E.—2.

Appendix B.]

pencil, crayon, chalk, or brush —some form of hand-work. Plasticine-modelling, bricklaying, and paper-folding are the favourite occupations. In the senior division, at those few schools where centralization cannot be effected for training in ironwork, woodwork, or cookery, and where school-gardening cannot conveniently be carried on, a difficulty exists especially in regard to the qualification of candidates for proficiency certificates. Cardboard-modelling, physical measurements, first aid, swimming, and in some cases (though not so suitable for' the elder pupils) plasticine-modelling have been taught. Recognized manual-training classes have been hold in the following subjects : Metal-work, 11 schools; woodwork, 10j cookery (domestic-science course), 24; elementary agriculture, 44; dairy-work, 10; physiology and first aid, 1.1; swimming, 12; elementary physical measurements, 2; dressmaking, 1. In some few schools a subject such as school-gardening may have been taken without being recognized, but the total number of schools to which recognition of one or more branches of instruction have been given is fifty-five. Training of Teachers. —Classes for the instruction of teachers have been held at Nelson for chemistry, botany, and variotrs branches of drawing; at Westport for drawing, hygiene, and chemistry; at Takaka for botany and hygiene; and at Motueka for botany. Some few of the uncertificated teachers who have had no previous training as probationer's or pupil-teachers availed themselves of the opportunity to obtain lessons by correspondence. Eleven teachers also attended the special course for uncertificated teachers at the Wellington Training College. This session is greatly appreciated by young aspiring teachers, arrd is especially rrseful in a district such as this, where a large proportion of entrants to the service have had no previous opportunity of attending a training college. A new and interesting feature of the year's work was the inauguration of classes for the physical training of teachers by departmental instructors. On account of the difficulties of communication and concentration in this district it was forrnd necessary to form two main centres —Westport in February and Nelson in May—teachers from Ifeefton and neighbourhood, for the sake of convenience, being associated with those from the Grey district assembling at Greymouth. The fortnight's holiday granted for the purpose by tiro Board enabled all its teaching staff to attend, and, although the force was divided into three groups, the largest centre held such a rally as the district had never before seen. Under capable instructors the physical exercises, though strenuous enough, were enthusiastically taken rrp and thoroughly enjoyed by all. The teachers on returning to duty immediately began zealously working orr the lines suggested. The simple and rational manner of treating the breathing, the varied and finely graded exercises nicely torred to meet infantile requirements, the dance steps, and especially the organized games, captivated the children's fancy, so that rarely have we seen any branch of school routine adopted with more general enthusiasm. We have, &c, G. A. Hakknkss, ) T A. Crawford f T Wctors. Tht Director of Education, Wellington.

GREY. Sir, — Greymouth, 22nd January, 1916. I have the honour to submit for the year 1915 the annual report on the primary schools of the Grey Education District and the private schools whose inspection was undertaken by the Board. The, inspection of these schools was made in conjunction with, that of the schools of the Westland Education District. In the combined work I was assisted during the month of November by Mr 1 . J. A. Valentine, 8.A., both in primary and secondary departments, and was very fortunate in having his competent aid. At the close of the year the number of public sohools in operation in the Grey District was thirty-four; in addition, five Roman Catholic private a total roll number of 563, were inspected. All the sohools received two visits during the year. \ The following is a summary of the number of pupils irr the public schools at the time of the teachers final examination :— „ , _ Number Present at Annual on Roll. Examination. Standard VII .. .. .. .. .. 53 49 VI 154 153 V .. .. .. .. ..182 178 - IV 240 237 111 .. .. .. .. .. 247 246 II 213 211 I .. .. .. .. .. 225 222 Preparatory .. .. .. .. ..828 820 Totals .. .. .. .'. 2,142 2,116 Conditions. —Of the public sohools, none have been open on more than 400 half-days during the year, and eleven have failed to remain open on as many as 380 half-days. While, the number was reduced on account of the closing of the schools during the period occupied by the, classes for teachers in physical instruction, it is evident that the occasions when the, schools were not in operation have been too numerous. When the school year is unduly shortened either good results are missing or the work is carried on with too much strain.

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