SCHOOLS IN THE WELLINGTON DISTRICT. Wanganui, situated in the north of the Wellington provincial district, is the seat of several educational institutions of high value. The town itself is beautifully situated on the northern branch of the Wanganui River, which is perhaps one of the most beautiful rivers in the colony. It is not far from the mouth of the river. The main school is what is termed the Wanganui Collegiate School. It is managed by trustees, but it is connected with the Anglican church of New Zealand. It is, perhaps, the largest boarding school in the colony and has been well managed for a large number of years. The Bishop of Wellington and Primate of New Zealand, the Rev. Dr. Hadfield, gives the following short résumé of the school: It had its origin in a grant to the church of 250 acres of land, partly swamp and partly sand hills, in the vicinity of the then small town of Wanganui, about the year 1855, for the purpose of establishing a school for children of both races. For many years this land yielded very small returns, the land for the most part having been let on long leases at nominal rents, as much labor was required to render it in any degree productive. For some years a school was carried on by a very competent master, chiefly for the benefit of children of the Maori race; but, from the unsettled and disturbed state of the country at that time and from other causes, the school was not successful. In the year 1882, higher rents having been obtained, the trustees of the property thought some attempt might be made to establish a school of a more satisfactory kind. They were able to avail themselves of an offer made by the late W. B. Harvey, D. D., of Cambridge, to establish a grammar school on a sound basis. This he did. And at the time of his rather sudden death four years ago he had a considerable number of boys both as boarders and day scholars. The school was acknowledged to be a success. Mr. W. Empson, B. A (Oxford), who had for some time been second master, succeeded Dr. Harvey. The school has continued to improve. It has now attained a recognized position as one of the best grammar schools in New Zealand. The trustees hope that, so soon as the debt incurred for the purpose of erecting the excellent buildings in which the school is carried on has been discharged, they may be able on the same property to establish a branch school for Maori boys, for which in a few years it is probable there may be a demand. I now annex a short statement just received from Mr. Empson: "Programme of work, etc.: The day begins at 7 a. m. with half an hour's preparation of work. From 7:30 to 8, gymnasium or running. The morning school hours extend from 9 to 12:45. The afternoon from 2 to 3:30 in summer, 3:30 to 5 in winter. Evening preparation is carried on from 7 to 8:30. The course of instruction comprises Greek, Latin, French, English, composition and history, geography, mechanics, trigonometry, geometry, algebra, arithmetic, physiology, divinity, drawing, and shorthand. There is also a carpenters' shop, where practical carpentry is taught, a debating society, a cadet corps, and the usual cricket, football, rowing, and tennis clubs also exist in connection with the school. The present numbers attending are 155, of whom 115 are boarders and 40 day scholars. The year is divided into three equal terms of thirteen weeks each, with six weeks holidays at Christmas, four in May, and three in September." To this I would add that there are 8 masters, one of whom is a clergyman, a graduate of Cambridge, who is chaplain and who officiates in the excellent chapel built chiefly by the efforts of the late Dr. Harvey. A few further details may be valuable. To understand the attitude towards this and other schools, it may be necessary to point out that the first education act ever passed in the colony was passed in 1847, and it was entirely denominational in its character, for it provided that education should be under the management of the Anglican Church, the head of the Roman Catholic Church, the superintendents of the Wesleyan ministry, or the head of any other religious body engaged in education in the colony. To help these bodies in their work of education, grants of land were given to them by the Government. This was the origin of the Wanganui Collegiate School. A grant was given to help the Anglican Church in the teaching of the Maori aboriginal and other children. It was to be industrial in its character. As, however, a special act was passed-the native schools act-for providing education for the Maoris, the endowments set apart in Wanganui were utilized by the church for a secondary school. The course of study is that of an ordinary high school, the work of the highest and lowest classes being as follows: Highest.-Latin, Greek, French, science, English, mathematics, drawing. The total income from reserves in 1891 was £777 98. 8d. There is a high school for girls established in Wanganui, which has received endowments from the Government. It is under the management of a board duly incorporated, the members being the members of the education board of the Wanganui education district for the time being. This school has only been lately opened. It has 54 girls attending it and the course of study is as follows: Highest.