E.—s

40

Several friends who are interested in technical instruction have generously donated gifts of money or of appliances to help on the work. Chief of these was H. E. Shacklock (Limited), Dunedin, who donated two cooking-ranges, one to Invercargill and the other to Gore, of the total value of £32 ss. On these voluntary contributions the Government has given a pound-for-pound subsidy. Other donations of lesser value have been received from Messrs. Hay ward Bros, and Co., of Christchurch, and Messrs. G. T. Smyth, J. W. Thomson, and W. Field, of Invercargill. To all these friends hearty thanks are due. At the end of the year, Messrs. Riddell, of the woodware-factory, and Dunbar, of the Southland Implement and Engineering Company, threw open their factories for inspection by the teachers in the woodwork class. The teachers took advantage of the invitation and attended in force, and were most courteously and kindly received and conducted over the premises. These visits formed excellent object lessons, and were much appreciated by the teachers. It was proposed to hold a summer school in Invercargill for the benefit of those teachers in charge of schools situated too far from the railways to enable them to attend the classes held in Invercargill and Gore. It was found, however, that the time originally fixed was not convenient for the majority of those for whose benefit the classes were to be established, and other causes operating unfavourably, the project was abandoned for the time being. Finance. The year's financial operations closed with a credit balance of £512 19s. 10d. on the total of the accounts. Of this sum, about £120 is earmarked for the Teachers' Training Account, and other smaller sums, amounting to say £50, belong to other similar accounts, leaving the balance wherewith to carry on operations during the incoming year. The financial position is sound. Balance-sheet for the Year ending 31st March, 1904. Receipts. £ s. d. Expenditure. £ s. d. Balance from last year .. .. .. 226 16 3 Central. AccountCentral Account— Advertising and printing .. .. 21 13 3 Fees .. •• ■ • 165 2 0 Apparatus .. .. .. 124 3 2 Capitation 184 15 0 Material 46 2 3 Material-refund .. .. .. 38 0 4 Salaries .. .. .. .. 199 2 6 Exhibition receipts .. .. ... 12 2 6 Rent of rooms Schools Technical Account—Capitation .. 185 12 6 Rent of section .. .. .. 210 0 Schools Standard Account— Water rates .. .. .. 1 11 6 Capitation .. .. •• •• 318 16 1 Exhibition expenses .. .. 11 15 11 Permanent apparatus grant .. .. Ml 7 2 Janitor ".. .. .. • • 710 0 Teachers' Training Account— Administration (year and a half) .. 150 0 (I Government grant .. .. .. 160 0 0 Schools Technical Account— Material-refund .. . . .. 916 3 Salaries . . .. .. 101 0 4 Gore Technical Account— Material .. .. .. ■ • 34 17 b Pees .. .. • • ■ • 6 0 0 Apparatus .. .. .. ■ ■ b 7 b Capitation .. .. .. • ■ 214 0 Schools Standard Account — Government grant for apparatus ..94 18 9 Material .. .. .. 107 4 2 Mataura Technical Account— Permanent apparatus .. .. 76 0 0 Fees .. . . .. .. 815 0 Teachers' Training Account — Capitation '.'. .. ■■ ■■ 36 0 Salaries .. .. .. •• 86 0 0 Central Building Account— Material .. .. •• •• 43 2 6 Government grant .. .. .. 567 0 0 Janitor .. .. ... • • 2100 Government subsidy on voluntary contri- ! Gore Technical Account — buttons 22 3 0 Salaries f, l t °a Gore Building Account—Government sub- Advertising and printing .. .. „ . sidy on voluntary contribution .. 10 2 0 j Apparatus .. • • • • „ A Needlework Account—Capitation .. 215 10 9 I Rent of building .. .. .. 23 2 6 Country Continuation Account—Capitation 22 16 9 ( Mataura Technical Account— ' Salaries 15 15 0 Advertising, &c. .. .. ■. 110 0 Central Building Account .. .. 400 8 6 Gore Building Account .. . • 14 5 7 Needlework Account—Payments to teachers 216 10 9 Country Continuation Account —Payments to teachers .. .. .. 22 Ifi 9 Balance .. .. .. .. 512 19 10 HwsTITT £2.334 4 4 In conclusion, I have again to record my thanks to all connected with educational matters in this office and district and in the central Department at Wellington for their forbearance and kindly assistance rendered in many ways during the past year. W. A. McCaw, Director of Technical Instruction.

Approximate Cost of Paper.—Preparation, not given ; printing (2.025 copiesi, £29 12s. 6d.

Authority John Mackay, Government Printer, Wellington.- 1904.

Price Is.]