E.—9

31

Tliroughout tlio past year the arrangement of school quarters in both colleges agreed to by the Governors in May, 1881 —which abolished the former system, under which the quarters were reckoned by the mouths of the year, regardless of the long vacation at Christinas, and which provided that each quarter should for the future consist of about seventy days, the first beginning on the Ist February in each year instead of on the Ist January—has been in operation ; and the avoidance of what was known as the " short quarter " has given general satisfaction to parents. The term of office of some of the Council of Governors having expired during the year 1885, and other changes having occurred in consequence of resignations, the Governors think it desirable to append a statement of the present position of the governing body of the college, which is constituted as follows : Hon. J. W. Barnicoat, representing Marlborough; Albert Pitt and James Sclanders, representing Nelson; (term of office expires 14th November, 1888): Alfred Greenfield, representing Marlborough; W. G. Hodgson and Hon. Joseph Shephard, representing Nelson; (term of office expires 14th November, 1891): Hon. J. C. Richmond, representing Marlborough; C. Y. Pell and John Sharp, representing Nelson ; (term of office expires 14th November, 1894). The Governors publish with this report statements of the accounts of both colleges for the year just ended, a comparative statement of the rolls for 1884 and 1885, and a schedule showing the number, value, and present position of the scholarships connected with both colleges. By order of the Council of Governors. Oswald Curtis, Secretary.

2. Statement of .Receipts and Expendituee of the Nelson College for the Year ending 31st December, 1885. Receipts. £ s. d. Expenditure. £ s. d. To Balance at the Bank of Now Zealand, By Scholarships— 31st December, 1884 .. .. GO7 9 6 Foundation .. .. .. .. 70 0 0 Boarding Account .. .. .. 1,339 14 6; Endowed .. .. .. .. 84 0 0 Tuition Account .. .. .. 911 5 6 ! Governors' fees .. .. .. 50 0 0 Stationery Account .. .. .. 31 6 3 Exhibitions .. .. .. .. 90 0 0 Rent Account .. .. .. 425 13 6 Simmons Prize .. .. .. 6 0 0 Interest Account .. .. .. 878 9 3 Boarding Account .. .. .. 1,132 10 0 Miscellaneous receipts .. .. 80 16 0 Tuition Account .. .. .. 1,689 9 9 Stationery Account .. .. .. 65 11 0 Repairs Account .. .. .. 158 1 6 Miscellaneous expenses— Audit charges .. .. .. 710 0 Examiners'fees .. .. .. 11 11 0 Fire insurance .. .. .. 76 0 0 City rates .. .. .. 47 17 11 Telephone .. .. .. 12 15 0 Subscriptions to sports, &c. .. .. 15 0 0 Printing and advertising .. .. 34 0 0 Law costs .. .. .. 6 17 6 Science apparatus, &c. .. .. 31 19 6 Office rent and expenses .. .. 64 15 2 Furniture .. .. .. 10 2 0 Sundry expenses .. .. .. 19 11 6 Secretary's salary .. .. .. 200 0 0 Interest Account .. .. .. 12 13 8 Balance at the Bank of New Zealand on the 31st December, 1885 .. .. 378 9 0 £4,274 14_J5 £4,274 14 6 Oswald Cuetis, Secretary. We hereby certify that we have examined the above accounts and compared them with the several vouchers relating thereto, and found them correct.—H. C. Daniell and J. T. Catley, Auditors.

3. Statement of Eeceipts and Expendituee of the Nelson College for Girls for the Year ending 31st December, 1885. Receipts. £ s. d. | Expenditure. £ 8. d. To Grant from vote of the General Assembly 500 00| By Balance at beginning of year .. .. 2,404 6 2 School fees .. .. .. .. 1,345 19 8 | Office—Salary .. .. .. 100 0 0 Boarding-school fees .. .. .. 605 0 0 ! Other office expenses .. .. 35 0 0 Miscellaneous .. .. .. 710 0 Teachers' salaries and allowances .. 1,184 15 5 Balance at end of year .. .. 2,523 11 3 Boarding-school Account .. .. 642 16 5 Examiners' fees .. .. .. 22 1 0 Scholarships .. .. .. 30 0 0 Printing, stationery, and advertising .. 94 18 8 Gas .. .. .. .. .. 54 13 4 Fencing, repairs, &c. .. .. 30 19 1 Rents, insurance, and taxes .. .. 42 0 0 Interest on loans .. .. .. 324 0 0 Auditors' fees .. .. .. 5 5 0 Furniture .. .. .. .. 11 510 £4,982 0 11 £4,982 0 11 ————— _ *~ Oswald Curtis, Secretary.