£.—9

24

composition, &c. French: Parry's Passages for Translation ; Moliere, Le Bourgeois Gentilhomme ; grammar, etymology, composition, &c. German : Fasnacht's Grammar, HaufFs Die Karavane, Mathematics: Arithmetic, the whole subject; algebra to quadratic equations; geometry, Euclid. Books IT-IV., VI.; trigonometry, Lock's Trigonometry. Botany : The morphology and physiology of the botanical types specified in the junior scholarship schedule. Chemistry: The non-metallic elements ; revision of the metals. (The senior division revised the whole of inorganic chemistry.) Lowest. —English : Longman's Fourth Reader. History : Nelson's Stories. Geography : Australasia, chief oceans, seas, &c. Physical geography : Explanation of geographical terms, &c. Grammar: Simple analysis and parsing. Object-lessons: Simple lessons on common objects, with a view to subsequent composition on the subject of lesson. French : Chardenal's First French Course. Arithmetic : Simple and compound rules in money and avoirdupois, simple problems, mental arithmetic.

6. Scholarships. Free education is given to holders of scholarships from the Otago Education Board, and also to candidates at the scholarship examinations who gain 50 per cent, of the attainable marks. The numbers for the year were—Boys, 38; girls, 25. Free education was also given at the Boys' School to the holder of a scholarship from the Grey Education Board, and at the Girls' School to one from the Westland Education Board.

SOUTHLAND HIGH SCHOOLS. 1. Report of the Board. Sir,— Invercargill, 31st March, 1890. I have the honour to present the following report of the operations of the Southland High Schools Board for the year ending 31st December, 1889 : — At the commencement of the year the constitution of the Board was : Mr. George Lumsden, Chairman, who, with Mr. H. Carswell, were nominees of His Excellency the Governor; Messrs. D. L. Matheson and J. A. Preshaw, elected by the Southland Education Board; and Mr. Thomas Fleming, Mayor of Invercargill. The only change was in December, when at the annual election of Mayor Mr. J. W. Mitchell was elected on the retirement of Mr. Fleming. In the last annual report reference was made to a change in the teaching staff of the schools, four new teachers having been appointed. The Board has reason to be satisfied with the change. The number of pupils in the Girls' School has increased satisfactorily, but at the end of the year the number of boys had only increased by one. The continued commercial depression is probably the chief reason of the increase in the Boys' School being so small. The scientific-lecture hall and chemical laboratory, to which reference was made in the last annual report, was formally opened by Sir Robert Stout on the 16th April; and practical science is now fully established as one of the branches of study at the schools. The Board has not yet seen its way to make any provision for boarders. If satisfactory arrangements could be made there is no doubt the schools would increase more rapidly. The leases of some of the Board's endowments matured during the year, and the lands have been leased at fair rents. In some cases, when rents have been excessive, the Board has exercised its power to make reasonable concessions. An examination of the schools by outside examiners was made towards the end of the year, but the value of such examinations can only be ascertained when they have become established as periodical, when comparisons can be made. The annual cash returns, which have been duly audited, are appended hereto. I have, &c, The Hon. the Minister of Education, Wellington. Geo. Lumsden, Chairman.

2. General Statement of the Accounts of the Boys' and Girls' High Schools Board for the Year ending 31st December, 1889. Receipts. £ s. d. Expenditure. £ s. d. To Balance in bank at beginning of year .. 322 17 7 By Office —Salary .. .. .. 75 0 0 Bank of New Zealand, fixed deposit from Teachers' salaries and allowances (inlast year .. .. .. 2,106 011 eluding fees for drawing and paintEndowments — ing paid to visiting teacher, £18 45.) 1,242 7 4 Reserves sold .. .. .. 116 17 0 Examiners'fees .. .. .. 31 10 0 Income from reserves .. .. 575 19 0 Prizes .. .. .. .. 10 1 0 Interest on moneys invested and on Printing, stationery, and advertising .. 66 9 3 unpaid purchase-money .. 98 17 5 Gleaning, fuel, light, &c. .. .. 00 17 1 Paid by School Commissioners .. 157 1 4 Book and stationery account, and other School fees, Boys' School .. .. 418 3 8 temporary advances .. .. 32 18 11 Books, &c, sold, and other refunds, Boys' Fencing, repairs, &c. .. .. 18 2 6 School .. .. .. 28 1 5 Rents, insurance, and taxes .. .. 36 1 6 Fees received for extra subjects, Boys' Expended on site or buildings .. 301 4 0 School .. .. .. 4 4 0 Beserves—Rates, expenses of leasing, School fees, Girls' School .. .. 238 5 0 inspection, __e. .. .. .. 30 1 7 Books, &c, sold, and other refunds, Girls' Robert Mills, refund deposit on contract 7 0 0 School .. .. .. 16 6 0 School furniture .. .. .. 3 3 8 Fees received for extra subjects, Girls' Chemicals .. .. .. 13 2 9 School .. .. .. 14 0 0 Stamps, telegrams, &c. .. .. 5 110 C. \Y. Brown, deposit for survey fees .. 40 0 0 Balance in bank at end of year — Current account .. .. .. 91 11 0 Fixed deposit account .. .. 2,166 011 £4,196 13 4_ £4,196 13 4 Geo. Lumsden, Chairman. Charles Rout, Secretary and Treasurer. Examined and found correct.—James Edward FitzGfjßald, Controller and Auditor-General.