Report,

on the District Prize Examinations, by F. W. Bedford, Esq., LL.D., D.C.L., House Governor of George Heriot's Hospital.

My Dear Sir—I beg to submit to you for the Council the results of the late District Prize Examination of the Orkney and Zetland Association.

The total number of candidates was 133, of whom 28 were from Lerwick, 24 from Stromness, 12 from Sandwick, 4 from Stennis, 8 from Firth, 2 from Westray, 8 from Harray and Birsay, 12 from Holm and Tankerness, 6 from Eday, 6 from Stronsay, 11 from Rousay, 2 from Evie, and 10 from South Ronaldshay. The total number of marks attainable by any candidate in the common subjects was 151, and in the special subjects, if two were taken, 100.

I send you herewith the marks of each candidate. You will see, on examining the list, that some of the schools have made a highly creditable appearance. No previous examination has at all approached this in general excellence. I must call the Council's special attention to the distinguished marks of Barbara Robertson of the Lerwick Institute, who obtained the very high total of 226; and of another pupil of the same school, Thomas Matthewson, who obtained 213; of William Sinclair of Holm, who obtained 211; of William B. Tomison of South Ronaldshay, who obtained 210; of Mary A. Taylor of Stromness Public School, who obtained 203; also of Isabella Houston, of the same school, who obtained 187; of William B. Heddle of Harray, whose total was 201; and of another boy in the same school, Samuel Isbister, who obtained 192. Several of the youngest candidates made a most hopeful appearance. John Mouat of Wasbister School, only eleven years old, having obtained the very respectable total of 176, and two others of the same age, Margaret M. Morrison of Lerwick Public School, 156, and Malcolm Clouston of Harray Public School, 153.

Ample evidence is afforded from these papers of much painstaking, skilful, and intelligent instruction on the part of most of the teachers.—I am, my dear Sir, yours very faithfully,