E.—6.

64

and by the appointment of pupil-assistants to the woodwork instructor at Nelson. Since the services of the agriculture instructor have been wholly confined to this district he has been able to give additional supervision to the classes in agriculture and dairy-work, more especially in regard to the classes conducted at the Motueka and Takaka District High Schools. The inclusion of dairy-work in conjunction with agriculture at some of the larger schools has met with success. With reference to the manual-training classes at Westport, it is to be regretted that the number of pupils who attended the classes is not sufficient to earn the capitation required to cover the cost of running the classes. So far as the actual instruction is concerned the Department's Inspector has reported on all the classes favourably. The carrying-on of special classes has been principally confined to the centres at Nelsop and Westport. At Nelson the school continues to cater for a large number of pupils, and a varied course of instruction has been provided. Perhaps -the most successful feature of the work in Nelson was the support accorded to the art course and to the instruction in dressmaking. The day Technical School at Nelson, inaugurated in 1911, was allowed to lapse owing to various causes. Towards the close of the year the Director resigned and the Board appointed Mr. F. C. J. Cockburn, art master, as Acting-Director, and reorganized the school. The Westport School was fairly well supported during the year so far as numbers went, and the thanks of the Board are due to the Westport Borough Council, Westport Harbour Board, and Buller County Council for their substantial donations towards the school funds. Without these donations (and the subsidies thereon) it would be quite impossible to carry on the efficient instruction that is being given in the engineering department. Had a larger number of youths been available for the day Technical School engineering course there would not be so much anxietyregarding the finances; but, of course, it is recognized that, whilst the school offers exceptional opportunities for boys desirous of becoming engineers, the number available is necessarily limited owing to the fact that the district is not a large one, but perhaps more so owing to the failure of the Railway Department to recognize the training that is given at the Technical School as part of the apprenticeship required in the workshops. This is a matter that has been brought up before, and it is to be regretted that nothing has been done to remedy the anomaly. Classes for the instruction of teachers were held at Nelson as usual during the year, and a short winter session was held at Westport for the teaching of drawing. The Board has to thank the Department for the grants which were provided from time to time for furniture and apparatus for technical schools, and also for the grant for training of teachers. F. C. Cockburn, Acting-Director. Statement of Receipts and Expenditure for the Year ending 31st December, 1912, in respect of Special Classes conducted at various Centres by the Nelson Education Board. Receipts. £ s. d Expenditure. £ s. d. Capitation on classes .. .. .. 815 3 9 Balance at beginning of year .. .. 968 19 1 Capitation on aocount of free places .. 147 10 0 Salaries of instructors .. .. .. 1,600 10 2 Furniture, fittings, and apparatus .. 203 6 0 Office expenses (including salaries, staMaterial .. .. .. .. 30 16 0 tionery, &o.) .. .. .. 120 9 4 Fees .. .. .. .. .. 152 19 11 Advertising and printing .. .. .. 42 10 9 Voluntary contributions .. .. .. 62 0 0 Lighting and heating .. .. .. 62 17 0 Marlborough Eduoation Board, on account of Insurance and repairs .. .. .. 10 15 0 salary of instruotor in agriculture .. 120 0 0 Material for class use .. 161 1 5 Training of teaohers .. .. .. 180 0 0 Instructors'travelling-expenses .. .. 67 4 7 Miscellaneous .. .. .. .. 10 0 Cartage and freights .. .. .. 18 10 0 Rents .. .. .. .. .. 38 6 5 Incidentals .. .. .. .. 61 10 0 Balance at end of year .. .. .. 2,048 8 9 Contraots (new buildings, additions, &c.) 123 510 Furniture, fittings, and apparatus .. 561 17 8 £3,799 10 10 £3,799 10 10 N. R. Williams, Secretary.

GREY. Extract from the Report op the Education Board. During 1912 school classes were held as follows : Handwork at Greymouth, Cobden, and Blackball; agriculture at Dobson, Blackball, Poerua Settlement, and Moana; cookery (at the Technical School) by pupils of Greymouth, Runanga, and Cobden; physical measurements (primary and secondary) at Grey District High School and at Cobden School. Special classes were held in connexion with cookery (Greymouth Convent), engineering, mechanical drawing, and wool-classing, and a continuation class was conducted at Blackball. The Saturday classes for teachers were well attended, the subjects taken being brush drawing and carton-work. Dining the present year the Board is making strong - and persistent efforts to establish manual and technical special classes in every centre of its education district, and it is confidently expected that good results will shortly be apparent. Extract from the Report of the Inspector of Schools. The value of handwork in correlation with other subjects is not fully appreciated, and in this connexion the district as a whole compares rather unfavourably with others. It does not seem to be understood generally that handwork need not be taken as a separate subject, but should be used as a means of supplementing the general teaching. When classes are recognized the necessary material is supplied, and there is at once available a valuable aid towards making