37

E.—s

classes, under Miss Fairburn, were the most successful of the Session. The uilundance remained good throughout, and excellent work was done. Wool-classing was very capably taught, and should have been one of the largest of the classes, but was not well patronised by the farming community. The photography class, owing to the irregular attendance of pupils, had to be discontinued at the conclusion of the first quarter. The English class was conducted on very good and interesting lines. Drawing in its various branches is not a popular subject in Temuka, but Mr. Goy's class certainly deserved much better support from the public than it received. The roll-numbers of the several classes were as follow: Commercial classes (two), 81 ; dressmaking (two classes), 52; wool-classing, 15; photography, ]9; English, 40; drawing, 13: total, 220. During the past year the classes have been working under great difficulty through want of proper accommodation. Twelve months ago a promise was given hy the Government through our representative for the district that a technical school would be erected in Temuka, but at the present moment the promise is no nearer being fulfilled than it was then. This procrastination on the part of the Government is seriously hampering our work, which cannot be carried out satisfactorily till necessary accommodation is provided. Last winter school classes had to be turned out into dark passages, sometimes artificially illuminated, that technical students might occupy the already overcrowded rooms in the school. It has been decided to commence cookery classes during the coming session. As a building will require to be rented and equipped for this purpose, all of our present balance will be thus absorbed, and our classes will be in financial danger, unless liberally supported by the public. It is hoped that local bodies and individuals will give such financial support this year as will enable the new classes to be successfully carried on. A. A. Hintz, Secretary. Statement of Receipts and Expenditure for the Year ending 31st December, 190 If. Receipts.' £ 8. d. Expenditure. £ s. d. Balance at beginning of year .. .. 20 0 4 Administration— Grants from Government— Salaries of instructors .. .. 143 11 0 Capitation on classes .. .. .. 144 1 6 Office expenses (including salaries, stationCapitation on teohnioal scholarships .. 66 19 3 cry, &c.) .. .. .. .. 29 9 8 Subsidies on voluntary contributions .. 29 0 0 Advertising and printing .. .. 416 0 Other receipts, viz.—Voluntary contributions 29 0 6 Lighting and heating .. .. .. 12 15 0 Rent .. .. .. .. 3 6 0 Material for class use .. .. 12 6 Caretaker .. .. .. .. 5 0 0 Buildings—Furniture, fittings, and apparatus 46 17 8 Balance at end of year .. .. .. 42 3 9 £289 1 7 £289 1 7 G. W. Aemitage, Chairman) (~r Alf. A. Hintz, Secretary ]of Managers. I have examined the books and vouchers of the above association, and hereby certify that the above statement of receipts and expenditure is correct. —G. Crawshaw, Auditor.—2sth February, 1905.

OTAGO. « Extract prom the Report of the Education Boabd. Manual and Technical Instruction. —The number of schools in which handwork classes earning Government capitation were held is fifty-four, which is about 25 per cent, of the schools. Handwork was, however, taken up in most of the schools with a staff of two or more teachers, and in some with only one teacher, but, feeling unable to comply with the time condition of the regulations, a large number of teachers took up this class of work, but did not give to it the time necessary to qualify for capitation. When the scheme of instruction in the manual and technical subjects was initiated some four years ago, the teachers of this district evinced no great readiness to introduce the new subjects into their schools, the reason assigned being that, in their judgment, a considerable curtailment of the prescription of work in some of the other subjects was necessary before the study of the various branches of handwork could be entered upon by the pupils with advantage to the pupils and the general work of the schools; and many teachers contend that they are in no better case under the new syllabus. The Department makes no grant for apparatus or material for classes that do not conform to its regulations as regards duration of instruction, programme of work, &c, and the Board has no fund for the purpose, so that, in schools where unrecognised handwork classes are conducted, the cost of the equipment and maintenance must be provided from local sources —that is, by the School Committee or the teachers concerned. Apart from the elementary handwork of the infant departments, the subjects that seem to be most suitable and beneficial for the pupils of the schools of this district, and which, where instituted, have so far been very successfully carried on, are cottage-gardening and woodwork for boys and cookery for girls. Owing, however, to the necessity for special rooms, fittings, and apparatus for woodwork and cookery, these two classes are about the most costly to equip, and the Department seems disinclined to sanction the starting of instruction in these subjects in any but the larger centres. Cottage-gardening —in the Board's opinion a subject eminently suitable for the pupils of country schools —has been authorised by the Department in connection with twenty-one schools. Applica-