E.—s

36

and 2,300 individual students, these figures showing an increase of 240 and 372 respectively on the numbers at the end of the previous year. Compulsory continuation classes were in operation at Wanganui, Eltham, and Hawera, and from information supplied by Directors it is apparent that the evening classes carried on under the compulsory clauses of the Act are doing good work. The amount of friction has been surprisingly little. It is only in the case of new entrants that difficulties of any magnitude have occurred. As a rule compulsory pupils in their second and third year attend willingly, and do good work. Indeed it is often found that after reaching the age of seventeen, pupils are anxious to stay on and complete the course of work in which they have entered. Some pupils have even been recommended for free places, and it is gratifying to know that the Department has granted these. Generally the experience of these classes in this district is that they are quite successful. The following statement shows the branches of manual work and the number of schools in which instruction were given during the year : Agriculture, 149 ; dairy-work, 30 ; woodwork, 22 ; cookery, 23; swimming and life-saving, 11 : physical measurements, 9; hand-work, 200; advanced needlework, 9 ; physiology, 4. Instruction in needlework wa? given at twenty schools at which there were no female teachers on the staff. Instruction in woodwork and cookery is now being given at fourteen centres. During the ensuing year at least three additional centres will be established, while in Wanganui arrangements are being made to bring in the.children of the suburban schools by tram. At the time of writing the resignation of the Principal (Mr. W. A. Armour, M.A., M.Sc.) of the Wanganui Technical College has just come to hand, he having been appointed to the position of Headmaster of the Napier Boys' High School. During his term of office Mr. Armour has worked hard in the interests of the College, and has placed the institution on a sound basis, both educationally and financially. The Board will, lam sure, regret the loss of 'his services. Mr. 0. A. Stewart, M.A., first assistant in the high school department, has been appointed to the secondary department of the Normal School in Dunedin, and shortly leaves to take up his duties there. Mr. Stewart has proved himself a capable and conscientious teacher, and he will be much missed not only in the school, but also in the playficld, where he was deservedly popular. As in previous years, contributions were freely given by local bodies, public institutions, and private individuals. Contributions totalling over £420 were received from the following : Pohangina County Council, Eltham Borough Council, Eltham County Council, Kaponga Farmers' Union, Mangatoki Farmers' Union, Auroa Farmers' Union, Otakeho Farmers' Union, Kapuni Farmers' Association, Ararata Farmers' Association, Tokaora Farmers' Association, Kakaramea Farmers' Association, Matapu Farmers' Club, Ararata Farmers' Club, Tokaora Farmers' Club, Manaia Farmers' Club, Kaponga Farmers' Union, Feilding Borough Council, Oroua County Council, Manawatu County Council, Feilding Agricultural and Pastoral Association, Feilding Chamber of Commerce, Hawera Borough Council, Hawera Farmers' Co-operative Society, Kiwitea County Council, Kimbolton Chamber of Commerce, Marton Borough Council, Marton Chamber of Commerce, Rangitikei County Council, Rangiwahia Public Hall Company, New Zealand Farmers' Union, Wanganui Shakespeare Club, Wanganui Borough Council, Wanganui Builders' Association, Wanganui County Council. In addition a large sum was received from private subscribers. The thanks of the Board are due to all who assisted by voluntary contributions, byr acting on the advisory committees, by filling honorary positions, and in various other ways rendering valuable assistance to the cause of education. In conclusion I desire to express my thanks to the district supervisors, the directors of teohnical schools, and instructors, for the manner in which they met the demands of fthe office during the year. The clerical work involved in making up the necessary returns and reports is not light, and has, I know, in many caser to be done after the day's work. W. H. Swanger, Secretary. Extract from the Report of the Supervisor of the Northern District. Technical and continuation classes wore conducted at Hawera, Eltham, Patea, Waverley, Normanby, and in rural topics for farmers and others at Manaia, Otakeho, Auroa, Kaponga, Kapuni, Mangatoki, Matapu, Inaha, Tokaora, and Ararata. The enrolments totalled 1,261. Individual students numbered 554. The subjects of instruction were, broadly, art and applied art, domestic, commercial, and agriculture. The most noticeable feature here is the great increase in the numbers taking agricultural subjects. The great improvement in the enrolment of farmers and others interested in rural topics is mostly due to the successful formation of farmers' clubs, formed for the purpose of study and improvement of local farm practice as well as special branches of farm, garden, and orchard work. This way lies future success. It should be noted that the wives and children of farmers frequently attend demonstrations in connection with this work. The year has been one of marked progress, especially as regards classes for adult farmers, and as regards improvements to gardens and grounds of country schools. The new method of short periods of continuous instruction, so successful in connection with our rural classes at district high schools, when suitably extended and adapted to country schools and to work amongst farmers, has borne immediate fruit in added interest and abundant support from farmers and School Committees. We aim at making our school-grounds models from which the children can get an idea as to how the surroundings of their own homes could be improved both from the artistic and the utilitarian points of view. To this end the children look after the hedges, plant shrubberies and orchards, arrange and attend to flower-borders, look after lawns, &c, as well as grow vegetables, and root and fodder crops in the plots reserved for experimental purposes. A little attention from day to day given to the above keeps all in the best of order, and this attention is willingly given out of school hours, since the children and teachers take the greatest pride and interest in making the surroundings