XXIII.

Eyreton School ... Same day ... Present, 22 ... Satisfactory. The Bible knowledge is particularly commendable, and also the general accuracy, considering how young the children are.

Oxford School ... August 13 ... Present, 15 ... The hooping-cough, very prevalent, has nearly closed the School.

Herewood School ... August 13 ... Present, 30 ... Satisfactory, but no map of New Zealand.

Heathcote Valley School ... August 17 ... Present 38 ... The School is progressing satisfactorily under the new Master and Mistress. The building has undergone some necessary repairs. A map of New Zealand is requisite.

Pigeon Bay Academy ... Aug. 18, 19 ... Present 29 ... The junior classes are unusually accurate in elementary knowledge, except that of the Bible, which is not better than in other Schools. The accuracy and proficiency of the whole School in arithmetic and spelling is above the average. The reading is remarkably free from the gross defects of diction. The writing is generally good; that of James Wilkinson, William Hall, and Robert Fleming, is excellent. The upper classes were examined in Euclid, Algebra, Latin and French. The Euclid extended to the third Book, with a more perfect knowledge of the first and second by William Hall, and of the first book by the two Wilkinsons. The study of Geometry is unusually successful. The Algebra comprised easy examples in the earlier rules and in simple equations including an easy problem. The Latin recently resumed by the formation of a class of four boys, does not yet comprise the knowledge of the declensions. The French extends in one instance to construing Fleury’s History. In construing, William Hall was the most proficient. In pronunciation, Stephen Le Lievre.

The very satisfactory state of the School indicates the advantage to the day scholars, from the stimulus of the boarders, whose attendance is regular, and progress uninterrupted.

Lyttelton Church School ... Aug. 21 ... Present 58 ... The children seem habitually talkative and disorderly.

The Bible Knowledge was on the whole, satisfactory.

The younger classes are very imperfect in reading. Considering that they have mostly received previous instruction at an Infant School, it is surprising how little they have learned since their admission. I would instance Wm. Watson, aged 8; John H. Bessley, 8; Mary A. Snoswell, 7; they had attended respectively 127, 278, and 201 days with ordinary regularity, but could not read words of two letters without difficulty. In fact the best in the same class were those who had been less time in School.

The attainments of the whole School in reading, spelling, writing and arithmetic, are below the average, except that three boys are familiar with the higher rules of arithmetic.

The first class of 15, includes 13 children of the average age of 13 years, or from 11 to 14 years; and mostly from one to three or four years in School. Their age is above, but their attainments are below the average.

The supply of fittings and apparatus is good, except that a newer edition of the Map of New Zealand is requisite.

The organization and discipline of the School are defective as to general order, and also in the following points:—

1. The Military Drill appears to be taught at desultory intervals, between the other duties of the Drill Instructor, now absent at Timaru.

2. The arrangements for cleaning and warming the room are unsuccessful. Being the day of examination according to notice, the Teachers had cleaned the room; but there was no fire, and the children appeared to suffer from, and, in one instance, to complain of the cold.