house and furniture in this District are not up to the standard maintained by the other Districts in the Parish. No. 2, Bocabec Ridge, has repaired its old house instead of building a new one as was voted. Considering the condition and location of the old house I think it would have been better policy to have built a new one on a better site. No. 5, Elmsville, opened its school more promptly in the second term than usual and the attendance fully justified the innovation. The house in No. 6 is poor, but the furniture and apparatus are good. No. 2, Whittier Ridge, regularly supports a good school.

St. Croix.-Nos. 2 and 3 maintain efficient schools. The attendance in both districts is large. No. 4, Bartlett's Mills, does not keep its school in regular operation. The School in Upper Waweig, No. 5, fell off greatly during the first term, but has improved since. Orr, No. 4, has a good school.

St. Andrews. I have little to add to and nothing to detract from the report I made last year concerning the schools of the Town. They compare very favorably with any others in my district. The apparatus and libraries have been added to during the year. The Trustees continue to take an active and intelligent interest in all that pertains to the welfare of the schools. At my visit a combined meeting of Trustees and Teachers was held, at which many excellent suggestions were made, and I doubt not, long before this carried into effect. The teaching staff of the Town has sustained a loss in the retirement of Mr. Sutherland and Miss Howard. Both teachers enjoyed the confidence of the Board.

Chamcook. No. 6 opens its school very late in the second term and the attendance is very irregular.

St. David. The house in Power's District, No. 1, has been repaired. No. 2 maintains a better and more regular school than formerly. Nos. 3, 4 and 5 have efficient schools. Oak Bay, No. 6, supports a good school. An excellent school has been maintained in Hill's Point, No. 5. The attendance is increasing to such an extent that it has been decided to enlarge the house. Nos. 7 and 8 maintain a school during half the year. No. 10, Hitching's Settlement, supports a good school. The school at Moore's Mills is doing good work. The Trustees and Ratepayers regretted the retirement of Mr. John D. Robertson, a most efficient teacher. Mr. Robertson carries the good wishes of everyone with him in his new field of labor, which is in taking a course at McGill College. He has been succeeded by Mr. Amasa Plummer.

Dufferin. Both Schools in this parish might be operated more regularly with advantage to all. There is no good reason why they should not be kept in operation all the time. The Ratepayers will probably insist upon this course in the future.

St. James.--Nos. 1 and 2 were supported as usual. No. 3, Lawrence Station, has completely renovated and furnished its house. It is now a very neat and attractive building. The Trustees of Anderson, No. 4, have been somewhat dilatory and that coupled with the scarcity of teachers has deprived the children of this District of many School privileges during the year. I expect to see a regular School maintained hereafter. Nos. 5, 8 and 10 do not keep Schools in operation during the whole year. Nos. 7 and 9 have good Schools. It is proposed to unite Nos. 11 and 12. A neat new

School House has been built in No. 11. The School in Gleason Road, No. 13, though small is in good condition. A fine School flag has been obtained for the School in Little Ridgeton, No. 14, through the exertions of the Teacher, Miss Maxwell. The Schools in Nos. 15 and 17 are excellent in every respect.

St. Stephen. The house in No. 3 has been neatly painted. Owing to the loss of the School House in Mohannes, No. 4, and the difficulties that have been raised against the building of a new one, there has been no School in this District during the year. It is proposed to unite this District with No. 4, which has never supported a School. As soon as this matter has been decided, I hope to see immediate steps taken toward the erection of a new house. Through the exertions of the teacher, Miss Yerxa, the house in Heathland, No. 6, has been painted. The house in No. 7, Blacklands, has also been painted. Valley Park, No. 8, has procured new furniture.

West Isles.-A School was maintained on Indian Island, No. 1, during the first term. No. 2, Chocolate Cove, has had during the year one of the most efficient Schools on Deer Island. No. 3, Bar Island needs a new School House. The house and premises in No. 4 are poor. No. 5, Lord's Cove, has been divided. One of the new Districts has made provision for a new house. I have not learned whether any such provision has been made in the other District or not. I believe the division, from an educational standpoint, to have been bad policy and think it will be regarded as such in the future. The Schools in Nos. 6, 6 and 7 have not been as efficiently maintained during the whole year as usual. No. 8, Bean's Island supports a School as usual.

Campobello.-The excellent School library and apparatus in Welch pool, No. 1, have been largely added to during the year. School flags have also been procured for two of the School buildings. I think that the attendance at the Schools in this District might be greatly improved. Nos. 2 and 3 have had regular Schools.

