E.—s.

WELLINGTON CITY COUNCIL. The special committee of the Council set up to consider what steps may be taken to assist the cause of technical education has met the representatives of the Board's Technical Instruction Committee and the Industrial Association representatives during the year. The contributions of the respective bodies have now been fixed, and the number of representatives allotted by the Minister. It is anticipated that the new arrangement will lead to increased activity in the technical work of this district. WELLINGTON INDUSTRIAL ASSOCIATION. The committee appointed by the above association has visited the classes during the year, and has contributed a sum of £25 towards the funds of the school. The association, as stated above, has a representative upon the joint committee set up to deal with the question of the school's extension and its management. The free studentships given on behalf of the association have been continued as formerly. In conclusion, my thanks are due to all persons who have so generously contributed to the successful year's work, either by contributions or loans; and to the honorary examiners for their services to the cause of technical instruction. Abthue D. Eiley, Director for Technical Instruction. STATEMENT OF ACCOUNTS. Receipts. £ s. d. ■ Expenditure. £ s. d. Fees received .. .. .. .. 1,321 15 11 , Salaries .. .. .. .. 2,72114 9 Government capitation .. .. .. 1,768 11 0 j Model fees .. .. .. .. 53 10 0 Government grants .. .. .. 1,053 510 Printing and advertising . . .. 75 119 Government subsidies on voluntary oontri- Examination and prizes .. .. 50 16 9 butions .. .. .. .. 68 15 0 Apparatus .. .. .. .. 311 2 9 Voluntary contributions .. . 43 0 0 Material ■ .. .. .. .. 277 411 Sundry receipts .. .. .. 241 13 1 ! Buildings .. .. .. .. 141 8 2 Travelling-expenses (cookery) .. .. 29 13 0 : Travelling .. .. .. .. 82 10 0 Cleaning and lighting .. .. .. 317 3 1 Sundries .. .. .. .. 154 2 6 £4,526 13 10 £4,185 4 8 Credit balance, £341 9s. 2d. To give a clearer view of the finances of the r>ast year, the capitation due for the December quarter of 1901 (£433 10s.), paid in January, 1902, should be allowed for, and credit taken for £89 ss. due for 1902, but received this year. This shows a deficit of £2 15s. 10d. on the year's work. EbPOKT 08 , THE MaNAGBES OF THE MaSTBRTON TECHNICAL CLASSES ASSOCIATION. The managers desire to place on record their appreciation of the liberality of the Trust Lands Trustees, who have again voted £100 in aid of the technical classes. While, however, voting this sum, which has for several years past been the sum received annually from the Trust, the members of that body expressed the hope that the managers of the Technical School would not find it necessary to call up the whole amount. In this hope the Trustees have not been disappointed. A glance at the balance-sheet will show that the total contribution received from the Trust during the year ending the 31st December last amounted to £33 6s. Bd. In thus foregoing for the present the remaining two-thirds of the grant made by the Trust, the managers are not merely losing the sum of £66 13s. 4d., but also the Government subsidy of £1 for £1 as well, which represents a total reduction of £133 6s. Bd. in the revenue for the year. The thanks of the managers are also due to the Education Department for the liberal manner in which the school has been treated during the past year. Not only have all capitation claims been promptly met, but grants have also been obtained from the Department in aid of the cost of special apparatus ordered from London, and also in aid of converting the building into its present form, thereby rendering it fitted for temporary use as a technical school. In addition to the grants thus mentioned, the Education Department has also, at its own cost, sent up a collection of about fifty framed examples of students' works. These exhibits have been placed in the rooms of our institution and cannot fail to prove a valuable object-lesson to students and others interested in the subjects which they illustrate. The matter of securing a suitable site for the purposes of a technical school is one of the most important that will have to be dealt with in the near future, and, in the opinion of your managers, the sooner the matter is definitely settled the better it will be in the interests of technical education. Not only is the scope of the work of the classes hampered owing to the unsuitability of the present building, but it must also be borne in mind that the building itself occupies its present site on sufferance, and that the Government have the power to request at any time its immediate removal. Owing chiefly to the indefatigable efforts of Mr. A. W. Hogg, M.H.E., the Masterton Trust Lands Empowering Bill passed through Parliament last session. This Bill empowers the Trustees, after receiving the sanction of the voters, to set apart a site for the purpose of a technical school, and, seeing now that the Trustees have decided to take the poll on the question in the month of April next, it behoves the subscribers to this association to use every effort in their power to secure a favourable result. During the year three sessions were held, and classes were held in the following subjects: Painting, drawing, book-keeping, shorthand, woodwork, matriculation, and Civil Service subjects. At the request of the instructor, the classes in painting and drawing are being carried on for a fourth term of ten weeks ending at the close of the current month.

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