual annual examination of the pupils was made by Mr. Pridham, M.A. (the principal), in December, and the prizes won by the pupils were distributed at the school, on breaking up for the Christmas holidays, by Mr. 0. Samuel, M.H.E., in the presence of Major Atkinson, M.H.E., Mr. J. Paul, Mayor of New Plymouth, the chairman and members of the Education Board, and other gentlemeu, and a large audience, consisting of the parents and friends of the pupils, and the general public. The demonstration was a great success, and it showed the deep interest taken in the school by a large and intelligent section of the public. The Eev. Mr. Habens, Inspector-General of Schools, visited the school during the year for the purpose of general inspection, and, though no special individual examination of the pupils was made, a general report of the state of the school was forwarded to the Minister. The school is mainly engaged in imparting knowledge required in professional and commercial pursuits. It is a matter of regret that provision cannot also be made in connection with the school for giving instruction, outside of school hours, in practical geometry, mechanics, architectural and mechanical drawing, and freehand drawing to young workmen and apprentices who desire to excel in the higher branches of the various trades in which they are engaged. Such an application of a portion of the funds of secondary schools would be beneficial, and if in its infancy such a branch of the High School were assisted by a Government capitation grant it would get established and would ultimately 4—E. 9.