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out the district seems to be as keen as ever. At Fairlie, classes were carried on in wool-classing, dressmaking, cookery, and painting. These classes were well supported, and although no accommodation is provided for classes such as painting and wool-classing, students seems to be willing to put up with any inconvenience in view of the importance of the subjects. A sum of £80 was liberally granted by the Department for enlarging the woodwork and cookery rooms, and for the future work in these subjects will be carried out, under more ideal conditions than hereto- _ fore. Although a great deal of energy was put into the work, dressmaking and singing were the only classes that could be successfully carried on at Pleasant Point. At Temuka classes were carried on in singing, wool-classing, dressmaking, cookery, painting, and sheep-shearing. The dressmaking classes were the best supported in the above list, but the greatest interest centred round the wool-classing and sheep-shearing classes. These classes were just as successful as those carried on last year, and the farmers seemed to take more interest in the work. During the year the s.um of £100 was spent in providing additional accommodation for the woodwork and painting students; the enlarged rooms have been found to be a great, convenience. At Waimate classes were carried on in dressmaking, cookery, shorthand, wool-classing, and sheep-shearing. These classes were again well supported. In connection with the sheep-shearing classes instruction was given in both blade and machine shearing, and the work was in every way satisfactory. At Timaru the same courses of instruction were carried out as have been carried out for some years past—viz., a. commercial course of instruction, consisting of commercial English, commercial arithmetic, book-keeping, typing, and shorthand : trades course, consisting of buildingconstruction, carpentry, electricity, and plumbing; agricultural .course, consisting of woolclassing, sheep-shearing, and farm carpentry; domestic course, consisting of cookery, dressmaking and millinery; arts course, and a Standard VI course. The above classes were all well attended, the sheep-shearing and wool-classing classes especially so; the new wool-classing room proved a great convenience, and materially assisted in carrying on the work on up-to-date lines. In addition to the above Messrs. Martin and Moodie, agricultural instructors, on behalf of the Farmers' Union, delivered lectures to farmers on the principles of agriculture and horticulture. The five technical schools in the district are all doing good work, and each year they are increasing their sphere of usefulness. They are also in a good position financially. This is all the more creditable when it is considered that they depend for their very existence on local support, as the capitation earned and fees paid taken together do not amount to sufficient to meet the requirements of running-expenses. Special classes for teachers were conducted from the 30th June to the end of September. The subjects in which instruction was given were agriculture, drawing, design and colour work, hygiene, physiology, and ambulance work. The agriculture class carried on by Messrs. Martin and Moodie was well attended, the average for the quarter being forty-six. The course included a scheme of nature-study suitable for the requirements of the new syllabus. Practical work was also taken at the Timaru West and Main Schools. Drawing, design, and modelling : Two classes were carried out in these subjects by Mr. and Mrs. Greene; the average attendance for the term was fifteen. Mr. Green outlined a course of instruction in drawing and design to suit the requirements of the new syllabus in all standards; besides, lie gave instruction to pupilteachers who are taking this subject for examination. A special course of instruction in plasti-cine-modelling was also taken : this course was very much appreciated by- those teachers who take this as one of their handwork subjects. For the benefit of those pupil-teachers who require to take practical work for their examinations Dr. Little kindly consented to give a course of instruction in physiology and ambulance work. This class was well attended, and the teachers ' worked enthusiastically. Dr. Little spared neither time nor trouble to give the students all the practical and theoretical work required by the regulations. The interest in school classes increased considerably during the year. This is accounted for by the fact that manual and technical subjects now play an important part in the syllabus. It is compulsory for every school to take up some form of handwork, and in this district 171 classes for elementary handwork were recognized during the year. The classes were conducted on much the same lines as the classes carried on last year. The following gives a list of the subjects taught : Plasticine-modelling, paper-folding, bricklaying, stick-laying, paper-weaving, elementary design, rafia work, cardboard-modelling, carton-work, brushwork, and freearm drawing. In manual instruction 126 classes wore recognized at forty-seven different schools; the subjects taken up were agriculture, woodwork, cookery, swimming, advanced needlework, botany, chemistry, oVc. Classes in cookery, domestic economy, and hygiene were conducted at five different centres during the year —viz., Timaru, Temuka, Waimate, Fairlie, and Pleasant Point. In all seventeen classes were carried on : these classes had all the full complement of pupils. Sixteen woodwork classes were also, as in former years, conducted in conjunction with the cookery classes at the five above-named centres. The interest in both subjects is still maintained; in fact, so popular have these classes become that it was not found possible to take all the schools that made application for positions for pupils, and before long it will be necessary to establish other centres and make provision for taking more classes, if all schools are to be accommodated. The classes in agriculture received a great impetus. Twelve schools took up agriculture for the first time last yoar, making a total of fifty schools now taking up this important work. There is direct proof that year by year teachers are taking a more lively interest in the work, and there is also evidence that School Committees are beginning to realize the benefits of the instruction given, as in many cases they are now taking a very keen interest in what is being done in connection with the school-gardens. A good sum was raised last year for the purpose of helping on the work, the greater part of it being given for tree-planting on Arbor Day. The agricultural and horticultural societies in the district still continued to give the sohool-

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