This school consists of six departments, all in a good state of efficiency. J. G. A. Belyea, Esq., A.B., is principal. There are three Superior Schools in Albert County, one at Hopewell Hill, one in Hillsboro village, and one at Elgin Corner. There are six Superior Schools in Westmorland County, one at Petitcodiac, one at Salisbury, one at Moncton, one at Dorchester, one in Sackville, district No. 11, and one at Port Elgin; and one at Havelock Corner, in Kings County.

The Superior School at Petitcodiac, in charge of Mr. John Brittain and his associate teachers, Miss Annie Moore and Miss Comber, continues to maintain its position as one of the best schools in the Province. The Superior School at Dorchester, in charge of Mr. Geo. J. Oulton, is steadily advancing in efficiency. Mr. Oulton is a faithful teacher, and has succeeded in gaining the confidence and esteem of his pupils, as well as the respect of the community at large. The tone of his school is excellent.

I am pleased to be able to report a decided improvement in the general condition of the schools in the town of Moncton. While many of the departments have always been in a satisfactory condition, still there have always been a few that were not satisfactory. The Board of Trustees, led on by their energetic Secretary, C. R. Palmer, Esq., are determined to raise the condition of the Schools to a higher state of efficiency, and their united efforts in this direction, particularly during the past year, have been eminently successful.

In addition to the Grammar and Superior Schools (which are all graded schools of two or more departments), there are in the County of Albert three other graded schools of two departments each; one at Harvey, one at Hopewell Cape, and one at Surrey, in the Parish of Hillsboro; making in all seven graded schools in the County of Albert. In the County of Westmorland there are four other graded schools of two departments each; three in Sackville, district No. 9, and one in Sackville, district No. 11. These schools are all doing good work, in some cases work quite equal to that done in the Superior Schools.

Among these I may Annie M. Gifford, and

Much excellent work is done too in the ungraded schools. mention the school in district No. 3, Coverdale, taught by Miss the school at Forest Glen, District No. 2, Parish of Salisbury. Miss Gifford has taught for a number of years, and has proved herself to be one of the very best teachers it has been my privilege to meet. Mr. Starratt does work second to no teacher of an ungraded school in my Inspectorate.

During the year new school-houses were completed in the following districts :

This

An additional school-room has been added to the school-house in Petitcodiac. additional building affords ample accommodation for the Primary Department for which it was specially built. The school-house accommodation in Petitcodiac is now unequalled by any district in this Inspectorate.

A fair amount of repairs and general improvement in the school-house and premises have been made during the year, but much still remains to be done.

The interest in school libraries is yearly increasing. In my report for last year I intimated that it was through the efforts of the teachers that this very important part of the equipment of the school is to he secured, and I am pleased to know that a few teachers at least have put forth some effort in this direction. In district No. 7, Point de Bute, a course of lectures was instituted under the direction of the teacher, Fred. A. Dixon, Esq., A.B., and the sum of about $30 realized. The interest and coôoperation of the pupils were secured by giving them the tickets to sell; the community was bene fited by the course of lectures, and a library consisting of about twenty-six volumes was obtained. In the Superior School in Dorchester, also, through the efforts of teachers and pupils a library consisting of about ninety-four volumes has been secured. Other teachers are beginning to see the importance of doing something in this very important

matter.

Colwell Road district No. 19, Elgin, is the only new district established during the year. This settlement formed a part of Collier district No. 6, Elgin, but as a number of the children were too far from the school, it was deemed advisable to form a new district. No change of importance was made in any other district.

In this Inspectorate Arbor Day was observed by about forty-five districts, as follows:

According to reports received from teachers about 797 trees and 117 shrubs were planted, and 29 flower beds were made. In cases where trees could not be planted the school-houses and grounds were improved in appearance. On the whole I believe that Arbor Day was profitably spent throughout this Inspectorate.

I am pleased to be able to state that at the present time school matters generally throughout my Inspectorate are very quiet. A fair degree of harmony characterizes the working of the school system, and good progress is being made in the schools.

From what I can learn I believe the assessment law would be more acceptable to the people, if it were so amended as to make all property taxable in the district in which it is situated.

The Westmorland County Teachers' Institute met at Dorchester in September. The public meeting on Thursday evening was addressed by the Chief Superintendent,

Dr. Smith, of Mount Allison University, Hon. P. A. Landry and others. The Albert County Teachers' Institute met at Harvey in October. Manual work was exhibited at both Institutes.

I have the honor to be, Sir,

Your obedient servant,

GEO. SMITH,

Inspector for District No. 3.

INSPECTORAL DISTRICT No. 4-D. P. Wetmore, Inspector, Clifton, Kings County, N. B.

This District embraces the Counties of Queens and Sunbury, and the County of Kings, except the Parishes of Westfield, Greenwich, Havelock and Cardwell.

WILLIAM CROCKET, Esq., A. M.,

Chief Supt. of Education,

Fredericton, N. B.

SIR: I have the honor to submit herewith my report for the year ended December 31st, 1888.

I am much pleased to be able to report a more general educational activity in my Inspectoral district than last year. More school-houses have been built, or are nearly built; more apparatus has been added, and generally speaking the schools were in a rather better state than they were at the time of my report a year ago. I do not know that many more schools were open than before, but rather more interest seems to have been taken in them by those who have pupils to send, which has had an excellent effect on the teacher, and has led to better work.

I am pleased to be able to report considerable improvement in school grounds, with which improvement "Arbor Day" should be largely credited. Grounds have been levelled, fences repaired, outhouses put in good order, trees set and other improvements made. Considerable addition has been made to the apparatus, but not perhaps to the same extent as improvements in other directions. All this is encouraging, but there is still plenty of room for improvement, and I trust that the good work will go on increasingly for the coming year.

