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8

2. Woek of Highest and Lowest Classes. Highest. —Latin : Principia, Part 1., Caesar, and stories and fables. French : Hachette's Third Reader, Le Voyage de M. Perrichon, Grammaire dcs Grammaires. Arithmetic: The whole. Algebra: To quadratics. Euclid: Books 1., 11., and 111. History: Conquest to end, generally; special period, 1603-1837. Geography: Chisholm. English: Smith alid Hall's Grammar; Hamlet, Henry V., Julius Ctesar, and King John. Science : Harrison's Mechanics, and lessons on electricity and magnetism. Drawing : Boys, geometrical; girls, freehand and model. Lowest. —Latin: Principia, Exercises Ito 20 (a portion of this class do no Latin). French: De Jardin's Course, Exercises Ito 78 ;Le Chapeau de Paille, and the regular verbs. Arithmetic : Compound rules. Algebra : Addition, subtraction, multiplication, division, formulae (easy factors), G.C.M., L.C.M. (a portion of this class does no algebra). History : Richard 11. to the end of the Yorkists. Geography: Petrie's. Grammar: Morrison, pages Ito 62. Science: Elementary physics. Reading: Fourth and Fifth Royal Readers. Drawing : Boys, elementary (geometrical); girls, freehand. Dictation. Mental arithmetic. Writing. Map-drawing is done throughout the school, and the girls learn sewing.

WANGANUI HIGH SCHOOL. 1. —Repoet of the Boaed. Office of the Board of Governors of the Wanganui High School, Sir,— Wanganui, 22nd February, 1892. I have the honour to present the first annual report of the Wanganui Girls' High School. The school was founded under "The Wanganui High School Act, 1878," which provided that ten thousand pounds' worth of land should be set apart by the Waste Lands Board as an endowment for the purpose of higher education in Wanganui. The land actually so set apart and vested in the Board was a piece of very rough country, consisting of 3,900 acres of the Pikopiko Block, and 2,354 acres at Mangawhero, of a better quality; but the Board was never able to realise the full value of £10,000. The Pikopiko Block being very broken land could not be leased upon satisfactory terms, but it was sold to great advantage, the cash portion of the proceeds being invested on the security of freehold lands in the colony, and the balance being allowed to remain upon mortgage at a satisfactory rate of interest. The land at Mangawhero was very advantageously leased for a period of twenty-one years, the rental increasing every seven years. The funds having been thus carefully invested, the income increased from year to year, till in 1890 it amounted to £539 per annum, derived from interest and mortgages, and leases above referred to. The Board found that secondary education for boys in Wanganui was already amply provided for by the establishment of the Collegiate School, and, after careful deliberation, they determined to establish a Girls' High School, with boarding establishment. With this object they inspected several allotments of land, after having publicly invited tenders; and having in view the convenience of day pupils as well as boarders, they ultimately purchased a site of 2 acres in a convenient part of the suburbs of this town. Tenders were then invited for the erection of a building to accommodate eighteen boarders, and as many day-scholars as were likely to offer, and the Governors ultimately accepted a tender of £2,853 for the same. The grounds were then levelled and laid out in a suitable manner, and the building was completed and furnished in a comfortable and substantial way by February of 1891. Prospectuses were then issued, setting forth the school course, fees, &c, &c, and the Board had the satisfaction of receiving applications from twenty-oie boarders and forty day pupils, and, by a little management, provided for the few boarders in excess of their anticipations. The next step was to select a Lady Principal and Assistants, and, from a number of high-class applications, the Governors selected Miss C. B. M. Harrison, M.A., Al, of Nelson College, as Lady Principal; Miss J. B. Hudson being selected as First Assistant; Miss M. S. Hill, 8.A., as Second Assistant; Miss E. M. A. Krull, 8.A., as Third Assistant; and Mr. David Blair, F.L.S., as Art Master ; Mrs. Charles Wood being retained by Miss Harrison as Matron. Boarding. —The Board decided to throw the responsibility of the boarding upon the Lady Principal, arranging that she should receive the boarding-fees, and take all the management and risk. Opening Ceremony. —The school was formally opened by the Hon. W. P. Reeves, the Minister of Education, in February, 1891; the Hon. the Premier, the Hon. John Bryce, some of the members of the Board of Governors, and other gentlemen interested in education being present. The large dining-hall was also crowded with ladies and gentleman who had received invitations, and the proceedings passed off with general satisfaction. School. —The school year is divided into three terms of thirteen weeks each. It is non-sectarian, but the moral and religious training of the girls is made an object of special care, and the minister of any denomination can visit the pupils belonging to their congregations at suitable hours, approved by the Lady Principal. Bible classes are held, at which both boarders and day pupils may attend if their parents so desire. Fees. —The fees for boarding are £40 per annum. Tuition fees, £10 10s. for senior and £8 Bs. for junior pupils. The extras are: Music, £2 16s. per term; solo singing, £2 16s. per term; and painting £2 10s. per term.