XXVIII

B.— 5.

division—plasticine), Grovetown (lower division —brush drawing). Gardening (Grassmere, Seddon, Ocean Bay, Marshlands, Havelock, Bulwer, Head, Marlboroughtown, Riverlands, Springlands, Waikakaho, Grovetown). Agriculture (Cauvastown and Spring Creek). Teachers seeking a simple practical course are recommended to work through Laurie's primer on agriculture (Macmillan). The completion of the municipal baths in Blenheim should enable swimming to be practised more extensively. The following special classes for teachers were held : Woodwork (Mr. Course), cookery (Miss Grace), agriculture and dairying (Mr. Bruce), physical measurements (Miss Ross, M.A.), model-drawing (Mrs. Satchell). Woodwork and cookery classes were held in connection with Marlborough High School and the Convent Schools, Blenheim. A course in cookery for nurses was also given in Blenheim. One candidate obtained the City and Guilds second-class certificate in cookery. At Canvastown the following classes were held: English, arithmetic, physical measurements, agriculture, botany. It is to be regretted that no allowance is made for maintenance of Technical School buildings. Statement of Receipts and Expenditure for the Year ending 31st December, 1910, in respectjof Special Classes conducted at Blenheim, Canvastown, and Havelock by the Marlborough Education Board. Receipts. £ s. d. . Expenditure. £ s. d. Balance at beginning of year .. i(J (1 4 Salaries of instructors .. .. .. 167 0 4 Capitation on special classes .. .. 8 10 Office expenses (including salaries, stationery. Balance at end of year .. .. .. J 73 11 8 &c.) .. .. .. .. .". 016 1 Lighting and beating .. .. .. 3 0 0 Material for class use .. .. .. 20 9 1 Cleaning .. .. .. .. ..536 Furniture, fittings, and apparatus .. 25 10 0 £221 19 0 £221 19 0 E. Hylton, Secretary. NELSON. Extract prom the Report op the Education Board. Manual and technical instruction has been greatly extended during the year. A day Technical School at Nelson was inaugurated under satisfactory conditions, and the second year's work of the day Technical School. Westport, was conducted with an increased roll-number. At this latter place the school has specialized in engineering and metal-work ; its equipment in this direction compares very favourably with the Technical Schools in the larger centres. The Board has to express its warmest thanks to the Westport Harbour Board, Westport Borough Council, and Buller County Council for their generous financial assistance in aid of the Westport School, which has, in part, been the means of enabling this important branch of instruction to be so well catered for in the town and district. The evening classes in Nelson are splendidly supported, and an adequate and suitable curriculum is provided. It is unforI hat up to Tin , present the Nelson City Council have not been able to render any financial assistance to the institution ; the Nelson School, apparently, is one of the few Technical Schools of any size that docs not receive an annual grant from the municipal authorities. In addition to the work carried on at these two Technical Schools, classes for instruction in various subjects have been regularly conducted at Reefton, Motueka, and Takaka, and instruction in wool-classing provided at a number of country places. The thanks of the Board are also due to the Inangahua County Council for the grant made to thi' Reefton Technical School, and to other associations and individuals who have contributed to the Technical funds. The staff of instructors has been further augmented during the year, and addii ional accommodation provided at Nelson and Westport. The liberality of the Department in providing grants for additions and equipment is acknowledged, but in the opinion of the Board there is considerable room for improvement in the system of payments which go towards the upkeep of this branch of education. The amended regulations recently issued afford, however, a partial improvement in the direction desired. Whilst anxious for the successful carrying-on of manual and technical instruction, the Board is firmly resolved that the interests of primary and secondary schools shall in no wise suffer, and the Technical Schools must be made self-supporting. The report of the Director of Technical Schools gives details of what has been done during the year. > Extract prom the Report of the Inspectors of Schools. Classes in elementary handwork have been recognized in 44 schools, the different branches being plasticine-modelling, brush drawing, elementary design and colour work, paper-folding, free-arm drawing, bricklaying, eardboard-modeiiiag. needlework. Brush drawing and elementary design and colour work, the latter branch of the subject being the one prescribed for the higher standard classes, has been more generally taken this year. Complaint is still made by the Director of Technical Schools concerning the neglect of head teachers in forwarding in time the necessary forms, especially the claims for material and for capitation. A more serious trouble, which in some schools greatly hampered the work of instruction during the first part of the year, was caused by delay in supplying the material, although it had been requisitioned in good time. Prompt attention on the part of the officials will prevent any repetition of this annoyance. Instruction in subjects of manual training has also been extended, 55 schools having taken one or more of the following branches : Ironwork, woodwork, cookery, agriculture, physiology and first aid, swimming, physical measurements, botany (elementary), dairy-work.