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reading (time and tune —both notations), ear-training, and school songs. All these subjects were not, of course, exhaustively treated, but each was carried to a certain point, and as thoroughly as possible. The first of them —namely, breathing—has been a good deal talked about lately, but it is no new subject of teaching in Wellington. Twenty years baok I was urging its importance in our school-work, and giving precisely the same, or very similar, exercises in the subject. Indeed, I look upon this and the proper use of the voice as the two most important points, both for teachers and pupils, in any well-considered plan of instruction in singing. From the hygienic point of view alone the subject of vocal music in our schools is entitled to far more consideration than is yet given it in New Zealand. By ignorant or careless treatment the voices of our children may be irretrievably spoilt, whereas by sensible and proper training —even within the brief limits allowed to the subject in our school time-tables —the foundations of what may be not only a healthgiving exercise but a source of life-long pleasure may be satisfactorily laid. .... I think, of all the varied musical work which I am privileged to undertake, this is the most valuable and permanent." Lessons such as these are invaluable to our teachers, and we hope the Board will continue the Wellington class and provide a course for some country centre, such as Masterton. Manual and Technical. —During the year 116 schools earned capitation under the Manual and Technical Regulations. Nearly all the subjects set down for classes below Standard V were represented, and grants were also earned for such science subjects as agriculture, chemistry, physical measurements, botany, physiology, and "first aid," and also for dressmaking, cookery, woodwork, dairying, swimming, and life-saving. We are well satisfied with the work done in all these classes, and our opinion has been confirmed by the Department's Technical Inspector, who gave a very satisfactory report on the classes visited by him during the year. Manual work in our schools is improving year by year, but while many of our teachers now realise its proper place in the curriculum, there is certainly evidence that these subjects '' have been pushed so hard as to defeat the purpose of scientific education by depriving the pupils of their necessary training in other subjects, and especially in the power of expression in their own language," and we desire to repeat the warning we have given in previous reports that, while "sense-perception and practical work should have a place in any curriculum, that place should not be an exaggerated one." Mr. Howe, who was appointed instructor in woodwork, opened his classes at Thorndon in June, and another centre was opened in Constable Street. A very satisfactory programme was drawn up, and the boys showed great interest and made good progress in the work. As the programme provides for instruction in drawing, we look forward to a great improvement in those branches of this subject which include geometrical and scale drawing. The addition of cookery and woodwork to the subjects of the teachers' examination should give some encouragement to work of this class. Saturday classes for teachers have been established in cookery at Wellington and Masterton, and in drawing and handwork (including woodwork) at Wellington. Scholarships.—The Board's junior scholarships were awarded on the results of the examination for Junior National Scholarships. The larger schools were fairly well represented, but in the schools with sole teachers, which form a class by themselves, only a few candidates were presented. The raising of the age for the Junior National Scholarships from thirteen to fourteen should have a tendency to extend the benefits of scholarships to schools now poorly represented. For the Senior Scholarships sixty-four candidates sat for examination, and fifty-seven of these succeeded in qualifying for a free place. Scholarships were awarded to the first ten. The list of successful candidates is appended. Pupil-teachers.—We are pleased to be able to report that the majority of our pupil-teachers had passed the matriculation examination before entering on their apprenticeship, and thus were relieved from the drudgery of passing examinations while engaged in teaching. Only a few were required to sit for the first examination (Civil Service Junior) in December, and all but two succeeded in passing. Three pupil-teachers who failed at the previous examination sent in their resignations during the year. District High Schools.—As judged by examination results, the secondary classes of the district high schools have been doing very satisfactory work. Many candidates have passed the University examinations for matriculation arid solicitors' general knowledge, and in the Civil Service Junior Examination of December thirty-seven candidates under the age of sixteen years succeeded in obtaining the necessary number of marks to qualify for a senior free place, and of those who entered for Senior Board Scholarships only seven failed to obtain the necessary pass. These results are all the more satisfactory in view of the fact that the scholarship-winners, and the best of the scholars who pass out of the primary department, invariably go to the secondary schools. This undoubtedly is the best course for the pupils to pursue, but had these scholars remained in the district high schools the results would probably have been more encouraging to the teachers. In our detailed reports on the secondary classes the work in the various subjects is generally marked from " Satisfactory " to "Very good," but in some of the classes we have found it necessary to call attention to the writing and arrangement of the work. Some of our secondary teachers seem to find a difficulty in realising that it is just as necessary to have neatness and good writing in the secondary classes as in the primary. In previous reports we have pointed out the kind ot curriculum suitable for these classes, and we are pleased to notice that in the majority of the programmes submitted to us such subjects as Latin, algebra, and geometry are now made optional, and more prominence is being given to subjects suitable to the environment and nature of the child. The requirements for the Civil Service Examinations have been amended to meet this view, and the addition of elementary agriculture to the matriculation syllabus is a step in the same direction—changes which will make it easier for the secondary teacher to meet examination requirements and provide for practical work at the same time. Masterton, Greytown, Carterton,