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in increased efficiency in the schools. The " associated classes "at Timaru, Waimate, and Temuka continue to do good work in their districts. Classes are formed in shorthand, book-keeping, typewriting, English, arithmetic, and other commercial subjects; but when the teaching is good, the classes in which the greatest interest is taken are those in the more technical subjects, such as plumbing, carpentry, cookery, dress-cutting, &c. Efforts are being made to increase the number and efficiency of these more technical classes. A pleasing feature in connection with the Timaru classes is the increasing interest taken in the plumbing and carpentry classes by the master builders. If employers generally would follow this example and encourage their apprentices to attend eveningclasses, and were to take a hand in helping to increase the efficiency of the classes by giving financial help and practical suggestions, the success of the technical schools would be assured. During the year the Government made a grant of £1;000 for the Temuka Technical School building, and it is expected to be ready for use in a few weeks. A grant of £200 was also made for enlarging the building for plumbing and woodwork in Timaru. Extract from the Report of the Inspectors of Schools. Some form of handwork was taken up in thirty-eight schools, the favourite exercises being plasticine-modelling and paper-folding in the lower classes, and brushwork in the upper. As a result of the instruction given by Mr. Isaac at the summer class for teachers, more time will be given to carton-work during the present year. At the Timaru public schools and at the Waimate and Temuka District High Schools classes in cookery and woodwork were most successfully conducted; and in several schools instruction in swimming was given. Extract from the Report of the Managers of the Timaru Technical Classes Association. During the year 238 students were enrolled, as against 310 last year. This falling-off is partly accounted for by the fact that this year the conditions enabling pupils to attend classes free were much more difficult than previously. During the coming session the conditions will be such that a very large increase in the number of free places may be expected. There were nineteen classes placed on the syllabus. With the exception of the classes in senior book-keeping, painting, and drawing from life, all the classes were successfully carried on, while classes in drawing from life and electrical engineering were established during the second term. At the request of the pupils, the plumbing and shorthand classes were continued for a third term. The following shows the numbers attending the various classes in each term:" Plumbing, 18, 14, 12; woodwork (A), 21, 12; woodwork (B), 23, 15; architectural drawing, 25, 5; cookery (A), 12, 12; cookery (B), 9, 10; dressmaking, 17, 13; wood-carving, 8, 8; drawing, 11, 7; senior shorthand, 13, 9, 8; junior shorthand, 22, 22, 10; book-keeping, 22, 10; commercial correspondence, 17, 9; typewriting, 20, 16; English, 10, 10; arithmetic, 18, 15; electrical engineering, 15; drawing from life, 5. In order that the public might have an opportunity of seeing what was being done in the school, samples of the work of the various classes were exhibited at the close of the session. Although the exhibition was too crowded to permit of a satisfactory examination of the exhibits, still, the Managers believe that many were astonished at the quality and variety of the work shown. During the year the Managers applied to the Education Department for a grant to enable the grounds surrounding the school to be made more convenient and sightly. A grant of £100 was received, and this has been expended in asphalting the paths, erecting the retaining-walls, and the handsome front fence On the new plumbing class commencing work it was found that the workshop was much too small, and as the carpenters' shop was also overcrowded the Department was approached with a view to having these enlarged. The resulting grant of £200 has enabled the Managers to place another story over the workshops. The Association has now convenient, commodious, and well-equipped shops for plumbers and carpenters; and also a small lecture-room for theory classes. The Managers desire to place on record the prompt attention of the Central Department to all applications and claims made during the year. The thanks of the Association are due to those local bodies and citizens who contributed to the funds, and the Managers once again desire to draw the attention of members to the fact that but for these voluntary contributions and the subsidies thereon a considerable loss would be shown. The number of subscribers was seventy-one, an increase of sixteen on last year. The Association is also indebted to the examiners for the gratuitous work so willingly performed, and to the Press for the ever-ready assistance it has always rendered. Statement of Beceipts and Expenditure for the Year ending 31st December, 1905, in respect of the Classes conducted by the Timaru Technical Classes Association. Receipts. £ s. d. Expenditure. £ s. d. Capitation on classes .. .. 238 14 1 Balance at beginning of year .. .. 49 6 6 Capitation on technical scholarships .. 59 8 6 Salaries of instructors .. .. .. 259 14 0 Buildings .. .. ■. • • 104 10 0 Office expenses (including salaries, stationFurniture, fittings, and apparatus .. 66 3 0 cry, &c.) .. .. .. .. 60 111 Material .. .. .. .. 13 16 4 Advertising and printing .. .. 10 16 6 Subsidies on voluntary contributions .. 102 16 6 Lighting and heating .. .. .. 13 19 6 Fees .. .. .. •• •• 137 15 0 Insurance and repairs .. .. .. 4 6 0 Voluntary contributions .. .. 64 18 0 Examinations, &c. .. .. .. 0 8 3 Sales .. .. .. •• •• 118 0 Material for class use .. .. .. 44 16 3 Proceeds of exhibition .. .. .. 7 0 0 Fees refunded .. .. .. .. 619 0 Interest .. .. • • • • 0 2 1 Exhibition expenses .. .. .. 615 10 Bank commission and interest .. .. 2 5 6 Contracts (new buildings, additions, &o.) .. 97 11 0 Architect, &o. .. .. .. 5 0 0 Furniture, fittings, and apparatus .. .75 13 11 Balance at end of year .. .. .. 159 7 4 £797 1 6 £797 1 6 G, Crawshaw, Secretary.