75

E.—s

number of pupils taking woodwork and cookery has greatly increased. A new centre for cookery was established at Pleasant Point, although the work had to be carried out under great difficulties. To cope with increased work Miss A. D. Rennie, from Christchurch, was appointed an extra cookery instructor, and she has proved a very capable addition to the staff. The schools now receiving the benefits of woodwork and cookery lessons are Timaru Main, Timaru South, Waimataitai, Temuka, Pleasant Point (cookery only), Kingsdown, Makikihi, St. Andrew's, Winchester, and Orari. The pupils from the last four "schools travel backwards and forwards from their different schools by train to receive instruction, and so popular have these classes become that it is a rare thing to find a pupil absent when his or her particular class is being held. The average attendance for woodwork throughout the year was 265, and for cookery 350. Thus a.large proportion of the boys and girls in this district will leave school to start the battle of life equipped not merely with book-learning, but also impressed with the dignity of manual work and household occupations. Mr. E. C. Isaac, Technical Inspector, visited this district in October last. He inspected the manual work done at Waimate, Timaru, Pleasant Point, and Winchester. His reports on the teachers and the quality of the work done are highly commendatory. On the recommendation of the Teachers' Institute", Saturday classes for teachers were conducted in blackboard drawing, brush drawing, and physiography. Mr. James Balfour, art designer, conducted the drawing classes, and Mr. W. Wilson, B.Sc", conducted the physiography class. The work done in connection with this class was highly practical, excursions being made to all the interesting spots from a geological point of view in the district. Both instructors were very popular with the teachers, and the course of twenty-four lessons was well attended up to the last. No doubt the work done proved of great value to the teachers in carrying out their ordinary school-work. In conclusion, tlie school classes and special classes carried on by the Board in this district are on a sound basis. The statement of assets and liabilities shows that the classes are self-supporting, and while there is no stint in the supply of material and apparatus, still there is no waste. The teachers are all enthusiastic over the wink, and ready to adopt the latest approved methods. In my last report I advocated the use of a room, and I still think that a room is absolutely necessary both for storing material and for exhibiting specimen work, thus enabling teachers to proceed on up-to-date lines. Richings Grant, Director. Statement of Receipts and Expenditure in respect of School, Special, and Associated Glasses for the Year ending 31st December, 1907. Receipts. £ s. d. Expenditure. £ s. d. Balance, 1906 24 9 2 School classes- «,„,,, Grants from Government,— Maintenance and salaries .. .. 532 411 Capitation— Furniture, fittings, and apparatus .. 85 15 3 Sohool classes .. .. • • 453 12 2 Special classesAssociated classes— Maintenance and salaries .. .. 104 7 5 Timaru .. .. • • • • 162 15 10 Furniture, fittings, and apparatus .. 4 5 2 Temuka'.'. '.. •• •• 137 11 9 Associated olasses—Payments to Managers— Waimate' '.'. .. •• 67 2 3 Buildings, AcPleasant Point .. .. .. 51 11 7 Timaru .. .. .. .. 112 3 6 Special, teachers' classes .. .. 22 6 7 Temuka .. .. .. .. 715 2 Material for class work— Pleasant Point .. .. .. 5 0 0 Associated classes— Capitatron, grants, &c— Timaru . .. .. 36 12 0 Timaru .. .. .. .. 372 17 10 Temuka .. .. .. •• 39 17 6 Temuka .. .. .. .. 299 3 3 Pleasant Point .. .. •• 612 4 Waimate .. .. .. .. 11l 0 9 Subsidies on voluntary contributions— Pleasant Point .. .. .. 74 14 5 School olasses— Office salaries .. .. .. .. 109 3 2 Winchester .. .. • • 8 3 6 St. Andrew's .. .. • • 4 0 0 Associated classes — Timaru 173 10 0 Temuka .. .. •■ •• 121 14 0 Waimate .. .. .. •• 43 18 6 Pleasant Point .. .. .• 16 10 6 Special grant for training of teachers .. 150 0 0 Buildings, furniture, fittings, and apparatusSchool classes .. .. •• 107 15 8 Associated classes — Timaru .. .. •• •• 112 3 6 Temuka .. .. •• •■ 715 2 ' Pleasant Point .. .. - ■ • 5 0 0 Receipts from other sourcesVoluntary contributions — School olasses .. .. • ■ 12 3 6 Cookery sales .. .. • • 12 7 0 Waimate contribution towards cost of linoleum .. •• •• 5 0 0 Balance .. .. •• •• 35 18 4 £1,818 10 10 £1,818 10 10 Extract from the Report of the Timaru Technical Classes Association. During the year nineteen classes were conducted by sixteen different teachers. The following list gives the classes, and the numbers enrolled in each class : Arithmetic, 63; English, 57; shorthand (junior) 26, (senior) 7; typewriting, 28; book-keeping (junior; 30, (senior) 7; cookery, 36; woodwork, 9; building-construction, 22; electricity, 22; drawing, 18; wood-carving, 19; dressmaking, 29; plumbing, 25; designing, 15; commercial law, 8; engineering, 13; painting,