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NELSON. Extract from Report of Inspectors of Schools. Four district high schools continue to be in operation—at Westport, Reefton, Motueka, and Takaka. At the time of our annual examination of the secondary divisions of these schools the total roll number was eighty-one, as against seventy-one for 1913. The number in attendance at Takaka shows a further slight decrease. It is a matter for regret that the people of this district apparently fail to appreciate the advantages of such a school in their midst. At two of the schools a modified rural course has been adopted, the special branches of instruction being under the personal supervision of the Board's instructor, who visits these schools in alternate weeks. Adverse local conditions render this course unsuitable at the other two schools. In general, the scope of work in the various classes is limited to the requirements laid down in the different subjects for the Public Service Entrance and Matriculation Examinations, and at our examination of the work undertaken the results at each school were quite starisfactory. GREY. Extract from Report of Inspector of Schools. My report on the secondary department of the Greymouth District High School having been furnished before the close of the year, I was not able to supply any further indication of its efficiency as a whole than was discovered through my own observation. The chief aim of this department has been to prepare candidates for the public examinations, and the results of these are now to hand. One student passed the Junior University Scholarship Examination with credit; two matriculated ; one passed the Public Service Competitive and eleven the Public Service Non-competitive Examinations. WESTLAND. Extract from Report of Inspector of Schools. Hokitika District High School.- At the time of the inspection visit there were sixty-two pupils in the secondary department, distributed as follows : First year, twenty-seven ; second year, twentyone ; third year, fourteen. All the pupils of the second and third year and fourteen of the first year have taken a course selected with a view to the preparation for the Matriculation Examination and for the Public Service Entrance or Intermediate Examinations. The requirements of these examinations are compassed in three years. The subjects include Latin, English, mathematics (arithmetic, algebra, and geometry), history, geography, and science. The English includes a wide course of reading in addition to technical studies. In science the courses consist of physical science for boys and home science for girls. Free use is made of the apparatus and material of the science-room of the Technical School. A section of the first-year pupils, numbering thirteen, are engaged in a commercial course, consisting mainly of English, arithmetic, book-keeping, typewriting, and science. This division also takes woodwork and cookery. As the course of the Matrioulation Examination is distributed over three years, instead, of four as is usually done, it is to be expected that a few scholars will find it necessary at some stage to repeat a single year's work. It is very satisfactory to find that the number of these is very small. Nearly "ITII the pupils of the first and second years and all of the third have prepared a wide course with creditable results. Eleven in the third year and several in the second year entered for the Public Service Entrance or Intermediate Examination, and six of the former presented themselves at the Matriculation Examination. The first-year pupils taking the full course were very successful in the test in English, geometry, and Latin, and the general result in the remaining subjects is commendable. The commercial class has been well prepared in the whole of the course. The pupils of the second and third years answered very creditably the papers in all subjects in the recent test. The results generally are of exceptional merit and the character- of the instruction is worthy of high commendation. In connection with the examinations held during November and December, two pupils passed the Matriculation Examination, one obtained a partial pass, eleven passed the Public Service Entrance Examination, and thirteen the Intermediate Examination. Report of Education Board. The secondary- department of the Hokitika District High School opened the year with seventyfive pupils. These were reduced to sixty-one at the end of the year. Thirteen pupils of the first year confined their attention mostly to a commercial course. The remainder studied, in the various stages, the requirements of the Public Service Entrance and Matriculation Examinations. The Board is able to strengthen the staff as a result of assistance from the Hokitika High School Board. NORTH CANTERBURY. Extract from Report of Inspector of Schools. The returns show 359 pupils on the secondary department rolls, an increase of twenty-four on those of last year. All our district high schools are doing good work, furnishing abundant evidence that they are justifying their existence and giving excellent opportunities for educational advancement to pupils who otherwise would be prevented from taking advantage of higher-grade work. The rural courses are generally working smoothly, and are becoming more popular with parents, who are rea izing more fully the direct bearing of such instruction upon the future of an agricultural community. Inspection visits were paid to the district high schools during the last term of the year, and the results were distinctly gratifying, showing that educational work of a good solid character is being carried out