E.—s

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munity. We know that bettor work could be done had we had an experimental farm at our very doors. We know, too, that the course could be vastly improved had we the means to engage the full-time services of a highly qualified instructor. Neither of these is possible in the immediate future ; but with the use of the school farm at Marton, the services of Mr. Grant for a full day per week for dairy science and other laboratory work, the frequent instructi on -camps in shearing, woof-classing, examination and apprising of stock, &c, extremely valuable work is being done. This can be said with certainty, that if the number of pupils could be doubled or trebled the efficiency of the course would be increased tenfold, because the capitation earned by twenty or thirty regular pupils would enable us to secure continuous expert instruction, and make this course self-contained like the general, commercial, or engineering courses. It should be noted, too, that the fact of our having an engineering course adds greatly to the value of an agricultural course in the same institution, because the engineering staff is there to give instruction in farm surveying, fencing, drainage, buiiding-construction and architecture, roadmaking, sanitary arrangements, construction and care of machinery, and farm blacksmithing. Domestic, Course. —This, the second year of this course, cannot be deemed a successful one, the number of entries being only seven, as compared with fifteen for 1913. There is no doubt that many pupils enrolled in the general or the commercial course should belong to this course, for many of these are really preparing for home life. It is extremely difficult to eradicate the idea many mothers possess that their- girls can learn all they need to know about cookery, sowing, housework, &c.,inthe home. It is possible that a fair percentage of mothers can cook, sew, and keep a home perhaps better even than the instructress in domestic or home science could do ; but can these mothers really devote the time or bring the requisite scientific knowledge to bear in all the details of home-keeping ? Surely there is room in the life of most girls for a knowledge scientifically acquired of food-ingredients, sanitary science, underlying principles of needlework and dressmaking, physiology, the fundamental laws of nature, table-preparation, and so on. I would like here to point out to parents what a splendid scope there is now offering for girls with the requisite training in home science. Almost every girls' secondary school and nearly all technical schools at present require and will require more and more trained instructresses in home science. Any girl who has the requisite preliminary training in a domestic course such as ours is eligible for a bursary worth £50 per annum, and tenable at the school of Home Science connected with the Otago University. After a course of two, three, or four years there, such a student will find appointments awaiting her all over the Dominion at salaries in some cases even as high as £200 per annum. Mothers should seriously consider such a course for their daughters. Certainly there can be no doubt that for the vast majority of girls pursuing a secondary education the domestic course is the one in which they should enrol. Arts and Art Crafts. Hitherto no pupils have enrolled in this course under the regulations governing day technical schools. Some of the girls of the domestic course, however, have done some good work in art and appiied art. Mr. Seaward, head of the art department, has been engaged for a portion of his time during the year giving lessons in drawing and painting to pupils of the general, commercial, and domestic courses. Since the departure of Mr. Andrews, about the middle of the year the work in applied art has been carried on by Mr. Tarrant. We hope that next year there will bo a sufficient enrolment of pupils to enable us to commence an art course. I desire to acknowledge the receipt of donations towards our prize fund from the following : G. D. Braik, Esq., Wanganui Shakespeare Club, C. A. Stewart, Esq, Miss Steven, E. H. Clark, Esq., D. Seaward, Esq., H. Burdekin, Esq., Rev. J. D. McKenzie, Miss Bamber, E. Crow, Esq. In conclusion, my hearty thauks are due to Professor Hunter for honouring us with his presence, the members of the staff, the Technical Committee, Board's official staff, the Director of Education, the Chairman and members of the Wanganui Education Board for their hearty co-operation and assistance in carrying on the work of the school throughout the past year. W. A.. Armour, M.A., M.Sc, Principal. Statement of Receipts and Expenditure for the Year ending 31sl December, 1914, in respect of Special Classes conducted at Apiti, Ararata, Ashhurst, Beacousfleld, Bull's, Bunnythorpe, Castlecliff, Colyton, Eltham, Feilding, Foxton, Gonville, Halcombe, Hawera, Inaha, Kimbolton, Kiwitea, Kakaramea, Kapojtga, Kapuni, Manaia,. Mangaweka, Makino, Marton, Matapu, Mangatoki, Normanby, Otakeho, Patea, Pohangina, Rangiwahia, Rongotea, Taihape, Tokaora, Valley Road, Waituna West, Wanganui East, Waverley, Wanganui Classes for Teachers. Receipts. £ s. d. Expenditure. £ s. d. Capitation, day technical school .. 1,793 6 4 ] Dr. balance at beginning of year.. .. 3,662 11 5 Capitation on olasses .. .. .. 1,697 2 5 ' Salaries of directors and teaching staff .. 5,215 19 2 Capitation, free places .. .. .. 630 0 2 i Material for class use .. .. .. 194 1 3 Capitation, compulsory pupils .. .. 179 7 7 Rent .. .. .. .. .. 97 5 5 Bent .. .. .. .. .. 48 9 0 Caretaker, lighting, and hoating, .. 698 11 8 Furniture, fittings, and apparatus .. 295 18 0 Insurance and repairs .. .. .. 148 18 9 Material .. .. .. .. 71 13 11 Offioe expenses (including salaries) .. 217 0 0 Subsidies on voluntary contributions .. 752 17 2 j Advertising, printing, stationery, and stamps 252 9 0 Pees and other class payments .. .. 907 6 6 ] Instructors' travelling-oxponses .. .. 397 6 8 Sales of material .. .. .. 43 16 4 Examinations .. .. .. .. 16 16 0 Voluntary contributions .. .. 829 111 Telephone .. .. .. .. 17 18 5 Contributions by Education Board from Miscellaneous .. .. .. .. 16 4 6 grant for training of teachers in aid of Bates .. .. .. .. .. 18 15 0 recognized teaohers' classes .. .. 400 0 0 Sports fund .. .. .. .. 25 14 1 Examination fees .. .. .. 23 5 0 Teachers' classes .. .. .. 110 4 2 Befunds - Miscellaneous .. .. 34 711 Buildings .. .. .. .. 93 2 3 Stationery fees .. .. .. 34 18 0 Furniture, fittings, and apparatus .. 405 19 10 Games fees .. .. .. .. 33 15 0 Prize fund .. .. .. .. 13 3 4 Dr. balance at end of year .. .. 3,800 4 0 £11,588 12 7 £11,588 12 7 W. 11. Swanger, Secretary.