E.—s.

elementary electricity, 1; elementary electrical engineering, 2 ; advanced electricity, 1. Second class— elementary steam, 9 ; elementary applied mechanics, 7 ; elementary strength of materials,. 2 ; mechanical drawing, Section 1., 7; mechanical drawing, Section, 11., i; mechanical drawing, Section 111., 2 ; freehand mechanical drawing, 12; descriptive geometry and setting-out work, 5 ; strength of materials (advanced), 1 ; theory of workshop practice, 2 ; elementary electricity, 1 ; elementary electrical engineering, 2. Engineering Laboratory. —ln some degree, owing to the time occupied in organizing the new electrical department, the number of tests made during the year was comparatively small. They include the proof-testing of a derrick-cap, the testing of boiler-tubes and fencing-wire, the calibration of an electrical meter, and a few cement tests. B. J. Scott, Professor in Charge. Cheistchukch Boys' High School. The art and manual training of this school has been put on a sounder basis ; it has been better graded both as regards artistic and geometrical drawing, and the workshop classes have been placed under the sole direction of the drawing master, Mr. E. Thompson. Mr. S. Hurst Seager, who takes the geometrical drawing and design, wrote a short report on the art work, and a display of work done was given at the school in December.

SOUTH CANTEBBURY. EXTKACT FROM BePORT OP THE INSPECTORS OP SCHOOLS. Classes for the training of teachers in brush drawing, modelling in plasticine, and woodwork were held for a term of twelve lessons, Mr. W. Greene being instructor in brush drawing and modelling, and Mr. W. Parr in woodwork. The brushwork classes had a roll number of eightythree teachers of both sexes, and the modelling classes of seventy-seven, the attendance at the classes being well maintained throughout the course. There were forty-four men on the roll of the woodwork classes, but the attendance of several members was irregular. Though there is no fee for instruction and free railway travelling is granted to those attending the classes, many of the teachers are put to great inconvenience to be able to attend, and all exercise some self-denial in giving up their Saturday holiday for the sake of the classes. Under the Education Board as controlling authority, classes have been carried on by the Timaru and Waimate Technical Classes Associations, and negotiations are now in progress for the establishment of similar classes at Temuka, a former attempt in that centre not having met with sufficient support. Eeport of the Managers of the Timaru Technical Classes Association. At the annual meeting of subscribers, held on the 26th February, 1902, Messrs. James Craigie, J. S. Gibson, T. Hawkey, J. Boothroyd, G. A. Simmers, J. A. Johnson, and E. Holdgate were re-elected managers, and the Education Board reappointed Messrs. W. B. Howell and John Jackson as its representatives ; hence the managers were the same as for 1901. Mr. J. S. Gibson was elected chairman, which office he was, through ill health, compelled to resign. Mr. James ■Craigie then filled the chair for the re3t of the year. During the year ten meetings of managers have been held, the average attendance at which has been five. During the year classes were carried on for two terms, the first term extending from the 7th April to the 28th June, and the second from the 14th July to the 10th October. The following list shows what classes were carried on and the numbers in each class : Arithmetic, 15 first term and 5 second term ; book-keeping, 27 and 12 ; cookery, 17 and 10 ; drawing and carving, 14 and 12 ; dressmaking, senior and junior, 6 and 5, 15 and 10; English literature, 58 and 35 ; French, 8 and 5 ; mechanical drawing, 16 and 9 ; painting, drawing from life, and modelling from life, 9 and 9 ; shorthand, senior, 15 and 7 ; shorthand, junior, 16 and 15; vocal music, 42 and 29 : totals, 258 and 163. The number of individual pupils was 225 for the first term and 149 for the second, as compared with 368 for the only term of 1901. It was a matter for surprise that the entries for English, Latin, and mathematics did not warrant the carrying-on of these classes. The managers would here express their appreciation of the services rendered by the staff of teachers. Only four pupils failed to pay the fees, which are, it may be said, for such classes among the lowest in New Zealand. As was the case last year, the average attendance dropped off a good deal as the longer days approached. Your managers do not view with any great alarm the drop in attendance indicated by the foregoing figures ; they are satisfied that in a town of the size of Timaru the normal number of pupils must be from 150 to 200. Even those numbers indicate that a fair proportion of our eligible young people are benefiting. Further, the habit of attending these classes is one of slow growth. Your managers look forward to the time when attendance at such classes shall be the ordinary duty of all leaving the day schools to learn a trade; and if the present movement towards technical education is to result in permanent success there must be such a dovetailing of our systems, primary, secondary, and technical, that the one leads naturally to the other. It is a matter of question whether or not the expenditure on our manual and technical classes results in the benefit that might be expected, though it is undoubtedly preparing the way for better days educationally. During 1901 four managers obtained subscriptions from 173 persons, of whom five became life members, but for 1902 subscriptions were obtained from only fifty-nine persons. It is imperative that during 1903 there shall be devised some better system of collecting these subscriptions. The association cannot expect to carry on without financial help from our townsfolk. The Education Department subsidises these local subscriptions to the extent of £1 for £1. The managers would accord their hearty thanks to all who have subscribed to the funds of the association and also to the Timaru Borough Council, the Levels County Council, the Licensed Victuallers' Association, the South Canterbury Caledonian Society, and the A. and P. Society for their liberal donations.

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