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been a marked increase (over 300 attendances) in actual attendance at classes, caused by the pupils taking courses of work instead of single subjects. I would welcome a further movement in this direction during the coming year, as our schools will become of increasing benefit to the community when a larger number of pupils take extended courses of work bearing upon some definite occupation. The increase in the number of free pupils, and the large proportion of seniors among these (one-third), give the best indication of the usefulness of technical instruction to the youth of the centres where classes have been established. The free pupils are responsible for more than half of the enrolments at Nelson and Westport. Further, it is interesting to note that what are termed " day technical classes " — i.e., classes held before 6 p.m.—have increased very rapidly in number and enrolments. Nelson Education District, with its day trade classes at Nelson and Westport, is the only district in the Dominion with more than one day trades-school, though the larger centres, of course, considerably exceed our institutions in respect of the number of pupils in attendance. A few comments on the main developments in the various schools and subdistricts may be interesting. At Nelson the establishment of the day trades course was the chief event of the year. The object of this course is to provide youths who have passed through the primary schools, and who intend taking up some trade or other practical vocation, with such groundwork as will later be of material benefit to them. The course mapped out was to a certain extent experimental, and the year's experience has shown that some modifications, which will be brought into effect during the coming session, are necessary. Of the 15 boys who attended this day course, no less than 13 came from the country. Commercial classes show a decline from the excessive number in attendance last year; the number of students taking art subjects has increased, and dressmaking classes have been patronized to their full capacity. The system of limiting practical classes to a number well within the capacity of instruction and supervision of the teacher has proved most beneficial to both pupils and attendance. The evening classes for building trades were only fairly attended, but good support was given to those in engineering subjects, a feature of the year's work being the installation by the students of the electricwiring class of a complete wiring and lighting plant throughout the school. This work comprised the practical portion of the instruction, and, in addition to supplying a phase of work which could not otherwise be obtained in Nelson, it has provided the school with an up-to-date and economical system of lighting. The work of both instructor and pupils in this class has been most enthusiastic. At Westport the day engineering course, with an attendance of 9 students, entered on the second year of operations, and continues to do good work. An indication of the value of this institution may be obtained from the fact that a young engineer who had served his time, and was in receipt of journeyman's wages, relinquished his employment to spend eighteen months at the technical day course. To date 14 have enrolled for this course during the coming year. The evening engineering and building courses had satisfactory attendances, and the commercial classes, especially in the elementary division, received more patronage than the importance of the district from a commercial point of view seemed to warrant. In the Waimea district wool-classing was well attended, but other agricultural classes were not in demand, only one, at Lower Moutere, being carried on, and that with but poor support. Two classes for farm-carpentry were taken at Stoke Orphanage. Exhibitions of technical work were held at Nelson and Westport during the year, and were of considerable benefit in attracting the attention of the public to the work being conducted in our technical schools. Teachers' classes in chemistry (2) and woodwork at Nelson, woodwork, cookery, and drawing at Westport, brush drawing and dairy-work at Motueka, and cardboard-modelling at Reefton were carried on during the year, in all cases with attendances that warranted their establishment. Two teachers at Nelson sat for the woodwork examination of the City and Guilds of London Institute, one securing a pass. I hope to see several pupils of the chemistry class sit for the South Kensington Examination in that subject in June next. In conclusion, I desire to thank the local supervisors and the teaching staff at the various centres for their enthusiastic efforts in the cause of technical instruction during the past year. It is to be regretted that the illness of the Department's Inspector, who visited the district in July, has prevented the receipt of such criticism and advice as would be of guidance in framing work for the coming session. A. A. Hintz, Director. Statement of Receipts and Expenditure for the Year ending 31st December, 1910, in respect of Special Classes conducted at various Centres in the Nelson District by the Nelson Education Board. Receipts. £ s. d. Expenditure. H e. d. Capitation on special classes .. .. 908 15 8 Balance at beginning of year .. .. 827 8 S Capitation on aocount of free places .. 467 19 3 Salaries of instructors .. .. .. 1,314 6 9 Furniture, fittings, apparatus .. .. 334 8 5 Office expenses (ino)uding salaries, staMaterial .. .. .. .. 64 15 4 tionery, &c.) .. .. .. 206 0 8 Subsidies on voluntary contributions .. 81 9 4 Advertising and printing .. .. 35 10 y Fees .. .. .. .. 167 15 9 Lighting and heating .. .. .. 67 1 4 Voluntary contributions .. .. .. 119 17 0 Insurance and repairs .. .. .. 18 0 9 Westport lease .. .. .. .. 65 0 0 Rent .. .. .. .. .. 711 0 Balacco at end of year .. .. .. 1,020 3 10 Examinations, &c. .. .. .. 7 11 9 Material for class use .. .. .. 124 10 6 Travelling expenses .. .. .. 57 7 0 Incidentals .. .. .. .. 3 11 Contracts (new buildings, additions, &c.) .. 62 4 0 Furniture, fittings, and apparatus .. 445 16 4 Typewriters .. .. .. .. 58 H 9 £3,230 4 7 £3,230 4 7 N. R. Williams, Secretary.