E.—s

4

number of classes have been held in country districts, the instruction in most cases being given by itinerant teachers. The special courses in home science and domestic arts at the Otago University continue to meet with satisfactory support. Of the thirty-three students in attendance twenty-seven took either the diploma or the degree course. The students included twenty-one prospective teachers of domestic subjects holding Government bursaries. The payments made by the Government during the year on account of these bursaries were at the rate of £63 per bursar. Eleven students, having completed their courses, are now engaged in teaching in the Dominion. Classes, 134 in number, bearing on rural pursuits were held at eighty-eight centres during the year, and were attended by 2,400 students, an increase of 60 per cent. The subjects dealt with included agriculture, dairy-work, wool sorting and classing, shearing, veterinary science, horticulture, and orchard-work. The classes were in most cases taken by itinerant instructors at convenient centres. The results of the year's work, which must be regarded as distinctly encouraging, indicate that the action of the school authorities in the direction of providing facilities for instruction is meeting with appreciation in the right quarters. The fact that the farmers willingly contribute to the funds of the classes is a further indication that the value of the instruction is recognized. The Science Examinations of the Board of Education, London, and the Technological Examinations of the City and Guilds of London Institute were held as usual, the former at ten and the latter at sixteen centres. The total number of entrees was 358, and the number of passes 232. The percentage of passes was 65. The Institute awarded a silver medal to an Auckland candidate for plumbers' work. At the National Art Competitions of the Board of Education, London, eighteen certificates of commendation were awarded to students of technical schools in the Dominion, indicating that the instruction in art generally is on right lines. The Board of Education, London, has announced that the Science Examinations will be discontinued after 1916, and that owing to the war the National Art Competitions are being suspended. Number of Students taking Group Courses. ,-, , T , ~■ Number of Students. Course oi Instruction. .„,. imi--1914. 1915. Elementary and higher commercial, and general (including 2,117 2,523 public examinations) Practical mathematics and science .. .. .. 97 159 Mathematics and science applied to trades and industries .. 1,378 1,417 Domestic science .. .. ... .. .. 583 855 Arts and art-crafts .. .. .. .. .. 646 684 Totals .. .. .. .. 4,821 5,638 Group courses occupying not less than four hours a week and eighty hours a year were provided at forty-six schools, an increase of 18 per cent. About 30 per cent, of the students took such courses, the total number doing so being 800 more than in the previous year. The attendance at domestic courses shows an increase of 46 per cent., at commercial courses of 19 per cent., and at industrial and science courses of 7 per cent.

Number of Students receiving Free Education under the Regulations for Free Places.

1914. 1915. Males. Females. Total. Males. Females. Total. r r ., First year J unior tree pupils ] a % 1 r (becond year [First year Senior free pupils j Second year (Third year 847 555 374 24-7 95 510 365 306 208 77 1,357 920 680 455 172 850 549 447 305 162 501 358 348 262 109 1,351 907 795 567 271 Totals 2,118 1,466 3,584 2,313 1,578 3,891