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Eepoet op Act Master. Sir,— I have the honour to submit my annual report on the School of Art for the year 1887. The total number of individual students that received instruction in the school during the year was 403, showing a decrease of 26 since my last report. This total includes 119 teachers and pupilteachers, 79 students in training, 61 students who attended the day classes, and 144 students who attended the evening classes. The classes for teachers and pupil-toachers were open every evening, except Fridays, from 5.45 to 6.45, and those for the students in training every day, except Fridays, from 11 to 12, the course of instruction being freehand drawing, model drawing, practical geometry, and perspective. The students in training devoted one hour every week to drawing exercises on the blackboard, in every case making rapid and satisfactory progress. At the pupil-teachers' annual examination, 28 passed in freehand drawing, 25 passed in model drawing, 21 in practical geometry, and 20 in perspective. At the examination for teachers' certificates, 54 passed in freehand drawing, 51 in model drawing, 38 in practical geometry, and 9 in perspective. Most of the candidates who went up for examination had passed in perspective at the previous examination, and therefore did not take this paper up. Of the three prizes offered by the Government for the best drawing done at the teachers' examination, the second (£3) has been awarded to one of our students. The day classes were open every day from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. for the study of elementary and advanced drawing, painting, modelling, &c. The drawings by the advanced students of the figure from the antique and from the life, and their studies of flowers and foliage from nature, were especially good, and in advance of last year's work. The evening classes were open as usual every evening from 7 to 9, except Saturdays, the arrangement of the classes being the same as previously reported. I may mention here that one of our students gained the medal offered by the Otago Art Society for the best drawing of the figure from the antique. Several of the ex-pupils continue to make satisfactory progress. At the recent examination of the Science and Art Department one obtained-a prize for drawing the figure from the antique, and five others passed the second-grade examination. One of our best students, who has lately settled in Sydney, has been appointed assistant master in the Sydney School of Art. The Otago Boys' and Girls' High Schools were attended as usual. The progress made by the various classes has been satisfactory. The course of instruction was as follows: —Boys' School: Freehand drawing, model drawing, and drawing from the cast; practical geometry and projection; mechanical and architectural details, drawn to scale. Girls' School: Freehand drawing, model drawing, practical geometry and perspective, drawing and shading from the cast. The Otago Art Society now offer four medals—two to the Boys' High School and two to the Girls' High School — to be competed for annually. This should have a beneficial effect, and cause a healthy rivalry amongst the pupils. As I look upon the annual exhibition as a part of my report, I may mention that the collection of works exhibited at the close of the year included freehand outline and model drawings, mechanical and architectural drawings, crayon drawings from copies and from the cast, models in plaster ; paintings in oil and watercolours from copies, from nature, and from the living model. In point of number and excellence the collection surpassed any previous display of the students' works. The exhibition was largely attended, and was highly spoken of by the Press. I have, &c, The Secretary, Otago Education Board. David C. Hutton, Art Master.

Ebpoet on Scholarship Examination, 1887. Sir,— We beg to submit our report on the examination for junior and senior scholarships held at the end of December last. There were forty competitors for the ten senior scholarships, and sixty-eight for the seven junior scholarships. The marks gained by the competitors in each of the subjects are appended hereto. A small number were disqualified through failing to gain 20 per cent, of the marks in one or more subjects. We recommend that the scholarships be awarded to the eleven who stand at the top of the senior list, and to the eight who stand at the top of the junior list. Six of the successful competitors for senior scholarships were formerly holders of junior scholarships. In all, twentysix of the senior competitors gained more than half the attainable marks. These, through the courtesy of the Board of Governors of the Otago High School, are entitled to free education at the High School in Dunedin. We have, &c, D. Pbtrie, j Wm. Taylor, I Inspectors. The Secretary, Otago Education Board. P. Goyen, J

Eepoet on District High Schools. Sic, — • Education Office, Dunedin, 30th January, 1888. I have the honour to submit the following report on the district high schools for the year 1887. The following tabular statements show the extra subjects taught, the number of pupils examined, and the amount of work done in each subject:—■ 12— E. 1.