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CHBISTCHUBCH BOYS' HIGH SCHOOL. Staff. Mr. C. E. Bevan-Brown, M.A. ; Mr. B. K. S. Lawrence, B.A. ; Mr. W. Walton, B.A. ; Mr. R. M. Laing, M.A., B.Sc.; Mr. R. Speight, M.A., B.So. ; Mr. O.T. J. Alpers, M.A. ; Mr. A. Merton ; Mr. T. H. Jackson, B.A. ; Mr. J. H. Smith, M.A.; Mr. T. W. Cane, M.A.; Mr. S. H. Seager, A.R.1.8.A. ; Sergeant-major F. Farthing; Mr. E. Thompson ; Mr. W. S. Malaquin; Mr. W. H. Gundry; Mr. T. S. Tankard; Miss E. E. Digby. 1. Beport. This year is the twenty-first anniversary of the foundation of the school. The changes in organization and methods indicated a year ago have been found on trial to work satisfactorily. The modified form system, with a reclassification for mathematics and science, has made the work more compact. The correlation of history and geography with the portion of literature studied has been fruitful. A great impetus has been given to oral French. Some senior boys at the recent examinations, besides replying in French, were able to write down in French the substance of a short address given them by Professor Blunt, one of them without mistake. The appointment of a Frenchman, M. Malaquin, has greatly helped the French work. The art and manual training of the school has been put on a sounder basis; it has been better graded both as regards artistic and geometrical drawing, and the workshop classes have been placed under the sole direction of the drawing-master, Mr. E. Thompson. Mr. S. Hurst Seager, who takes the geometrical drawing and design, wrote a short report on the art-work, and a display of work done was given at the school in December. The physical training of the boys is now under Mr. T. S. Tankard ; each boy gets two halfhours a week, unless specially exempted. There has been a great development of gymnastic training this year, and it is evident the boys are keen about it. Mr. Tankard examines every boy once a year. A great impetus has been given to shooting this year among the cadets, and it has been made compulsory. About forty-three boys have been doing commercial work, ancient history, and workshop in place, of Latin; and seventeen others have been doing the same substituting, however, extra French for commercial work. Mr. W. H. Gundry, the accountant, has taught book-keeping, including the principles of double entry as compared with single entry ; journalising, posting, balancing, profit and loss, assets and liabilities, solvency and insolvency, &c, bills of exchange, some short methods of calculation, and the rudiments of finance. Five boys entered for the Students' Accountancy Examination, but the results were not known when this report was written. The commercial work has also included precis and correspondence, commercial arithmetic, and geography. In the subjects above indicated there is an undoubted intellectual training, besides a preparation for commerce for those boys destined to leave early for business ; and these subjects, together with workshop and ancient history, seize on the interest of some boys who would never make headway in Latin. Another new feature of the year has been the introduction of "nature-study," in place of ordinary science, for the Lower School. This has consisted of the study—not from text-books alone, but by actual sight and handling, or, if this is impossible, by pictures of the objects concerned —of common animals and plants, the native birds of New Zealand, the geology of the Port Hills, &c, and visits have been paid to the Museum, Lyttelton Harbour, the Port Hills, and the fish-hatcheries. Dr. Chilton conducted an interesting oral examination on this part of the work in December. A feature of the annual examination was that as far as possible the examiners and boys were brought face to face. Professor Blunt conducted an oral examination in French throughout the school, Frofessor Wall an oral examination of the English of the Lower School, and Dr. Chilton a practical examination of chemistry and physics in the Upper School and an oral examination of nature-study in the Lower. About an acre of land purchased by the College at the back of the school has this year been added to the playground. The school took a proper part in celebrating the great national events of the year—the proclamation of peace and the coronation of the King. Several special prizes have been given this year. Mrs. Miller, the widow of the late headmaster, has given £100, the interest on which is to be devoted to a prize in books for the best essay and examination on some book or books of standard English authors. The books appointed this year are Chaucer's " Prologue," " Westward Ho ! " and Macaulay's essay on " Burleigh and his Times." The prize is to be called the Thomas Miller prize. Professor Blunt has given a prize for oral French, and Mr. T. S. Weston a prize for woodwork. Professor Wall has offered a " newspaper " prize for the best examinee on a " general knowledge " paper. The distinctions gained during the year are as follows : T. McLennan won a junior University scholarship, seven boys were placed on the credit list, three passed the Medical Preliminary, and ten passed the Matriculation Examination. Two boys won senior scholarships given by the Board of Education. Mr. A. Sims, an old boy, obtained the degree of M.A., with first-class honours in chemistry ; and A. E. Currie, T. Curnow, and T. McLennan won exhibitions at Canterbury College. Mr. A. O'Brien, a student of Guy's Hospital, greatly distinguished himself, coming out first in his year at the London University medical examinations, and winning several scholarships. *

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