E.—l

The number of recognized classes for swimming and life-saving continues to increase slowly. During the year 254 classes were held, as against 233 for the previous year. Table 3a. — Capitation received and Expenditure by Education Boards in connexion with Elementary Handwork and Manual Instruction in Public Schools during the Year ended 31st December, 1914 (exclusive op Expenditure out op Grants for Buildings and Equipment). Capitation. Expenditure, Education District. £ £ Auckland .. 6,439 8,104 Taranaki .. .. 1,326 1,266 Wanganui .. .. .. .. .. 3,683 4,207 Wellington .. ... .. .. 3,769 4,793 Hawke's Bay .. .. 2,459 2,552 Marlborough .. 112 173 Nelson .. .. .. .. 924 1,291 Grey .. .. .. 414 492 Westland . . . . . . . . . . 26 72 * - North Canterbury.. .. .. .. .. 3,727 3,794 South Canterbury.. .. .. .. ..1,274 1,886 Otago .. .. .. .. .. .. 4,334 4,024 Southland .. .. .. .. .. 2,873 2,333 Totals'for 1914 .. .. .. ..£31,360 £34,987 Totals for 1913 . . £30,174 £33,292 Manual Instruction in Secondary Schools. Recognized classes were carried on in connection with twenty-seven of the secondary schools (thirty in number) in receipt of Government grants. The subjects most generally taken up and the number of classes were as follows : — c , . , , T , ~ Number of Classes. Subjects of Instruction. ,„,,, .„,. Free and instrumental drawing .. .. .. 25 41 Domestic subjects .. .. .. .. .. 61 02 Woodwork and ironwork .. . . .. .. 26 29 Experimental and natural science .. .. .. 215 240 Swimming and life-saving .. .. .. .. 28 30 Elementary agriculture and dairy-work . . .. 18 24 373 426 Capitation payments amounted to £1,765 (£4-1 per class) while special grants totalling £1,336 were made in aid of equipment. Necessary additions were made, chiefly in the way of apparatus for physics and chemistry, to the equipment for practical subjects in the case of Palmerston North, Napier, and Gisborne High Schools, Wellington Boys' College, Nelson Boys' and. Girls' Colleges, Christchurch Boys' and Girls' High Schools, Waitaki Girls' High School, and Otago Boys' High School. The facilities for laboratory-work in the secondary schools are now in most cases very satisfactory, as is also the provision for practical work in woodwork and in domestic subjects where these are taken up. Domestic subjects, it is gratifying to note, are beginning to receive the attention and treatment their importance demands. Recognized classes for subjects bearing on rural pursuits were carried on at ten schools. In some cases definite courses of agricultural instruction have been provided. These courses, though not yet, for various reasons, fully developed, appear to be proceeding on right lines, and should achieve the success they deserve, provided always that they receive adequate support and encouragement at the hands of those in whose interests"they have been established. Technical Instruction. The nature and variety of the facilities for instruction provided by the majority of the schools and classes may be taken as indicating that the authorities in whom is vested the control of technical education are proceeding on lines adapted to local requirements. If further evidence were needed it is to be found in the very satisfactory response on the part of the industrial and commercial sections of the

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