-Latin: Grammar exercises to end of Smith's Principia, part 1. English: Marie's grammar, Shakespeare (two plays). French: Larousse's grammar and Fleury's L'Histoire de France. German: Otto's Grammar and Hauffe's Tales. Arithmetic: Whole subject. Algebra to end of simple equations. Euclid: First and second books. History: Epochs (chosen). Geography: General, in detail. The staff consists of Miss C. E. N. Harrison, M. A. (A 1), lady principal, and Miss I. H. Hudson, Miss M. T. Hill, B. A., Miss E. M. Krull, B. A., assistants; M. D. Blair, F. L. S., art master; Mrs. Charles Wood, matron. The revenue from rents and moneys invested and reserve was £576 19s. 3d. In the city of Wellington there are three excellent secondary schools, viz, the Wellington College, St. Patrick's College, and the girls' high school. The two first-named institutions are for boys. The Wellington College arose out of a grant of land given for the purposes of higher education in 1853. The college, however, was not opened under this endowment until early in the year 1868. The following is a short history of the school: This college was founded by Sir George Grey, K. C. B., who, in 1853, as governor of New Zealand, set apart by crown grant certain parcels of land as an endowment for or towards the maintenance and support of a college or grammar school to which persons of all classes or races who may inhabit the colony were to be equally admitted, and at which, in addition to the usual course of education in the English language and mathematics and in such other branches of learning as the trustees may direct, all students shall, if they desire it, receive instruction in the Greek and Latin languages. It was not until 1867, however, that a school was opened under the trustees of the land so set apart. It was begun in a small way in rented premises, but soon increased in numbers, and in 1868 a building was erected in which for the next six years the school was carried on. In 1872 an act was passed by the general assembly by which the trustees were replaced by a body corporate styled "The Governors of Wellington College," and in 1874 the school having further increased the present buildings were begun. These have from time to time been added to as circumstances required, the cost as they now stand having been upwards of £12,000. The college buildings stand in a reserve of 69 acres, inostly consisting of hills, but with a flat piece of land in front of the buildings available as a play ground and now being enlarged and improved. The site is a commanding one and embraces the elements of considerable quiet beauty. There is accommodation for upwards of 50 boarders, the dormitories being lofty and well ventilated. There are large class rooms and hall and gymnasium, and a dwelling house for the head master, all comprised in the one building. In the grounds are a laundry, and a cottage available as a hospital in case of illness among the boarders. The school year is divided into three terms of thirteen weeks each. The course of study is arranged with the view of preparing candidates for the matriculation and junior scholarship examinations of the University of New Zealand, and at the same time special attention is given to the requirements of pupils who desire to follow a commercial course. The subjects taught are classics, mathematics, English, history, geography, French, German, natural science, drawing, and shorthand. The fees are, upper school, £13 48.; lower school, £10 128. a year, including stationery. Boarders' fees, full, 40 guineas; weekly, 30 guineas; daily, £10 guineas a year. The number of pupils now in attendance is 119, of whom 21 are boarders. The college and the girls' high school are managed by a board appointed as follows: The governing body of the Wellington College and Girls' High School consists of 8 members, one of whom shall be the mayor for the time being of the city of Wellington; another shall be the chairman for the time being of the education board of the district of Wellington, and of the remaining 6 members, divided into two equal groups, 3 shall be elected by the parents or guardians of pupils attending the school who have attended the school for not less than one quarter, and 3 others shall be appointed by the governor in council. And every person so appointed, excepting the mayor of the city of Wellington for the time being and the chairman for the time being of the education board, continues in office for the term of five years from his appointment. Total revenue from reserves for last year amounted to £1,485 58. 4d. The school fees of the college and girls' school together amounted to £2,246 0s. 5d. There are several scholarship funds, viz: The Turnbull, the Moore, the Rhodes, and the Barincoat scholarship and prize funds. The work done by the boys will be ascertained from the following: WORK OF HIGHEST AND LOWEST CLASSES. Highest.-Latin: Livy xX1 and XXII; Horace, Satires (books I and II); sight translation, various; Latin prose, Moir; Latin Primer, all with notes. Greek: Xenophon, Anabasis, book 1, easy sight translation; Sidgwicks's First Greek Reader; Grammar, Abbott and Mansfield, and accidence generally. English: Grammar-Smith and Hall and Morris; Composition: Hall, Abbot and various; Chaucer, Prologue and Nonnie Preste's Tale; Spenser, book 1, canto 5; Shakespeare, Merchant of Venice; Milton, Comus; essays, various. French: Havet's Grammar, parts I and II; Havet's Composition, Nos. 11 to 22; Racine, Athalie; Sandeau, Mdlle. de la Seiglière; Laniche, Le Voyage de Mons. Perichon. Arithmetic: The whole subject; Algebra: To end of permutations and combinations. Trigonometry: Todhunter for beginners. Euclid: Books I, II, III, IV, VI, and deductions. Science: Inorganic chemistry, heat, electricity. Mechanics: Todhunter for beginners. Lowest.