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Street and Canongate; and the difficulty,
if not the impossibility, of procuring
a suitable site for a school-house that would
be equally and easily accessible to the
children residing on both sides of the
ravine, appear to render necessary the
establishment in Dunedin of three public
elementary schools, viz.—1st. The school
already erected in Great King Street,
which will accommodate the children
residing in the northern parts of the city.
2nd. A school, in the neighbourhood of
York Place for the central portion of the
city; and 3rd A school near Maitland
Street or Walker Street, which would meet
the requirements of the Southern District.
The school committees of the two districts
into which Dunedin is at present divided
have had under consideration a suggestion
made to them by the Secretary in reference
to the union of the two districts, and they
have unanimously resolved to recommend
to the Education Board the combination of
the two districts, as authorised by the
Education Ordinance. By this proposed
combination, greater unity of action, and
greater economy in the administration of
the educational affairs of Dunedin would
be effected, while the school-rate to be
imposed would fall equitably upon the
holders of property in all parts of the
city.

It was stated in last year’s Report that
several of the Educational Buildings
formerly provided had been erected in an
imperfect and unsatisfactory manner, and
were in an unfinished condition. On the
representation of the Board, your Honor
was pleased to place on the Estimates
a sum sufficient to render those
buildings complete. Some of these
are now completed in an efficient manner,
and it is expected that in a short time the
others will also be placed in the finished
condition contemplated by the Education
Ordinance. After their completion, one
half of the cost of keeping them in repair
will fall upon the districts in which they
are respectively situated. Commodious
and substantial school-houses of stone
have been erected at North Dunedin,
Oamaru, and Green Island, all of which
are nearly ready for occupation. In
consequence of the failure of the school
committee of North Taieri to appoint a
competent master to their district school,
no buildings have yet been erected in that
district. As a well qualified teacher has
now been engaged, the immediate erection
of school buildings in that district is
rendered necessary. School-houses are also
urgently needed at South Dunedin, Caversham,
Saddle Hill, East Taieri, Tokomairiro,
West Taieri, and Warepa, as well as
in the localities proposed to be formed
into new Educational Districts. The cen-

tral portion of the Otago High School is
now approaching completion, and steps
will forthwith be taken for the erection of
the additional class-rooms that will be
required.

High School.

The Rectorship of the Dunedin High
School having been resigned by Mr.
Livingston, the Education Board proceeded
some time ago to consider the duty
incumbent upon them to adapt the institution
to the increasing population and the
altered circumstances of the Province, and
after mature deliberation, the following
resolution was unanimously adopted, viz.:

"That in the opinion of this Board the
population and circumstances of the
Province render necessary the immediate
establishment in Dunedin of a Provincial
High School upon a much more liberal
and extended basis than has hitherto
existed; and that, while the special
arrangements for the carrying on of the
work of the school may with advantage
be left to the Principal and the Masters
that may be appointed, the proposed
institution should be established and con-
ducted on the following general principles,
viz.:

1. The proposed High School of Otago
   as provided for by the Education Ordi-
   nance, 1862, shall be established with a
   view to place within the reach of the
   youth of this Province the means of pro-
   curing a thorough English, Classical,
   Commercial, and Mathematical education,
   and also instruction in those other branches
   of knowledge, the acquirement of which
   constitutes a liberal education.

2. Such number of competent masters
   and assistants shall be employed in the
   institution as the advancement of the
   Province and the increase of the population
   may from time to time render neces-
   sary. The number of masters at the
   outset shall be not less than three. One
   of the masters shall hold the appointment
   of Principal, and shall have the general
   oversight of all the classes within the
   institution, and shall be responsible for
   the good government, efficiency, and suc-
   cess of the same; but each master, as far
   as possible, shall have the charge of a
   distinct department of instruction.

3. Subject to such modifications as cir-
   cumstances may from time to time render
   necessary and expedient, the departments
   of instruction shall be arranged somewhat
   as follows, viz.:—

   1. Principal’s (or Classical Master’s)
      Department.—To include Latin,
      Greek, French, &c., Ancient His-
      tory and Geography, &c.