E.— 5

XI

This district is now in a safe position as far as finances are concerned. Hawera centre has raised a very large amount during the year in order to clear the building and leave a working-balance. Private donations totalled £31 15s. From the Agricultural and Pastoral Association came £10, and from the Borough and County Councils £20 each. The Patea Borough and County Councils also subscribed £20 each to that centre. The buildings are now well looked after at all centres, but we find maintenance charges a serious drain on our finances. A special grant for this purpose would be a great boon. It will shortly be necessary to enlarge the school at Hawera. Already it is difficult to accom modate all classes, as the class-rooms were built on too small a scale. We have now a very efficient and hardworking staff of instructors. To these I have to return thanks for loyal support during the year. The local Directors at Eltham, Patea, and Waverley worked very enthusiastically for their centres, and deserve every credit for the good work accomplished. R. Browne, Director. Extract from the Report of the Director of the Central District. Day courses of instruction in art, engineering, commercial, and domestic subjects have been provided, and, notwithstanding many inconveniences, have proved most successful. Eight students took the art course, 24 engineering, and 80 commercial and domestic. With the better accommodation provided in the new school, there will be opportunity for the establishment of an excellent Technical High School. There is ample scope for such a school providing the above-mentioned courses together with an agricultural course. At the commencement of the year Miss Ivy Copeland, of the " Elam " School of Art, was appointed successor to Mr. H. Collins, resigned. Miss Copeland's ability and enthusiasm both as student and teacher are worthy of all praise. Most of the art students have shown a marked improvement, and the standard of work is being gradually raised under Mr. Seawards guiding hand. The evening classes have done good work, but have not been so steady in attendance as last year. It is unfortunate that more do not take up the study of art as a part of their general education, and not as a means to an end. The classes in applied art have again done capital work, especially those in metal-work, which has somewhat taken the place of wood-carving in this section. The junior classes especially have been most successful, principally because of the fact that they take a graduated course of work in design, modelling, and either wood-carving, metal-work, or leather-embossing. The number of students taking the full day course in engineering has been practically the same as last year, most of the boys coming from rural districts. In such a large centre as Wanganui there should be double the number of students taking this course, which affords a valuable training for any boy intending to take up a trade, whether it be in iron, lead, or wood. The third-year boys especially have shown most, creditable work in the completion of an 8 hoi\se-power oil-engine and one of 5 horse-power. The secondyear boys have built an experimental oil-engine, 8 horse-power, for use in the school, whilst each of the first-year boys made a small kit of tools, a most creditable year's work, reflecting great credit on Mr. Morrison, the workshop instructor. Capital work has also been done in the class-room, especially in applied mechanics and mechanical drawing, and in the field, where parties of the boys have been given practical experience in surveying. In connection with this subject, the boys spent a week up the river on a survey of Hipango Park and the river facing the Domain. Such an experience cannot have failed to be a benefit. The evening classes in mechanical drawing were especially well attended, and did good work. The day classes in domestic subjects have done splendid work, especially in dressmaking and millinery, home nursing and cookery. The evening cookery classes have again been a failure. With such capable instructors as we possess this is most astonishing. The whole of Mr. Cox's time has been devoted to Wanganui with much success, the day commercial classes especially having done excellent work, as shown by the successes gained in the various examinations. The evening classes have also been more successful than in the previous year. A marked improvement has been manifest in the artisan classes. Mr. James Bruce has done splendid work in the builders' classes, and Mr. J. Graham in the plumbing classes. To secure the maximum of efficiency all students in this section should take a thorough course of practical geometry and practical mathematics hand-in-hand with their other classes. Other classes have been much as usual, except in science, which shows a falling-off from recent years. This is extremely regrettable, but with improved accommodation and equipment a much better year may be anticipated. During the year 31 students gained certificates in connection with Pitman's examinations in shorthand, while 17 students successfully passed the Board's book-keeping examination, 4 gaining honours. The number of passes in connection with \he technological examinations of the City and Guilds of London Institute was 18, and in connection with the science and art examinations of the Board of Education, South Kensington, 72. At the local examinations in plumbing 7 passes were secured. It is hoped that the London Society of Arts examinations in commercial subjects will be conducted during 1911. During 1910 the present school-site was leased, and a new position secured in Ingestre Street, a much more convenient site for school purposes. Contracts have been let for the erection of a most conveniently arranged and up-to-date school, which should provide accommodation for some years. Under the able supervision of Mr. C. J. Lyne a great improvement was manifest at the Marton centre. The success of the plumbing classes was especially gratifying. The classes at Taihape showed a great improvement on previous years, due in no small measure to the enthusiastic work of Mr. Thurston. The continuation classes at Raetihi, a remote centre, were most successful. An excellent year's work has been done. Successful dressmaking and millinery classes were held at Rata, Mangaonoho, and Mangaweka, with good results. Wool-classing classes have met with much favour among the farmers of the district at