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hours without interfering with the present standard syllabus—a syllabus already sufficiently heavy to severely tax the powers of the teachers. (2.) That only in the larger centres would the Board be justified in establishing classes in manual instruction out of the ordinary school-hours. (3.) That, with but few exceptions, the teachers in the Board's service were not qualified to impart manual instruction. After further consideration, with the view of inaugurating the only scheme which appeared practicable, as well as ascertaining to what extent advantage of classes at hours not included in the ordinary school-time would be taken, the Board decided to apply to the Government for a'grant of £200 for fitting up a work-room at the Normal School, and providing the tools and apparatus required for giving manual instruction. A favourable reply has been received from the Department, and operations will be commenced so soon as a qualified instructor has been secured and all other necessary arrangements completed. Provided the experiment prove a success, and the Government be willing to supply the funds, without which any extension of the scheme will be impossible, the Board will arrange for similar classes in other centres. So far the Board has not been able to establish any classes in connection with technical instruction. Seeing that hitherto the functions of Education Boards in this colony have concerned primary education only, and that technical instruction, as defined by the Act of 1895, cannot be regarded as a substitute for any part of such education, it is open to very serious doubt whether the Board should undertake any responsibility in this direction. However, with every prospect of increasing difficulty in the matter of maintaining the efficiency of its schools, the Board is not in a position to try any hazardous experiments. The question may therefore well be deferred till the Government has seen its way to making ample provision for the expenditure that will necessarily be entailed in establishing classes for technical instruction. In the meantime attention may be drawn to the fact that, at a moderate charge, lectures on the principles applicable to many of our local industries are given at the School of Engineering and Technical Science, and that instruction in drawing and geometry, both elementary and advanced, is provided for at the School of Art. In their report, the Inspectors make interesting reference to the provisions of the Manual and Technical Elementary Instruction Act, which from their practical knowledge of the instruction most suitable for primary school children, as well as of the methods best adapted for carrying such instruction to a successful issue, should form a valuable addition to the information already available on these subjects. . I have, &c, H. W. Peeyman, Chairman. The Hon. the Minister of Education.

Geneeal Statement of Receipts and Expenditure for the Year ending 31st December, 1896. Receipts. £ s. d. Expenditure. £ s. d. To Balanoe— By Office staff—Salaries .. .. 764 5 0 On Building Account .. .. 5,344 13 11 j Departmental contingencies .. 391 17 11 On General Account .. .. 3,506 17 8| Inspectors' salaries .. .. .. 1,300 0 0 Other receipts for buildings— Inspectors' travelling-expenses .. 332 19 3 Christchurch East— Examination of pupil-teachers .. 98 6 2 Sale of old furniture, Gloucester Teachers' salaries and allowances (in--Btreet .. .. .. 1 10 0 j eluding rent, bonus, &o.) .. .. 55,411 8 8 Sale of strips of land at South Incidental expenses of schools .. 7,033 11 0 Town Belt .. .. .. 15 0 0 Training o£ teachers .. .. 1,865 5 4 Part cost of fence at Gloucester Scholarships— Street .. .. .. 2 8 i ] Paid to scholars .. .. .. 1,062 2 0 Hinds—Contribution for purchase of Examination expenses .. .. 123 18 2 side-school site .. .. 12 1 0 School buildings— Balcairn—Contribution for purchase New buildings .. .. .. 2,757 11 0 of additional site .. .. 28 0 0 Improvement of buildings .. 1,929 14 7 Contractors' deposits .. .. 277 2 3 Furniture and appliances .. .. 312 6 5 Government statutory capitation .. 54,364 13 0 Sites .. .. .. .. 161 6 0 Scholarship grant .. .. .. 1,131 6 6 j Plans, supervision, and fees .. 515 15 4 Inspection subsidy .. .. .. 500 0 0 , Contractors' deposits .. .. 250 14 6 Grant for training of teachers .. 300 0 0 Exchange on cheques .. .. 29 16 0 Payments by School Commissioners, Gammack scholarships .. .. 0 17 6 for primary education .. .. 12,464 16 7 Balance— £ s. d. Rent of Okuku School .. .. 1 10 0 On Building Account Dr. 330 12 7 Rent of Mandeville Plains site .. 6 0 0 I Contractors' deposits Cr. 84 0 3 Rent of Pendarves House .. .. 12 6! On General Account Cr. 3,867 11 1 Education Acts .. .. .. 0 11 0 3,620 18 9 Refund from late Broughton Aided School Committee .. .. 3 15 0 Rent of part of Reserve 3509 .. 16 3 £77,962 13 7 £77,962 13 7 H. W. Peeyman, Chairman. H. C. Lane, Secretary. Examined and found correct—J. K. Wabbueton, Controller and Auditor-General.

REPORT ON NORMAL SCHOOL. Sib,— Normal School, Christchurch, 23rd February, 1897. I have the honour to report that thirty-six new students were admitted at the beginning of 1896, of whom eight were males and the rest females. Six second-year students were retained, and one other student was allowed to enter later on to complete a previous year's training, giving a total of forty-three students.

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