Grand Manan.-There are four departments in No. 1, three of which are operated regularly. There is urgent need for another department, as the primary department is very much overcrowded—it containing at times over one hundred pupils. Another department is also necessary for at least the second term in No. 2, Castalia. I understand the Trustees intend to open one. The school in No. 3, Woodward's Cove, is not as efficiently maintained as the other schools on the Island. No. 4, Grand Harbor, keeps good schools in regular operation. Money has been voted in Seal Cove, No. 5, for a new School House. No. 6, Whitehead, has had a school in regular operation. No. 7, Two Islands, maintained a school during the first term. It is a pity that this school could not be kept in more constant operation. No. 9, Deep Cove, has made good provision for its school considering the resources of the District. Through the exertions chiefly of Mr. F. A. Cheney, a local licensed Teacher has been engaged and a school opened on Three Islands. There are seven children to attend. This is the first time a school has been in operation in that District. Quite an amount of improvement has been made in some of the Districts on Grand Manan by the exertions of the Teachers. A flag and library have been procured for No. 1, a flag for No. 4 and for No. 9.

Milltown. The schools in this Town are well organized and well supplied with all

necessary apparatus. The school buildings are in excellent condition. Misses Kerr and Hanson have resumed their duties as teachers. Mr. W. T. Kerr retired at the end of the first term and was succeeded by Mr. J. B. Sutherland, A. B. I have no doubt but that Mr. Sutherland will sustain in Milltown the high reputation as a teacher that he achieved in St. Andrews.

At

St. Stephen, (Town).—A great many changes have taken place in the composition of the teaching staff of St. Stephen during the year. the end of the first term Misses Moore, McLean, Dibblee and Mr. Lockray retired. Misses McKenzie, Ganong, Everett and Hanson have been appointed in their places. Miss Bridges resumed her school at the beginning of the second term to the gratification of all interested in her school. I regret to have to report the death of Miss Annie Moore, shortly after her resignation. She was a young lady who enjoyed the esteem and respect of all who came in contact with her and her conscientious discharge of too numerous duties in every good cause brought on, in the opinion of many, her early death. There is now •

no teacher employed in St. Stephen who does not hold a first-class license. The Board has also taken especial pains in the selection of its staff, which is exceptionally strong in consequence. I doubt whether the schools in St. Stephen have ever been in better condition. I do not think this Town need fear comparison with any other in the Province regarding schools. At my visit in May last I invited the Trustees and Teachers to meet me to discuss general school matters. Nearly all responded, and a most useful and suggestive exchange of views was had. I feel certain that the Teachers went away from the meeting with much clearer ideas as to the Trustees' wishes and the Trustees with a better perception of some of the Teachers' difficulties than before. I think it would be well if Trustees and Teachers could meet oftener in an informal way.

Musquash.-No. 5 has new furniture and much approved apparatus, due largely to the exertions of the Teacher, Miss Julia Cody. Musquash, No. 6, has obtained a school library through the exertions of the Teacher, Miss Robb. The School in Dipper Harbor is only in fair condition, a much better School is maintained in Chance Harbor,

No. 9, Cranberry Head, supported a School during half the year. There are a number of pupils to attend, but the house is almost unfit for use, and the majority of the Ratepayers are not interested, except to keep down taxation. I hope to see a new house begun before long. The school in No. 10 is in fair condition.

Lancaster. The house and appliances in Beaconsfield, No. 1, are all that can be desired. The schools are not as efficient as I would wish to see them. The largest school building in No. 2, Fairville, was burned in June last. I obtained authority to call a special meeting, at which the sum of $5,000 was voted for a new house, but what with difficulties in securing a site and projects for the enlargement of the District, nothing has been done yet. In the meantime, these schools, overcrowded and poorly housed, are in a wretched condition. I hope to see Fairville District enlarged and a creditable school building there before another report. No. 3 has had a better School than usual. For such an able District the furniture is very poor. The other schools in Lancaster are well equipped and well maintained.

Simonds.--No. 2 has had a School in operation during the second term. The

District affairs have been badly managed, and it is only now beginning to recuperate. No. 4, Silver Falls, has painted its house. The School in No. 5 has been very poor and irregular. No. 7, Loch Lomond, kept a School in operation one term. Nos. 8 and 9 have maintained regular Schools. There has been no School in Mispec, No. 10, during the year. The District is poor and the children few. Nos. 12, 13 and 15 have for the most part supported good schools. No move has as yet been made for a new house in No. 14, Tynemouth Creek. No. 17, Hibernia, has had no school during the year. There are few children in the District, but a School will be opened at the beginning of next year. Nos. 16 and 18 have supported regular Schools. Nos. 20, 21 and 22 have not had School in operation during the whole year.

