E.—s

44

1906 session with a display of the pupils' work, and they are sure that the public will be. surprised at the tangible proof of the good work being done in the school. The Managers regret that it was found impossible for various reasons to conduct any examinations at the end of last year, but they hope that next year there will be a number of pupils entering for the City and Guilds of London Institute Examination. Financially the classes are quite sound, and the thanks of the Managers are due to those who have so generously assisted the classes. The accompanying balance-sheet shows the position of the finaiices. Statement of Beceipts and Expenditure for the Year ending 31st December , 1905, in respect of the Classes conducted by the Waimate Technical Classes Association. Receipts. £ s. d. Expenditure. £ s. d. Bilance at beginning of year .. .. 015 6 Salaries of instructors .. .. .. 180 9 0 Capitation on classes .. .. .. 138 16 9 Office expenses (including salaries, stationery, Furniture, fittings, and apparatus.. .. 43 17 7 &c.) .. .. .. .. 29 13 8 Material .. .. .. .. 16 311 Advertising and printing .. .. 13 11 0 Subsidies on voluntary contributions .. 69 1 9 Lighting and beating .. .. .. 12 8 0 Fees, &o. .. .. .. 36 17 9 Insurance and repairs .. .. .. 312 6 Voluntary contributions .. .. .. 56 12 0 Material for class use .. .. .. 46 7 7 Balance at end of year .. .. ... 16 14 10 Contracts (new buildings, additions, &c.) .. 11 15 9 Furniture, fittings, and apparatus.. .. 81 2 7 £379 0 1 £379 0 1 A. S. Morrison, Chairman j { Mana „ ers J. E. Hutchinson, Secretary) °

OTAGO. Extract from the Report of the Education Board. Manned and Technical Instruction. —During 1905 there were ninety-two schools in which instruction in handwork of some kind or other was given. As this is just about the number of schools in the district that are taught by more than one teacher, it is evident that nearly all the schools that might fairly be expected to undertake this work are devoting at least some portion of time to it. In many of the schools that are taught by only one teacher great difficulty must naturally be experienced in devoting to manual and technical subjects the time necessary to qualify . for capitation, or indeed to devote any time at all to them. There are in the district about 128 of such schools, and this is about the number in which, so far, no work of this nature has been undertaken. In 1904 the number of pupils receiving instruction in handwork was 6,027, or 31 per cent.; during the last year the number rose to 10,010, or 52 per cent. Of the ninety-two schools in which the instruction was carried on, sixty-seven devoted to the subjects the time necessary to qualify for the Government capitation grant. In the previous year the number of such schools was fifty-four, so that during the year just closed the list of capitation-earning schools has increased by thirteen; and not only so, but in most of these schools the range of the instruction has been much extended. In many cases all the classes now participate in the instruction, where formerly only the infants and Standards I and II did so. The Board's aim is that in all schools above grade 4 some subjects of handwork or science shall be taken by each standard class. The subjects most favoured by the teachers of this district appear to be: Paper-work for classes below Standard III; brush drawing, modelling in carton, cardboard, and plasticine, for classes in Standard 111 and higher standards. In the large schools the handwork subjects taker, by Standards V and VI are woodwork, cookery, physical measurements, elementary physiology, and first aid, and elementary agriculture. It is apparent that for many years to come agriculture must be the chief pursuit of a very large number of the inhabitants of this colony, and it is gratifying that a marked extension in the instruction in the subject of elementary agriculture is noticeable throughout the district, there being at the end of last year thirty-four schools in various parts of the district in which such instruction was being carried on, each school having connected with it a suitably equipped cottage-garden where the practical work is done. The Inspectors report that the instruction given is of a very practical and educative character. The Board is of opinion that in consideration of the very great importance of this subject, and the large number of schools now giving instruction in it, the time has arrived when a specialist in agricultural subjects should be appointed. Instruction in paper-work, brush-drawing, carton, cardboard, plasticine, or clay modelling (sufficient to qualify for the Government capitation grant) was given in 33 schools, agricultural chemistry in I, ' elementary physiology and first aid in 2, swimming in 4, woodwork in 21, cookery in 22, and elementary agriculture in 34. During the year cookery and woodwork classes were established at Kaitangata School, and a cookery class was commenced at Mosgiel District High School. Special teachers of needlework were employed in twenty-four schools, having an average attendance below forty-one, and taught by male teachers. Special classes for instruction of teachers in woodwork and cookery were held during the year. Six of the Board's female teachers sat for the London City and Guilds Examination in plain cookery, five of them obtaining first-class certificates, and one a second-class, certificate. Nine of the Board's male teachers presented themselves for the London City and Guilds Final Examination in Woodwork, five of them obtaining first-class and three second-class certificates. The Saturday classes at the Dunedin School of Art in drawing, elementary designing, brushwork, and cardboard and clay modelling have been largely taken advantage of by country teachers and pupil-teachers.