7

E.—s

During the year .capitation in respect of group courses as above was earned by thirty-nine schools, as compared with twenty-seven in 1912. About 28 per cent, of the students took such courses, the total number doing so being about a thousand more than the previous year. The voluntary attendance of students at evening classes continues to be a satisfactory feature of the system at present in operation. It is also gratifying to note the number of students who find it worth while to attend on three or more evenings a week. During the year regulations requiring the attendance of young persons between the ages of fourteen and seventeen who are not otherwise receiving a suitable education or who are not specially exempted from attendance were put into operation in seven school districts in Wanganui, in two in Auckland, and in one in Hawke's Bay. The classes established under these regulations were attended by 451 students, of whom 262 were males. In the following table are given the number and sex of pupils holding free places : —

The number of students holding Junior Free Places (tenable for two years) was 2,081, the number holding Senior Free Places (tenable for three years) was 1,090. The figures for the previous year were 1,585 and 892 respectively. About 44 per cent, of the students who entered on Junior Free Places at evening classes in 1912 continued to attend in 1913. Of the total number of senior free pupils in their first year over 21 per cent, had completed two years at evening classes as junior free pupils. The remainder were either admitted from day technical schools, secondary schools, or district high schools. Of the total number (3,171) of students admitted to free places (junior and senior) 88 per cent, qualified for capitation. Capitation payments made during the year on account of free places amounted to £5,507. The following technical schools had roll-numbers of 500 and over, exclusive of the day technical schools carried on in connexion with some of them : — School. Roll Number. 1912. 1913. Auckland Technical College .. .. .. ..1,006 1,345 Wanganui Technical College .. .. .. .. 675 666 Wellington Technical College .. .. .. ..1,155 1,180 Christchurch Technical College .. .. .. .. 988 1,063 Dunedin Technical School .. .. .. .. 966 1,055 Dunedin School of Art .. .. .. .. .. 479 685 Day Technical Schools. These schools (eight in number) provide courses, of secondary grade, in science and technology, domestic science, agriculture, and commercial instruction. They form part of the technical schools at Auckland (343 pupils), Wanganui (180 pupils), Wellington (251 pupils), Napier (84 pupils), Westport (10 pupils), Christchurch (416 pupils), Dunedin (218 pupils), and Invercargill (162 pupils). The total roll number was 1,664, including 739 males. The attendance continues to be well maintained, and the schools appear to meet the needs of a number of young people

Males. 655 371 311 154 89 I 1912. Females. Total, 332 987 227 i 598 179 490 109 263 50 139 1913. Males. Females. Total. 840- 506 1,346 471 264 j 735 341 276 617 190 131 321 73 79 152 , ., (First year umor free pupils| Seco^year ( First year lenior free pupils -j Second year I Third year Totals 1,580 897 2,477 1,915 • 1,256 3,171