districts of my inspectorate. Reference to my notes shows that there are 257 schools, including 13 extra departments. The want of trained teachers to give instruction in both French and English, in Madawaska and Kent, is much felt, and in order that the schools in these counties might be kept in operation, I have had to recommend a large number of applicants for local licenses; but I am sorry to find that many of these have failed to fulfil the conditions on which these licenses are granted, that is, “to attend the Normal School at the expiration of the term."

I found in some districts that trustees sought the services of untrained teachers in preference to trained ones, because of the lower salary asked for, and in pursuance of your advice, I had a notice published in the French papers, "That no application for Local Licenses will be granted if the services of a trained teacher are available."

SCHOOL BUILDINGS, ETC.

In the County of Madawaska the school buildings are, for the most part, fair. Few may be classed good; but a large minority are inferior, though they might be considered as fair in external appearance. The graded school in Edmundston, the advanced department of which is efficiently conducted by Mr. J. Caldwell, is a spacious building. with two commodious departments. The Convent at St. Basil is also graded, the advanced department is doing good work under the management of Sister Trudel. It is sufficiently large to admit of an attendance of at least one hundred pupils. Both of these schools are well furnished with good sittings and desks, and well supplied with all other necessary appliances. In Middle St. Frances No. 1, school was taught in a room of a private dwelling. On the strong representation by the trustees of their intention to have a new school-house built within the year, I inspected it, with a clear understanding nevertheless that it would not be tolerated after this term. The school in St. Ann, No. 7, was condemned as being inadequate for the number of pupils attending it, and also on account of its dilapidated state. The trustees promised to begin the erection of a new one in the fall.

Three new school buildings were in the course of erection: Despré, Bouchardville and Poitras; the school-house of the last district was burnt down a few years ago, supposed to have been by the hand of an incendiary.

The County of Victoria is fairly equipped in school buildings, yet much remains to be done towards furnishing many of them with necessary appliances. The Superior School at Grand Falls is a very fine building, having few superiors in the Province; it has two large and commodious departments, with folding seats and patent desks; it certainly reflects credit on the little town in the centre of which it is built. Miss M. Trusswell has charge of the advanced department. She seems to spare herself no pains for the advancement of her classes. The Grammar School at Andover is also graded and has two departments; the Advanced Department is very ably conducted by Mr. J. G. Day, B. A. The Primary Department needed improvement, my recommendations in that respect have been duly attended to. The schools at Portage No. 4, California Nos. 8 and 10 and Ranger Settlement No. 9, were closed. I have the assurances of the trustees of some of those districts that they will be in operation next term.

The school buildings in Kincardine and Kintore are in good repair, and the classes are under efficient teachers, which is much to the credit of the thriving new colony. The school-house in Arthurette on the Tobique River is an old building and out of repair. The trustees expressed their intention of building a new one within a

short time, they are particularly interested in doing so as the present one is not in the centre of the district.

Two new districts have been established in New Denmark: Outlet Creek No. 13 and Foley Brook No. 12. Both have new school-houses which are ready to be opened at the beginning of next term. The trustees in both districts have secured the services of trained teachers—a course I need not comment upon. Another new school was opened in West Tilley this term. The inside of the school-house is not yet quite completed, but the trustees were taking measures to have it done for the winter.

In that part of Carleton County, within my inspectorate, all the districts which are organized had schools in operation, except four: Summerville, in Wicklow; Beaufort and West Glassville, in Kent; and Demerchant, No. 14, Aberdeen. The school at River Des Chutes, which has been temporarily closed for repairs, was reopened in October last. The Superior School at Bristol had but one department in operation this term, under the management of Mr. D. W. Ross, and a class-room assistant. Very good work is being done here; but the school-room would need some repairs, which I have reason to expect to find attended to on my future visit. Many of the school buildings · in Aberdeen are poor; but if I can judge from the good disposition of ratepayers and trustees, I may say confidently that there will be much improvement to report at the expiration of next year.

The schools of these parishes are conducted by very efficient teachers, some doing excellent work. In Beaufort some difficulties exist in reference to the school lot. The trustees claim the building while the land is in the ownership of a private individual. I hope matters will be settled satisfactory to both parties ere my next visit.