St. Martins.-No. 1, Bain's Corner, has a neat little School House with pleasant surroundings. The Schools in Quaco, No. 2, are generally in good conditions. The Trustees are not as prompt in furnishing needed apparatus as I could wish to see them, and the library--the fund for which was raised some two years ago--has not yet been procured. Nos. 3, 3 and 4 have never maintained better schools. No. 9, Wood Lake, has procured some needful apparatus, but requires better furniture. The destruction of the Henry Lake Mills will prove a severe blow to this district. No. 10, Hanford Brook, had a poor school during the first term, but a much better one during the second term. Through the exertions of the Teacher, the new house has been well supplied with apparatus. Miss Harding, Teacher in No. 11, by means of a School entertainment, has supplied her school with a complete suite of new furniture. No. 12 has had a fair School. No. 13 a good one. No. 14, Long Beach, has had a School in opeation one term during the year. The Schools in St. John County are generally in a very thrifty and satisfactory condition.

Westfield.-Grand Bay, No. 1, is now one of the best equipped Schools in the Parish. No. 2, Westfield, has fallen off somewhat from its former excellence. No. 2 has no new house as yet, but the preliminary steps have been taken toward it. Nos. 4 and 5 have had schools during one term. No. 5, Cheyne Settlement, has painted its house, which is well furnished, and there is a large number of pupils to attend, but there are but two Trustees and it does not seem possible to add to the number, owing to the lack of ambition for office which exists in the District. The other Districts in this Parish are well equipped and regularly supported. This is one of the best Parishes I have to support schools.

Brunswick.--No. 1, Upper Brunswick, has painted its house and supplied some needful apparatus. Oak Point, No. 2, after considerable urging has, I think, set about building a new house, which I hope to be able to report next year. No. 3, Jones' Creek, has refurnished its house. A new house in a more central location is needed in this District. No. 4, Lily Lake, has maintained an excellent school. No. 5, Brunswick Hill, has supported a school as usual.

City of Saint John.-The condition of the schools in this city remains about the same as outlined in my somewhat extended report of last year. The improvements that I pointed out as being needed there are with few exceptions needed now. The building committee has been active during the year and several minor but very

necessary improvements have been made. During the year there have been several changes in the teaching staff. 1 regret to report the death of Mr. F. H. Hayes, for some time Superintendent of the city schools. Mr. Hayes was a painstaking and industrious official and possessed the entire confidence of his School Board. Messrs. Manning and Chisholm retired from the staff of the boy's High School, the former to fill the position of Secretary of the School Board vacated by Mr. John March who was appointed Superintendent. The vacancies in the High School staff have been filled by the appointment of Mr. Philip Cox, A. B., and Mr. W. J. S. Myles, A. M. Mr. Cox brings to the discharge of his new duties a ripened experience and an excellent reputation as a Teacher. Mr. Myles has done good work as Principal of the Douglas Avenue school and his promotion was deserved. Another department has been added to the Girls' High School. Miss Minnie Knowlton has been appointed as Teacher of it. The appropriation made by the St. John Board for music in the schools has produced good results. Theory of music is now taught in all the schools taught by the Sisters, in the Victoria School and I think in some other schools. Under the instruction given in these schools I believe pupils passing out of Grade VIII. will be able to read music with facility and that without any interference with their other school work. I hope this subject will receive attention in all the schools, as it varies and brightens the work and is most useful as well. Modeling which received so much attention in the St. John schools, two years ago, has apparently almost become a thing of the past. I think this neglect a mistake.

SCHOOL GROUNDS AND PREMISES.

Arbor Day was quite generally observed in this district. The number of trees planted was not so great as last year. As I have pointed out before, the nature of many of the school grounds in my district does not favor the growth of trees. St. George planted more trees this year than any other district. I am sorry to say, through some mistake in transmission, the report did not reach me.

The general appearance of the school buildings and premises is excellent. A shabby School House is becoming the exception. With scarcely an exception the School Houses in this district are supplied with modern furniture. For many of the improvements made, several districts are under obligations to the teachers who with the assistance of the pupils and others have raised funds to paint, furnish, supply with apparatus, found school libraries and purchase school flags. This work has often been accomplished under difficulties which called for great exertions, but I may say that I have seldom appealed in vain to the Teachers to effect needed improvements, where the Trustees neglected or could not be induced to do so.

THE SCHOOL DISTRICT.

Each year brings its troubles to many School Districts and this year has been no exception. Happily none of them have been so serious as not to be capable of adjustment. No law suits have taken place. Some boundaries have been changed and some others are in process of being changed. I have more trouble in obtaining and locating sites for new houses than on any other account. Proposed school sites rapidly appreciate in value. The increasing number of notices that I have to issue each year for