E.—l

36

Some further particulars relating to the classes are as follows : — 1909 1910 The number of recognized classes was .. .. .. 189 227 The capitation payments on attendances amounted to .. .. £946 £929 The average rate of payment per class was .. .. .. £5 £4 Special grants for buildings and equipment totalled .. .. £192 £912 There is evidence that the curricula of several of the rural secondary schools are undergoing some modification with the view of bringing them into more intimate relation with local conditions. New buildings or additions to buildings for manual-instruction purposes have been erected or are in course of erection in connection with New Plymouth High School, Wellington Girls' College, Marlborough High School, Nelson Girls' College, Rangiora High School, and Gore High School; while necessary equipment for manual instruction has been provided at New Plymouth High School, Wellington Boys' College, Napier Boys' High School, Gisborne High School, and Nelson Girls' College. Technical Instruction. [E.-5—Tables J7 to J17. Satisfactory progress continues to be made by controlling authorities and managers of classes throughout the Dominion in the matter of providing, improving, and extending facilities and opportunities for instruction. Generally speaking, the schools, many of which now provide fairly full courses of instruction adapted to local requirements, may be said to be receiving a fair measure of support at the hands not only of those for whose direct benefit they have been established, but also of local bodies and industrial and trade organizations, many of which, in addition to moral support, contribute liberally every year to the school funds. During the year nearly £5,000, carrying a Government subsidy of £1 for £1, was so contributed. The Government has, as in previous years, favourably considered applications for grants for new buildings or additions and for necessary equipment for technical instruction. During the year grants for thesejlpurposes amounting to nearly £9,000 were distributed. New buildings or additions to buildings have been erected or are in course of erection at Auckland, Otahuhu, Cambridge, Hamilton, Waihi, Inglewood, Wanganui, Palmerston North, Nelson, Christchurch, Ashburton, Kaiapoi, Fairlie, Gore, and Invercargill. With the completion of the new buildings for the technical colleges at Auckland and Wanganui considerable extensions in the sphere of technical education may be looked for in these places. Necessary equipment has been provided for technical classes at Auckland (school of mines), Otahuhu, Wanganui, Palmerston North, Hawera, Bull's, Taihape, Wellington, Petone, Napier, Nelson, Westport, Christchurch (School of Engineering, School of Art, and Technical College), Rangiora, Timaru, and Dunedin (School of Art and Technical School). In addition to special centres for manual instruction in the larger towns, there are now over forty well-equipped buildings for technical instruction as compared with twelve in 1901. As in previous years, classes in places where buildings specially adapted for the purpose have not yet been provided have been carried on in the local schools or in suitable rented buildings. In certain districts a good deal has been done in the direction of providing some facilities for technical instruction in the smaller and more remote centres. Thus in the Wanganui district classes were held at thirty-six, in the North Canterbury district at fifteen, in the Nelson district at nine, in the Hawke's Bay and in the Taranaki districts at eight, and in the Auckland District at seven such centres. In some districts, such as Wanganui and Auckland, the instruction is given wholly or partly by special itinerant instructors with very satisfactory results; in others local instructors are in charge of the classes. The most complete arrangements for instruction in rural areas are probably to be found in the Wanganui district.