E.—s

16

instruction is concerned, but owing to the shortness of the bathing-season in Christchurch —considerably shortened again by the summer holidays—and the very limited and somewhat inconvenient hours, at which the bath—that at the Boys' High School—is available for use by the girls, the number who can make the required attendances is very limited. Report of the Secretary, School of Domestic Instruction. The Committee, in making its eighth annual report, has pleasure instating that the purposes of the association have continued during the year to be efficiently served. The school has been ably and successfully conducted, and there is good reason to believe that it exercises a valuable influence in the community. As the special feature of last year's work was the large accession of primary-school pupils in classes taught on behalf of the Board of Education, 30 this year the number of general attendants has been swelled, especially in the last two quarters, by an increasing number of primaryschool mistresses anxious to qualify for a certificate of competence in cookery. In the first quarter thirteen "school classes" were held, of which six were laundry classes, conducted by Mr. and Mrs. Coxon. In the second quarter the laundry classes were discontinued, and for reasons similar to those stated in last year's report only two schools were represented in cookery. In the third and fourth quarters the resources of the school were taxed to the utmost to provide for children's cooking classes under altered conditions of demonstration and practice, which were made essential by the Education Department in qualifying for the capitation payable under " The Manual and Technical Instruction Act, 1900." Indeed, the extension of the practice part of the work of instruction in the these classes made it impossible to provide for all schools desirous of sending a group of pupils. In the second quarter two classes for teachers were formed, with a roll-number of twenty-one ; in the third quarter the number of classes under this head was three, and in the last quarter five, with a roll-number of seventy persons. The general attendance during the four quarters ranged from 113 in the first quarter to 72 in the fourth. In the third quarter there were 103. The diminution towards the close of the year is to be explained partly by the amount of attention demanded in other departments of effort and partly by the approach of warm weather. In the coming year the " school classes " will again occupy a prominent position in the work of the school; but we trust the managers will not lose sight of the fact that this feature is in all probability not destined to be permanent, and that, while we are glad for several reasons to conduct classes for children, even at the risk of loss in the cost of instruction, the primary purposes of the association have in view the special interests of older pupils, who from the conditions of their daily life enjoy few opportunities of gaining a good practical acquaintance with housewifery, or who seek to improve their knowledge in one or more of its branches. The following is the return of attendances for the several quarters of the year:—

In the matter of finance, the fees, capitation allowances, and partial refund of cost of material for the teachers' and general classes (termed "associated classes" under the Act) are sufficient to cover fully the cost of working, and have enabled us to act a little more liberally towards those employed in conducting the work of the school. In the " school classes," from the number of children engaged in practice, the cost of material forms a serious item of expenditure, and, as in this case there is no refund, the Education Department has been urged to increase the amount payable in capitation. We are glad to say that the request has now been complied with, and accordingly, as a temporary measure, under certain conditions payments on a higher scale will be made during the coming year. During the year material improvements have been made in the accommodation provided. These include a new gallery for demonstration purposes, several additional stoves, increased table and shelf accommodation, and a substantial addition to the facilities for " washing up," while a considerable sum has been spent on new utensils. In these cases a refund of half the cost is made by the Education Department. The facilities for cooking classes are now good, but we have still to regret the absence of the means of reproducing common household conditions, and there is still room for much development in other features of home work, which in the economics of the house are almost equally important with cooking. Towards the close of the year a certificate examination of the students was conducted, as in former years, by Mrs. R. D. Harman, diplomee of the South Kensington School. Mrs. Harman's report, which is again of a very gratifying nature, is appended. For the loss the association and the school have sustained during the year in the death of Mr. W T illiam Chrystall we have to express a deep feeling of sorrow. Mr. Chrystall had acted as honorary

Number of Classes. Number of Attendants. Quarter. p ... Dressmak- Laundry- °' ing. work. Associated School ~ . , Classes. Classes. iotaI ' (1) January-March (2) April-June (3) July-September (4) October-December 14 11 17 18 I 1 1 1 1 7 113 106 142 142 425 60 260 258 538 166 402 400