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" Free Studentships. —The six free studentships offered by the Board for annual competition on the past year's work were won by the following students : Landscape from nature, A. McLean ; painting from still life, M. H. Aitken; painting from life (colour), S. L. Thompson; drawing from life (monochrome), S. L. Thompson; drawing from the antique, S. L. Thompson; architectural work, G. Hart. The annual free studentships offered to the head boy in drawing in each of ten district State schools were competed for and awarded in February. No prizes were given this year by the Board, owing to necessity for economy. Two were given privately. Owing to this there was no prize distribution as in former years. " Industrial Association Scholarships. —The Canterbury Industrial Association has decided to devote the interest accruing from the Government grant of £500 for the Industrial Exhibition to the founding of scholarships, tenable at the School of Art, for apprentices in certain industries associated with and founded on art. We have been for years past impressing the necessity for a closer connection between the art trades and the school founded on their mutual dependence for wellbeing and advancement, and this is the first direct recognition of this principle, a principle long ago recognised and acted on in older countries. The Industrial Association, as well as the Board of Governors and the community generally, are to be congratulated on the step now being taken. Arrangements are being made as to the conditions under which these shall be awarded and held, and the first competition will probably take place at the end of this year. " Affiliation with South Kensington, London. —The school has now become affiliated with South Kensington for the purposes of examination and competition for prizes. Students will thus now have the opportunity of gaining South Kensington certificates, which are recognised the world over, whereas our own local ones are only recognised locally. We have hesitated hitherto taking this step, as there is a danger in the anxiety to obtain awards of students being compelled to work in certain grooves, which is detrimental to individual development and freedom of individual experiment. If this freedom for experiment and work could be arranged for and allowed, then the advantage of affiliation would be entirely without drawback. " Annual Examinations. —The annual examinations were held in December, with results as already published. One student, Miss H. Gibson, has successfully completed her art class teacher's certificate, this being the first one awarded since the new regulations in 1894. One student, W. Thompson, has completed the work for the first year decorative design, and several have only one or two subjects to pass before completing both the first and second years' architecture and decorative design. "Annual Exhibition. —The annual exhibition of students' works, held in February, was one of the most successful we have ever had, both as to quality of work and the number of exhibits, the life and still-life work and modelling in clay showing out especially well. At the request of a large number of people it was kept open for two days longer than usual, being open for a week altogether. Instead of holding the usual prize distribution the exhibition was this year opened publicly by the Chairman of the Board, Mr. H. E. Webb, addresses being given by Mr. J. E. Triggs, the President of the Industrial Association, Messrs. T. S. Weston, a member of the Board, and F. Waymouth, Mayor of St. Albans. The headmaster gave a report on the past year's work. " Judges and Examiners. —The following gentlemen kindly acted as judges and examiners in the various competitions and examinations : Mr. Woodhouse, Sydney, in decorative design, Mr. Mountfort in architecture and perspective, and Mr. J. Gibb in drawing and painting. " The past year has been one of the most successful in the history of the school, and this has been largely due to the efficient help rendered by my staff. After serving the Board for the last six years, Miss Munnings is, at the end of this term, severing her connection with the school. Praise is due to her for the efficient way in which she has always discharged her duties, and her loss will be appreciably felt. It has been decided to appoint two assistants in her place. Thanks to the liberality of the Board, the school is now in thorough repair, having been repainted and distempered throughout, in addition to various improvements having been effected.—G. H. Elliott, Art Master." School op Agriculture. Eeport of the Director of the School of Agriculture, Lincoln, for six months ending the 31st December, 1896 :— " School. —The number of students for the second term, 1896, was forty-three. The cost of maintenance for the half-year ending the 31st December was £19 ss. sd. Seven students gained the diploma of the college—William George Andrews, Ghristchurch ; Frederick Charles Gabites, Timaru ; Eupert Vivian Hosking, Masterton; George Leheup Marshall, Wanganui; George Matthews, Springston; John Christopher Eolleston, Eangitata ; Douglas George Wright, Winslow. Annual certificates have been gained by E. V. Hosking, first in agriculture, mechanics, and veterinary science ; W. G. Andrews, first in agricultural chemistry, practical chemistry, theoretical botany, practical botany, and mechanics ; G. L. Marshall, first in agricultural chemistry, economic entomology, and veterinary science; D. G. Wright, first in general chemistry, book-keeping, farm-books, and surveying. Annual certificates have been gained by the following first-year students :W. Manning, first in agriculture, book-keeping, and farm-books ; H. Small, first in agricultural chemistry, practical chemistry, entomology, and theoretical botany; N. Kirkcaldie, first in agricultural chemistry, physiography, practical botany, meteorology, and book-keeping ; V. M. Hutton, first in general chemistry and plotting ; N. M. Duncan, first in mensuration ; W. C. Pettit, first in veterinary science, Two appointments have been made to the teaching staff, Mr. C. O. Lillie (Dunedin) being now in charge of the natural science department, and Mr. C. Coleridge Farr (of St. Paul's College, Sydney) being in charge of the mathematical department, in place of Mr. Adams, resigned. Messrs. Gray and Chariton are in charge of the chemistry and veterinary departments respectively.

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