Every parish in Kent County has its complement of schools, in as far as it is settled; a majority of them are good substantial buildings. The Grammar School in Richibucto has four departments, all well equipped with necessary appliances. It may be ranked among the best in the Province. The premises are excellent, and I now express the desire that its zealous trustees will do something towards ornamenting it in the course of next year. The classes of the Advanced Department from the VIII to XI Grade displayed much ability and self-reliance, through all the different exercises, much to the credit of their earnest and painstaking teacher, J. S. Harrison, B. A. There are, besides the Grammar School just mentioned, four Superior Schools in this County-Buctouche, Bass River, Weldford and Kingston. The school-house at Bass River is sufficiently large for actual attendance and has a good class-room. That in Kingston has two departments with all requisite appliances. A class-room assistant is needed in the Superior School at Buctouche; a suitable class-room should therefore be provided, the necessity of which I have represented to the Board of Trustees. I also called the attention of the trustees of Weldford to certain necessary repairs to the inside of their school, which I believe will duly be attended to. The convent at Buctouche has four departments, all of which are fine rooms with all necessary requirements. The advanced department is doing very good work under Sister Margaret Neales. A new school-house is much needed at Kent Junction, that now existing, besides being at the extremity of the district, is too cold to have school in it in the winter. I hope the trustees will carry out their intention of building a new one. A dwelling house has been converted into a school in Harcourt No. 5. It would be desirable that trustees should erect a new building that would be more convenient.

The outhouses through my Inspectorate are, for the most part, good. Boards of

Trustees seem to be fully awakened to their importance. Of those which might be classified as poor, there are not many, and I feel satisfied that they will be repaired before my next visit. General apparatus is deficient in a very large number of schools, especially in those taught by untrained teachers. Its importance is not, I am sorry to say, sufficiently well understood. I hope that my intimations to both teachers and trustees on this subject will bring about the desired result.

School premises, generally, need much improvement. A good number is certainly well attended to, well fenced and even ornamented with fine trees; but there is still a large number of districts where trustees, I regret to say, are very indifferent in this respect. Time will certainly bring a desired change.

The attendance was, generally, small, at the time I visited the schools of the upper counties. This may partly be explained by the fact that I happened to be there in harvest time, when the larger children are kept at home; but, I regret to say, that in too many cases, it emanates, either from the indifference of parents, or the want of harmony between the teachers and the boards of trustees. It is to be hoped that such a state of things will cease to exist, as education progresses. A very general feeling here prevails in favor of compulsory education as the complement of the present school law.

COURSES OF INSTRUCTION.

Reading, especially in some country schools, is generally much in advance of the grade. Chemistry and drawing do not receive all the attention that their importance demands. In many cases the teacher is not to be blamed for this deficiency. They are oftentimes hampered in the display of their better abilities by the interference of boards of trustees, who seem to misapprehend the utility of these subjects. Grammar and Physical Geography are not, with few exceptions, up to the standard. More attention should also be given to composition in primary grades, and narrative composition from the readers. These deficiencies, though found in some of the schools of trained teachers, are very common in those of untrained teachers.

Though my inexperience as Inspector of this District, prevents me from comparing its present educational progress with former years, yet I can express myself as pleased with the general standing of its schools. Still it grieves me to have to say that there is yet a large portion of this territory where, in French speaking Districts, untrained teachers are employed, which is evidently a great drawback to the advancement of education in these localities. I hope that before long there will be a sufficient supply of trained Acadian teachers.

In concluding this report I beg leave to express to you, sir, my best thanks for the very essential service you rendered me by accompanying me at the outset of my career through the greater part of Victoria and Madawaska, and your kindly advice at all times.

I have the honor to be,

Your obedient servant,

JEROME BOUDREAU.

INSPECTORAL DISTRICT No. 3.-George Smith, A. M., Inspector,

Moncton, N. B.

THIS DISTRICT COMPRISES THE COUNTIES OF WESTMORLAND AND ALBERT AND THE PARISHES

OF HAVELOCK AND CARDWELL IN KINGS COUNTY.

SIR, I have the honor to forward my annual report of the schools and districts embraced in Inspectoral District No. 3, for the year ended 31st December, 1886.

This Inspectoral District now embraces the Counties of Westmorland and Albert and the parishes of Havelock and Cardwell in Kings County.

