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MABLBOBOUGH HIGH SCHOOL: Mr* John D. Innes, M.A., LL.D., Master. 1. Bepori of the Governors. The first meeting of the Governors was fixed by the Education Board, as provided by " The Marlborough High School Act, 1899," for the 13th November, when Mr. A. P. Seymour was chosen as chairman. The first business transacted was to arrange for the purchase of a suitable site upon which to erect the buildings, and, after carefully considering the merits of the several sites offered, it was resolved to purchase 3 acres in Stephenson Street, for £500 ; and the late Mr. T. Carter was kind enough to give 3 acres adjoining the block purchased, together with a cash donation of £50, on the condition that the net income of the same should be devoted towards the foundation of a scholarship in connection with the High School. This scholarship will be called the Carter scholarship. Plans of the proposed building were submitted for the approval of the Minister, and, after modification to meet his wishes, tenders were invited for the erection of one portion of the complete plan, comprising three class-rooms, with two private studies for the teachers. In order that no time might be lost, it was resolved to invite applications for the position of principal at a salary of £300, with a rent-allowance of £40 a year until a residence is provided, and to rent temporary premises in which to carry on the teaching until the High School building should be ready for occupation. A large number of applications from persons of undoubted ability were received, and, assisted by the advice of the Inspector-General and Sir Bobert Stout, the choice of the Governors fell upon John Innes, Esq., M.A., LL.D., for many years assistant teacher in the Wellington Girls' High School, and the work of teaching commenced in the temporary premises with twenty-six scholars. The foundation-stone of the new building was laid on the 22nd September. It was decided for the future to assimilate the periods of teaching to those usual in similar institutions by having three terms in the year, instead of four quarters, and in view of the increasing attendance the Governors resolved to invite applications for the position of lady assistant at a salary of £100, and the Governors selected Miss Alice Downes, 8.A., who entered upon her duties on the reopening of the school in the new building at the beginning of the present year, when the number of scholars had increased to fifty-two (including ten scholarship-holders). The cost of purchasing the site, and the erection of the buildings and necessary offices, improving the grounds, and other unavoidable expenditure, including furniture, has exceeded the grant made by Government for the same by about £183, and the Governors hope that, in view of the decided success of the institution at even this early stage, they may receive some additional assistance to liquidate their liabilities on this account. The Governors feel sure that the prosperity and usefulness of the school would be greatly enhanced if they were in a position to build a suitable residence on the grounds for the principal, with some additional accommodation for boarders ; and they hope that some means may be found of obtaining an advance, by way of loan or otherwise, for this purpose. A. P. Seymour, Chairman.

2. General Statement of Accounts for the Year ended 31st December, 1900. Receipts. £ s. d. Expenditure. £ c. d. Grant from vote of the General Assembly 1,800 0 0 Teaohers' salaries and allowances .. 283 6 8 Paid by School Commissioners .. .. 412 0 0 Printing, stationery, and advertising .. 31 0 5 School fees .. .. .. .. 181 4 0 Site and buildings .. .. .. 950 0 0 Donations .. .. .. .. ' 50 0 0 Bent of temporary school .. .. 19 0 0 Kent .. .. . . .. 8 0 0 Expense of foundation-stone .. .. 14 6 6 Deposit on oontraot .. .. .. 25 0 0 Custodian's wages .. .. .. 19 0 0 Interest, on fixed deposit .. .. 10 0 Furniture .. .. .. .. 76 1 4 Architeot and plans .. .. .. 56 5 0 Survey .. .. .. .. 111 6 Deeds registration .. .. .. 2 5 0 Miscellaneous .. .. .. .. 5 3 8 Balanoe .. .. .. .. 1,019 3 11 £2,477 4 0 £2,477 4 0 A. P. Seymour, Chairman. John Smith, Secretary and Treasurer. Examined and found correct.— J. K. W&rburton, Controller and Auditor-General.

3. Work of the Highest and Lowest Classes. Highest. —English —Grammar; Nesfield's accidence, and syntax; composition, oral lessons and practice ; literature, oral lessons, and special study of Shakespeare's Julius Csesar. English History —Gardiner's Outlines. Geography —Zealandia series, Parts IV., V., VI. Botany—Oral lessons. Physiology—Murche's. Arithmetic —Pendlebury. Euclid—Books I. and 11. Algebra— Simple equations, as for Matriculation. Trigonometry—Elementary. Latin—Via Latina, whole. French—Chardenal, First Course. Lowest. —Grammar—Nesfield, adapted to the standards. Composition—Beproduction of stories read. Poetry—Committed to memory. History —Gardiner's Outlines. Geography— Zealandia, Part IV. Botany—Elementary. Arithmetic—To decimals. Euclid—Book 1., to proposition 26. French—Chardenal, First Course (French to English only). Latin—Declensions and verbs ; easy and sentences.