108

NELSON GOVERNMENT GAZETTE.

as in any other Provincial school. The reading is remarkably
good throughout, the spelling being better than it was. There
is a fall-off in arithmetic, though not to a greater extent
than the unavoidable absence of the mistress latterly will
readily account for. I am glad to see that map-drawing is
extensively practised. The enlargement of the class-room
has rendered the task of keeping order much easier.

Hardy-street: Girls, 2nd Division—Miss Galland.—The girls
who attend here, most of whom have been drafted from the
Preparatory School, are very carefully taught, and are kept in
excellent order. As a portion of the school-room, which is
much larger than is required for a single teacher, is at present
unused, I would suggest the employment of an assistant to
teach an additional class under Miss Galland's supervision.
This would enable me to take more frequent drafts from the
overcrowded Preparatory School.

Preparatory School—Miss Cother, assisted by Miss Witney.
—It is not easy to speak too highly of the organisation and
discipline of this numerously-attended school; but it is obvious
to a visitor that the effort required to maintain anything like
order among so many little ones, of whom there are at times
not less than 140 present, taxes the energies of both teachers
so severely that comparatively little time is left for the
actual work of teaching. It is indeed surprising under these
circumstances, that it is at all fit to promote a class half-
yearly that is at all fit to be promoted to the upper schools.
Should the plan that I have proposed above be carried out,
not only would the work of the teachers of this school be
materially lightened, but the period now required for prepara-
tion would be shortened.

Haven Road—Mr. J. L. Hodgson; assistants, Miss Dement
and Miss Burns; pupil teacher, Mr. J. A. Burn.—The increase
in attendance has necessitated the building of an addition to
this school, and the employment of another assistant. It is to
be regretted that the average of attendance (only 66 per cent.
during the last quarter) continues to be so low, and that the
children as a rule, leave so early that it is almost impossible to
keep up a respectable first-class. Of 227 children who passed
through this school last year, 41 only remained until they were
twelve years old. In spite of these drawbacks the results in
every branch compare favorably with those attained where
the rate of attendance is higher and the scholars are older.
The writing and arithmetic of the upper classes is especially
decidedly above the average, reading being successfully
taught throughout the school. It is worthy of remark that
the organisation of this school is remarkably good, and that
the all the teachers work harmoniously together.

Hampden-street—Mr. Sunley, assisted by Miss Tucker.—
Great praise is due to Mr. Sunley for the resolute way in
which he has grappled with the difficult task of restoring to
its proper rank a thoroughly disorganised school. This task is
as yet by no means completed, but a marked improvement has
been effected both in the behaviour of the children and in the
educational status of the school since my last report was
written. The attendance is gradually increasing, several of the
former pupils who had gone elsewhere having returned. The
master has, very properly, attempted little beyond elementary
teaching as yet, paying special attention to reading, with
marked results. The writing is also improving.

St. Mary's: Boys—Mr. Richards, assisted by Mr. Severne.—
The appointment of a thoroughly competent second master
has already told favorably upon the junior classes in this
school, who I remarked last year, were not so well taught as
the upper boys. The reading, geography, and arithmetic of

the first-class are particularly deserving of commendation,
while the writing, formerly indifferent, is much improved.
Mental arithmetic is a strong point here. I was favorably
impressed with the whole tone of the school on my last
visit.

St. Mary's: Girls—Sisters of Charity.—It is cheering to find
that in this as in other schools where it became my duty to
report certain deficiencies, not only that my strictures have been
taken in good part but that all cause for complaint has been
removed. The writing and spelling now present a gratifying
contrast to last year's performances, the quality of the former
being not inferior to that of any in the Province, while the latter
is now nearly faultless. The teaching in every other branch is
exceptionally good, the discipline, as heretofore, excellent.

Clifton Terrace—Mr. Gilbert.—The attendance here, which
at one time fell off so much as to make it doubtful whether
the services of a master could be retained much longer, has
greatly improved latterly. Reading and writing are very well
taught, but the children, even in the first class, can give but a
poor account of what they have been reading, and are very
helpless in arithmetic.

Hillside and Happy Valley—Mr. Collins.—These two schools,
which are about 3 miles apart, have been taught, during
the last quarter, on the half-time system, the master giving
three hours each morning to Happy Valley, and a like amount
of time in the afternoon to Hillside. So far, this plan, though
laborious for the teacher, appears to work well, especially as
the scholars make a point of being punctual and regular in
attendance. At Hillside the scholars are more than equal to
the average in country schools in point of attainment, while
the bonds of discipline, which I commented upon last year as
being somewhat lax, have been drawn much tighter, to the
manifest improvement of the school. At Happy Valley the
children are, as might be expected, more backward, the
majority having been cut off from the means of education
altogether before the erection of the present building.

Stoke—Mr and Mrs Smith.—On the whole this school has
certainly improved since I last reported on it. Both writing
and arithmetic are fairly taught, and the children appear to
understand what they are reading. The effect of their reading,
which is fluent enough, is however marred by a provincial
drawl which I have noticed in several of our schools; this if
not carefully watched and corrected may become incurable.
The junior classes require more practice in mental arithmetic,
and are ill-grounded in their tables.

Richmond Boys—Mr Harkness, assisted by Mrs Harrington.
—Mr Harkness, who bade fair to make an excellent teacher,
has resigned his appointment. This important school has
hitherto been singularly unfortunate in having lost, from
different causes, no less than six teachers in nine years.
Although I have noticed some falling-off from the admirable
discipline that was maintained by the late Mr Harrington, it
is only due to the present master to say that he leaves the
school in a most creditable condition, a task that must have
been rendered easier by the co-operation of his indefatigable
assistant, Mrs Harrington.

Richmond Girls—Miss Spencer, assisted by monitors.—
Owing to the long-continued illness of the lady under whose
position, it has been found necessary to appoint temporarily
Miss Hinde, formerly mistress of Foxhill School, who has
discharged the arduous and usually thankless duties that she
has undertaken with commendable assiduity. It is however,