During the term just closed there were in operation 245 schools and departments distributed as follows: in Westmorland County 161; in Albert County 63; and in Kings County 21.

In Port Elgin, District No. 1, Parish of Westmorland, referred to in my report of last year as requiring additional school accommodation, a new school-house of two departments has been completed, and school was opened in both departments at the beginning of January.

Some much needed repairs have been made on the school-house in district No. 4, Coverdale. In District No. 2, Coverdale, a new school house is much needed.

In the village of Lewisville, referred to in my report of last year, no steps have yet been taken to provide better school accommodation. It will only be a short time before the present school-house will have to be condemned as unfit for the requirements of the district. In a few other districts better school accommodation is required, and I hope to be able to persuade the ratepayers to provide what is required without resorting to any extreme measures.

The supply of maps, black-boards and general apparatus is, upon the whole, fair; in some cases good, and in some cases very poor. I hope to see improvement in this direction where improvement is necessary.

One new district, Bannister Road, No. 15, Coverdale, was formed in May last. Application was made for the formation of a new district in the Parish of Botsford, in what is known as the Timber River Settlement. A few settlers here have, for a number of years, occupied the anomalous position of belonging to no district. For want of more complete information I was obliged to let the application stand over until I can again visit the settlement.

In the districts under my supervision good-will and harmony seem to prevail generally. In one case, however, there has been much discord; and notwithstanding that my efforts to promote peace have been supplemented by the Chief Superintendent and others interested in the welfare of the children, discord still reigns. I refer to Rosevale School, District No. 13, Hillsborough. The turmoil has lasted so long and the feeling is so bitter that a few of the ratepayers who are anxious for peace think seriously of asking the Board of Education to allow the district to become absorbed by the two adjoining districts. Few, if any, children would by this step be deprived of school

privileges.

In this inspectoral district there are eleven Superior Schools and two Grammar Schools, distributed as follows:-

Six Superior Schools and one Grammar School in Westmorland County; four*

* One of these schools is in a border district.-W. C.

Superior Schools and one Grammar School in Albert County, and one Superior School (in Havelock) in Kings County.

The Superior Schools of Westmorland County are located at Petitcodiac, Salisbury, Moncton, Dorchester, Sackville No. 11 and Westmorland No.

The Superior Schools of Albert County, are located in Alma No. 5, Hopewell Hill, Hillsboro', and Elgin Corner; and in Kings County at Havelock Corner.

The Grammar School of Westmorland County is at Shediac in charge of J. G. A. Belyea, Esq., B. A. The Grammar School of Albert County is at Harvey Corner, in charge of N. Duffy, Esq., B. A. All of these schools have maintained their reputation for efficiency during the year just closed.

A large amount of the work done in the schools of my Inspectoral District is of a very high character, particularly the advanced work.

Reading, as a general thing, is very well taught. Slate work in grade I and II receives more attention than formerly, and the quality of the work is better. I have again, however, to complain of want of thoroughness in many of the subjects of the lower grades. This arises from the practice of giving too long lessons and not reviewing often enough.

In a few cases I found teachers in the school-room who expressed, without the least reserve, their dislike for the work of teaching. This, I think, should not be. When a teacher has a positive dislike for the work of teaching he cannot do justice to the pupils, the parents, nor to himself. If teachers would map out for themselves a course of study and diligently and faithfully pursue that course much of the dislike and enuui that some of them experience would be got rid of, and a healthier tone would pervade their work, and better work would be done in their schools.

A good mental outfit is the first great prerequisite of the successful teacher; and no teacher should continue teaching from year to year without daily adding to stock of information. I find many teachers who take no educational journal and not even a weekly newspaper.

"As is the teacher so is the school" contains so much of truth that no conscientious teacher can go on teaching without improving his mind and adding to his stock of information.

Teachers' Institutes were held during the year at Sackville and at Hopewell Cape. A large number of teachers attended the Institute at Sackville, and the discussions were carried on with a great deal of enthusiasm. The Chief Superintendent of Educaation was in attendance and besides rendering valuable assistance in the discussions during the sessions delivered an address on education at the public meeting on Thursday evening. The interest in the Institute was very much enhanced by papers read by Professors Burwash and A. D. Smith of Mount Allison University. Though the attendance at the Albert County Institute was quite small the most lively interest was manifested by the teachers throughout all the sessions.