-Latina: Principia, part 1 to page 87, easy selections from Ovid. French: Elementary. English: Outlines of etymology and syntax, analysis and parsing, composition, various. Geography: New Zealand, Australia, and outlines of Europe, Asia, and Africa. History: George I to Victoria. Arithmetic: Vulgar and decimal fractions, and commercial rules. The following scholarships were held: College scholarships, free education Levin scholarships, £10.. Rhodes scholarship, £35. Scholarships of the education board.......... 4 2 1 16 St. Patrick's College is a fine, substantial brick building. It is conducted by Marist Brothers, and is entirely under the control of the Marist order. Its scholars prepare for the matriculation examination of the New Zealand University. There is accommodation for boarders. It is open for inspection by the government, as holders of education board scholarships can attend it. The principal is the Rev. Dr. Watters. This is the only Roman Catholic secondary school in the colony. It was opened in 1885, and has an attendance of about 70 or 80. The girls' high school has 113 in attendance, and is accommodated in a fine wooden building at the northern end of the city. It was started in 1882, but not formally opened till February, 1883, when 60 pupils were enrolled. The school steadily increased till 1886, when 121 pupils were on the roll, and then the present site was obtained and the buildings begun. The buildings are of wood, and cost £5,000. They are commodious, and the grounds surrounding them contain about 2 acres of land. The course of instruction includes English language, grammar, compositions and literature, modern languages and literature, history,physical and political geography, physical and natural science, Latin, arithmetic, Euclid, algebra, trigonometry, writing, vocal music, needlework, dressmaking, and calisthenics. Pupils are prepared by the regular course for the matriculation and junior scholarship examinations of the University of New Zealand. Matriculated students are also prepared for the examination for keeping the first year's term of their university course in such subjects as fall within the scope of the regular work of the school. There is also a shorthand class, and those of the pupils who wish it attend the school of design for instruction in drawing. The school year is divided into three terms of thirteen weeks each. The fees are, upper school, £13 48.; lower school, £10 128. a year, including stationery. The pianoforte is taught at the school, the fees being paid to the teachers; those pupils who learn paying 108. a year to the board for the use of piano. There are at present 143 pupils in attendance. THE NELSON COLLEGES. The city of Nelson is situated in the north of the middle island of New Zealand on Blind Bay, and is the chief town of the Nelson provincial district. Its climate is very equable and it is a health resort. At the north of the city lies a natural breakwater called the "Bowlder bank." It has a northern or sunny exposure and in the summer there is sea breeze, which keeps the city cool. It has two high schools. The settlement of Nelson was founded under the auspices of the New Zealand Company, and special provision was made in Nelson, as in many of the other settlements, that a sum should be devoted by the company for religious and educational purposes. The establishment of a college in Nelson was specially mentioned as one of the educational objects that was to receive aid from the company, and trustees were appointed under an act of the imperial Parliament to receive these funds for this purpose. The first trustees were, David Munro (afterwards Sir David Munro), Francis Dillon Bell (afterwards Sir Francis Dillon Bell), Alfred Fell, and John Waring Saxton. In 1854 the Nelson trust funds act was passed, which provided for the appointment of new trustees and for the management of the trust funds that were to be obtained from the company. The company, however, did not pay these moneys at that time to the trustees, and it was not until after some negotiation, and after the government of the colony had undertaken the liabilities of the New Zealand Company, that funds were obtained for the founding of the college. By a deed dated 14th November, 1857, £20,000 was set a part for a college, that was to be managed by a visitor and nine governors. In 1858 application was made to Parliament to incorporate the trustees that had been appointed by deed, and the Nelson College act, 1858, was passed, which is the act under which the college is still managed. The trust deed declared that the college was to be an educational institution for the advancement of religion and morality and the promotion of useful knowledge, and that creed could not be admitted as a disqualification either as regards teachers or pupils. The course of instruction was to include the English language and literature, one or more modern languages, geography, mathematics, classics, history, drawing, music, and such other branches of art and science as the co uncil shall at any time determine. No pupil was to be admitted under the age of 9 years, nor unless he was able to read fluently, to write with tolerable accuracy from dictation, and be |