One hundred and twelve districts observed Arbor Day this year, as against sixty last year, setting a great number of trees, more, perhaps, than were actually required, clearing up and levelling grounds, making flower beds, renovating school-houses, holding public meetings in the districts, etc., thus awakening in the people a more direct interest in their schools and school accommodation. Of course some mistakes continue to be made unsuitable trees are often set, trees are set where they are not required,

and some are set improperly and fail to grow, but on the whole a vast advancement is made, grounds being permanently improved and interest awakened.

The evil of irregular attendance still continues, having been aggravated somewhat in the second term by the unprecedentedly wet weather, which interfered with the attendance of the smaller children, and compelled farmers to keep their larger children at home to assist in gathering the harvest when an opportunity did occur. Compulsory attendance is spoken of by many, but I do not see my way clear to recommend it yet.

The subjects of the course of instruction are generally pretty nearly all taught in my Inspectorate with varying success. Many teachers complain that they have not copies of the course of instruction, and cannot get them, but I trust that will soon be remedied--that is, when the new edition of the course is published. Teachers find a difficulty in teaching all the subjects of the course to large pupils, who come only for a short time in the winter season.

Reading is generally very well taught throughout the district, and sometimes pushed to the disadvantage of other subjects. This is in part occasioned by pressure from the parents, who often appear to imagine the advancement in a reading book means general advancement. At my visits I caution teachers against yielding to this pressure, and advise them to give special attention (taking more time) to those subjects they find to have been neglected.

The subject of Arithmetic is fairly well taught now, hardly on a par with reading, but doing pretty well. Grammar is receiving the attention it should by those pupils who attend regularly, but those who only attend for short periods in the year are apt to be neglected or to decline to take it up altogether.

The subject of Geography has never seemed to me to receive quite the attention that it ought; in fact it appears not to have quite the place it should in the course. At the end of Standard IV, where so many leave the country schools, this subject does not generally seem to have been sufficiently studied. It is always taught, but frequently appears to a disadvantage with the other subjects.

Drawing is taught in most of the schools, but not as it should be in all.

often make objections to having their children take up the subject, which embarrasses the teacher.

The subject of History is fairly well taught, on an average British History better than Canadian History. Some schools are models in respect to instruction in history.

Useful Knowledge (so-called), minerals, plants, animals, etc., is receiving attention in nearly all the schools, but, perhaps, not in all to the degree that it should. When subjects in advance of Standard IV are taught in the miscellaneous schools, they are generally well taught, though not always. It is seldom, however, that all the subjects of the course are taken up after the pupil gets beyond Standard IV.

Ten districts have built, or are building, new houses, and four more had their houses somewhat extensively repaired.

There were six Superior Schools at work in my district for the past year-three in Kings County, two in Queens, and one in Sunbury, all doing the work contemplated by the Board of Education.

I regret to have to report that Mr. George N. Pearson left the one at Apohaqui, where he taught so long and successfully, at the end of the first term.

Mr. F. E. Whelpley still continues in charge of the one at Hampton Station, and

is managing it with his usual success. W. S. W. Raymond, A. B., also still continues at Springfield Corner, keeping up the reputation of the Superior School there.

That at Gaspereaux Forks, Chipman, was still in charge of Mr. George W. Fleming at my visit, and I believe he continues there, doing the usual satisfactory work.

Application was made to the Trustees to have the school at McDonald's Point, Wicklow, in charge of Mr. L. J. Flower, admitted as a Superior School for the last term. The application was somewhat late, but the school was doing all the work of a Superior School, and doing it well, and I trust will be acknowledged as such.

Mr. Wm. Thurrott still continues in charge of the Superior School at Maugerville. This school from its situation is not large, but it has always done satisfactory work.

The three Grammar Schools in the Inspectorate were continued under the same teachers as last year, doing the same efficient work: S. A. McLeod, A. B., at Sussex ;. John R. Dunn, A. B., at Gagetown, and C. H. Barker, A. B., at Sheffield.

I regret to learn that Mr. Barker has resigned his situation at Sheffield, where he had done such excellent work, and that the Trustees at the beginning of the new year are without a teacher.*

County Institutes were held in Kings and Queens Counties, of which reports were sent you.

Below is a resume of the district by parishes:

Hammond. There are seven districts in this Parish, but one is not organized at present. All the others are in working order, although most of them are not as well supplied with apparatus as they should be, but improvement is hoped for next year. That at No. 6 is the best equipped school. Two of the districts here celebrated Arbor Day.

Hampton. Of the ten districts in this Parish each had a school this year except one, and that one (No. 5) is comparatively near to No. 9, at which house the children attend. The excellent Superior School in the fine building at Hampton Station is continued in charge of Mr. F. E. Whelpley. There are two graded schools in this Parish, one the Superior School at Hampton Station and the other at Hampton Village. I regret to learn that Mr. Puddington is leaving the school at Titusville, No. 6. He taught there for a number of years, and had one of the best schools in the Inspectorate. The majority of the schools here are well supplied with apparatus, and some excellently. One new house has been built in the new district, No. 10. Seven districts here observed Arbor Day.

Kars. There are six districts in this Parish, and each had a school last year. Α better supply of apparatus is needed. Two districts kept Arbor Day.

Kingston. Each of the fifteen districts in this Parish had a school in operation at some time during the year, and most of them were well taught. The schools at the villages of Kingston and Clifton are a little in advance of the others. The greater part of the schools are well supplied with apparatus, but not all. Taken altogether the schools of Kingston are in a satisfactory state. There should, however, be a good

*This school is now in charge of W. S. Raymond, A. B.-W. C.