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during the first term of the year. The (irst cricket eleven succeeded in heading the list in the junior grade competition. One of our the senior life-saving competition, and one of our boys many swimming events both at Wanganui and ( at Hawera. The schoolboy tennis championship of Wanganui was won by one of our boys. For the first time a school magazine, the Index, was published at the end of last year. Unfortunately, our finances do not permit us to produce a second issue this year ; but as we are continuing to collect plenty of " copy," we hope to publish a specially good number during the coming year. The cadet corps under Captain Stewart is maintaining its high standard of efficiency. Since December last we have received a supply of ninety rifles. It has t been necessary to utilize a classroom as an armoury ; but as this room will be required soon, wo have made a request to the Department for a grant towards a combined armoury and pavilion. It is to be hoped that this grant will soon come to hand. I have been disappointed in one matter during the year, and that is the lack of interest taken by our girls in the singing class. It is a pity that, with such an excellent instructor as Mr. Sydney Butler, the girls have shown so little interest in this splendid subject; but I intend next year to ask the Board to substitute a course of instruction in first aid and home nursing for one term at least instead of the usual singing. These subjects surely cannot fail to stimulate the interest of every girl. A More detailed remarks on each of the courses of study here follow :— General Course. —The enrolment for the year in this department was seventy, including thirty-one first-year pupils. Mr. Stewart, assisted by Miss Steven, with some additional assistance from other members of the staff, carried out a very compietc course of work in secondary-school subjects, from the Junior Board Scholarship to Senior Public Service and University terms. The work done by this department has continued to be excellent in quality ;' and in many respects the pupils have advantages they could not possibly expect or obtain in any separate high school of equal or even double the size. It is usual for our pupils to sit for the Public Service Entrance Examination after two years and for Matriculation after three years, a year earlier in each case than prescribed by the syllabus of work. The efficiency of the teaching, the lengthened school-day, and the lesser number of holidays as compared with most secondary schools enables us to do this. Engineering Course. —Altogether some thirty-four boys enrolled for the year, consisting of nineteen first-year boys and fifteen second- and third-year boys. Mr. Crow and Mr. Jackson are the masters in charge. This town docs not give great support to the iron industry, and we are often asked what is the use of an engineering course, as there is no outlook for boys who have spent two or three years in this course ? Certainly a few only actually enter local engineering-shops, foundries, and garages ; but many certainly do enter the employ of architects and surveyors ; and most of the remainder, especially country pupils, engage in. farming pursuits, where their knowledge of machinery, blaeksmithing, building-construction, mechanics, surveying, etc., fits them admirably in this age of machinery for their future sphere in life. It cannot be long ere electricity will bo used as a general motive, and lighting power in this town, and in the principles and practice of efeetrical energy a sound grounding is given to boys entering this course. The installation of electric light in this building illustrates the practical experience gained along one line by engineering pupils of the past yrear. I must add hero that we are in communication with the Marine Department re the recognition of the work done by boys in the engineering course. We are asking the Minister of Marine to allow boys who undergo a course of instruction for six hours per day over a period of three years to forego two years of apprenticeship required to sit for the third-class marine engineers' certificate ; and there is every chance that our request will be acceded to. The time is coming, and must come soon, when the operation of the '* principle here involved will be extended to many trade industries. Commercial Course. —-The number of enrolments for the year was sixty-six, consisting of thirtyfour first-year pupils and thirty-two second- and third-year pupils. Of the total number, forty-nine were girls. The chief reasons for the great preponderance of girls are these : the great demand for boys in offices immediately on obtaining proficiency certificates ; the necessity of girls knowing something of book-keeping, shorthand, typing, and business principles before they have much chance of employment in commercial offices ; many parents insist on their girls being placed in the commercial course because it may be necessary for them at some time in the future to earn their own living ; and last, many parents wish their girls to continue their education without having to learn mathematics or foreign languages, and not being alive to the advantages of the domestic course or the art courses, they persist in selecting the commercial course. The present staff consists of Mr. Burdekin, assisted by Miss Bamber. Early in July Mr. C. T. Cox, so long a familiar figure among us, left the service of the Board to start in commercial life on his own account. He carried with him the best wishes of staff and pupifs afike. Mr. Burdekin, from the staff of the Wellington Technical College, was appointed his successor, and has shown keen interest in the indoor and outdoor life of the school. During the year much good work has been done, as the book-keeping examination results testify. If pupils would stay a longer period with us the beneficial effects of their commercial training would be even more apparent. And now just a word about the ever-recurring subject of typewriting-machines. There are eight in use for about seventy day pupils and as -many evening pupils. We prepare pupils for most of the commercial offices in town, and it is only fair that we should look to those who reap the benefit of the instruction given here to support us by contributing towards the cost of additional machines. Already one gentleman has come to our assistance, and at the time of writing has collected some £30 towards this fund. The pupils of the school volunteered to devote the money set aside during the year for prizes to assist the typewriter fund, which will thus benefit by an additional £10. There is now every prospect of our beginning next year with a total of twenty machines. Course. —The enrolment for the year was eight, consisting of six first-year pupils and two second- and third-year pupils, a eonsiderabe decline as compared with the two previous years. I feel certain the decline was due in no small measure to the persistent antagonism unjustly but publicly expressed on many occasions per medium of the newspapers by certain members of the farming com-

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