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£21 for original designs in linoleums, and Mr H. Lund two prizes of £5 each for designs in stencil work and stone work. Donations. —Examples of decorative art work and processes of manufacture have been presented by the following gentlemen and firms Messrs. Doulton and Co., London, appliances and material illustrating manufacture of pottery, and finished examples, Messrs. Lassetter and Co., Sydney, case of decorative tiles, Messrs. C. Dobson and Co., Sydney, case of decorative tiles, Messrs. Boache and Co., Sydney, examples of stamped zinc work for ceilings and roofs, Messrs. Barnett and Co., Sydney, prismatic lights and testing box Messrs. Danks and Co., Sydney, examples of drawn lead piping, Mr S. Hurst Seager, two specimens of mosaic flooring, two models of special methods of hanging window-sashes, samples of anaglypta for wall and ceiling, illustration of process of glass embossing, four casts of Benaissance ornament, samples of mouldings and ornamental woods , Messrs. E. Beece and Sons, Christchurch, ornamental wall tiling and ornamental pateras, model of drain trap, B. D. Thomas, examples of mezzotint engraving. Normal Students. -—The Normal students have attended on Friday afternoons through the year, and have received instruction in freehand and model, those taking geometry and perspective being allowed to attend the lectures on Saturday mornings. Boys' High School. —At the beginning of the present year new arrangements were made for the teaching of the boys at the High School, Mr. S. Hurst Seager being appointed to arrange and carry out a system of Sloyd instruction for the modern form. Eorty-four pupils are attending this class in two divisions, the upper receives three hours' instruction and the lower two hours per week. Freehand and model classes, attended by eighty boys, are held on Monday and Friday afternoons from 2to 4, and are taught by Mr Walsh. Geometry classes, taught by Mr S. Hurst Seager, are held on the same afternoons from 3.20 to 4, and are attended by eighty boys. The total time now given to this work is ten hours twenty minutes per week. Teachers under the Education Board. —The usual second-grade subjects have been taught to these students —viz., freehand, model, geometry, perspective, and memory drawing on the blackboard. Two of the teachers who have obtained the full Second-grade Certificate are now working for the Art Teacher's Certificate. Free Studentships. —The six free studentships offered for annual competition by the Board on the past year's work were won by the following students Painting from life, H. Spensley , landscape from nature, C. Bickerton, painting from still life, E G. Deakin; drawing from life, S. E. Bourdot, drawing from the antique, A. M. Piercy, architectural drawing, C. E. Brunsdon. The annual free studentships offered to the head boy in drawing in each of ten district State schools were competed for last February Seven schools competed, with the following result Normal, W Coombridge , Ferry Eoad, G. J Garton, West Christchurch, W J Guntrip East Christchurch, L. Booth; St. Albans, A. E. Briggs and T W Owen, Papanui, E. Morgan, Eichmond, C. K. Whale. Judges. —Mr P Van der Velden judged the drawing and painting from the life, light and shade from the antique, and still life in colour , and Mr Mountfort judged the works in architecture and decorative design. The following are the results of the competitions Freehand, first prize Miss H. Mclntyre, second T G. Earls and F Turner (equal) , model, first prize E. Archbold, second H. Bradley, light and shade from the antique, E. J Westropp , head or figure from life in colour, H. Spensley, still life in colour, (Headmaster's prize), Miss A. McLean, copied decorative designs, (Mr A. J White's prize), W Thompson , modelling in clay from the antique (Messrs. Whitcombe & Tomb's prize), C. Brassington. Wellington Competition. —Last September, a series of works were sent to the competition of the Society of Arts in Wellington, and the following awards were gained by our students Painting from still life in colour First prize, Miss H. L. Smith , second (certificate), Mrs. A. E. Turner. Painting from life • Second, C. Bickerton. Architectural drawing First prize, E. England, second, C. E. Brunsdon. Examinations. —The annual second-grade examinations were held last December, with the following results, compared with the previous year :— Black Full Secon<;l - Freehand. Model. Geometry. Perspective. , ," grade board. Ce^ifioate . 1892 83 50 10 4 9 6 1893 .. 78 85 14 7 8 5 Annual Exhibition. —The annual exhibition of students' works was held last February, and was largely attended. In some respects it was the best exhibition that has ever yet been held, the branches of work best represented being freehand and model drawing, painting from still life, and drawing and painting from the life. Prize Distribution. —The prize distribution was held on the 6th February, when the Chairman of the meeting distributed the prizes to the successful students, and addresses were given by Messrs. G. Booth, H. yon Haast, His Worship the Mayor, and Mr. S. Hurst Seager The Public Libeaey. Members of the Board may perhaps require to be reminded that the first action taken in the direction of providing a reading-room and library in Christchurch was at a public meeting, held at the Oddfellows' Hall, Lichfield Street, on the 26th May, 1859, to take into consideration the best means of establishing a mechanics' institute. At a subsequent meeting, held on the 9th June, 1859, trustees and officers were appointed, together with a Committee. Certain rules were adopted for the working of the institution, and the Committee was instructed to secure a site and building as soon as possible. The Institute was formally opened on the 4th August, 1859. In the original