75

E.—l

The ordinary subjects of study are Latin, English, Euclid, algebra, geography, and arithmetic. Euclid, though compulsory only for boys, was taken with equally good results by the girls, with the exception that French was substituted in one case. In addition, the majority of the class successfully prepared the prescribed course in chemistry. The questions in all these subjects were fully answered, the information required being neatly set down and clearly expressed. While the fact that ten of the pupils examined are, or have been, scholarship-holders has afforded an opportunity to prepare with efficiency an extended syllabus, it is certain that the excellent results I have the pleasure to record could not have been achieved without great diligence on the part of the pupils and skilful direction and instruction on the part of the rector. It is a further matter for congratulation that seven pupils of the class have entered for the forthcoming matriculation and five for competition in the Junior Civil Service examination. A. J. Mobton, Inspector.

NORTH CANTERBURY Sir,— Christehurch, 30th March, 1896. I have the honour to present the following report of the proceedings of the Education Board of the District of North Canterbury for the year ended the 31st December, 1895. The Board.—The three members who retired by rotation at the end of March, 1895, were Mr. J. Joyce, Mr. A. Saunders, and Mr. R. Westenra, all of whom presented themselves for re-election. Ten candidates were nominated by the School Committees for the vacancies, and the voting resulted in the re-election of Mr. Saunders and Mr. Westenra, and the election of Mr. James Wright Sawle. At a meeting held on the 18th April Mr. Westenra was elected Chairman of the Board for the ensuing year. At the same meeting, Mr. Saunders, Hon. Mr. Montgomery, Mr. Meredith, and Mr. Munnings were elected members of the Appointments Committee; Mr. Peryman, Mr. Rennie, Mr. Adams, and Mr. Munnings, members of the Buildings Committee; and Mr. Saunders, Mr. Peryman, Mr. Sawle, and Mr. Adams members of the Normal School Committee. The Board held twenty-five meetings during the year, three of which were special meetings. The Appointments Committee met twenty-two times, the Buildings Committee twenty-three times, and the Normal School Committee ten times. The Board's Representatives.—Mr. A. J. McGregor was elected to represent the Board as member of the Akaroa High School Board, Mr. W. Harrison as member of the Rangiora High School Board, whilst Mr. A. Orr and Mr. Donald Williamson were re-elected as members of the Ashburton High School Board. Mr. H. R. Webb continues to represent the Board as Commissioner of Education Reserves. The Late Mr. Colborne-Veel. —Towards the end of July, through the death of Mr. J. V. Colborne-Veel, who held the combined positions of secretary and treasurer to the Board and Principal of the Normal School, the Board was deprived of the faithful services of a valuable officer, and New Zealand of one who had for many years identified himself with the progress of education in this colony. Mr. Colborne-Veel had been the Board's secretary and treasurer since April, 1878, during which time the disinterested devotion to the duties required of him by virtue of his office, his assiduous and conscientious discharge of those duties, and his zeal for the cause of education generally, were such as to call for the highest admiration of all who came in contact with him. At an adjourned meeting held on the 7th August, the Board unanimously passed a motion of condolence, sympathizing with Mr. Veel's family in their sudden bereavement, and expressing its deep sorrow for the loss they had sustained. In November the Board appointed Mr. E. Watkins, 8.A., for eighteen years tutor to tbe Normal School students, to the position of Principal of the Normal School, and Mr. H. C. Lane, previously assistant-secretary, and Mr. C. Allard, for many years the Board's accountant, to the respective positions of secretary and treasurer, an arrangement which, on a temporary trial, had been found to work satisfactorily. Conference of Education Boards.—ln June, 1895, the Wellington Education Board proposed that a conference of Education Boards should be held in Wellington during the session of Parliament, to consider the questions of technical education, revision of the syllabus, and other subjects. The Board approved of the proposal, and at a meeting held on the 19th June the Hon. Mr. Montgomery, Mr. Saunders, and Mr. Meredith were appointed to represent the Board at the conference, which was duly held, and resulted in several resolutions being passed, and submitted for the consideration of the Government. School Districts. —During the year 1895 new school districts were formed at Domett, Mackenzie, and Spotswood, for all of which the Government had reserved school sites when laying out the several settlements on the Cheviot Estate ; and prior to the expiration of the year, by dividing the district of Glentunnel, two new districts —viz., Glentunnel and Coalgate—were also formed, the Road Board office buildings at Coalgate continuing to be used for school purposes. With the exception of the changes necessitated by the formation of the above-mentioned districts, and some slight alterations in the boundaries of Loburn North, Woodstock, and View Hill districts, the boundaries of the school districts remained unchanged during the year. On the recommendation of the respective School Committees, the name of the Graham's Road district was changed to Huntingdon, and that of Kirikiri substituted for View Hill Plains. The number of school districts at the end of the year was 170. Schools and School Buildings.—During the first half of the year new schools at Huntingdon, Hornby, and Woodstock, and the three schools at Cheviot —viz., Domett, Mackenzie, and Spotswood —all authorised the preceding year, were completed, bringing the number of separate schools in operation in this education district to 187. Of the latter, seven —viz., Clarence Bridge, Conway Flat, Gough's Bay, Kaituna, Montserrat, Porter's Pass, and Port Robinson—were aided schools ; the one at Port Robinson having been opened in anticipation of the district school about to be established. The Charteris Bay and Pendarves schools, closed in the early part of the year on account of insufficient