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HAWKE'S BAY. Extract from the Report of the Director of Manual and Technical Instruction. At Gisborne the High School Board of Governors and the Education Board have come to an agreement that has been approved by the Education Department, and by means of which the Technical School buildings become vested in the Education Board and the control of technical education in the Poverty Bay District passes into the hands of the Education Board. It seems fitting that special mention should here be made of the great work in technical education carried out by the High School Board in Poverty Bay, and especially of the part taken in that work by the Hon. W. Morgan, M.L.C. Mr. Morgan was responsible for the inauguration of the woodwork, cookery, and dressmaking classes in his district, and it is to his personal efforts and enthusiasm that a large amount of the success of these classes is due. On the Board's assuming control of primary classes in 1911 Mr. Morgan devoted all his attention to purely technical and continuation work, with marked success in plumbing, and classes in sheep and wool. His knowledge, organizing ability, and wide experience will be greatly missed in the northern ward of the education district. A class in agricultural chemistry for fruitgrowers was conducted at Hastings from June until October. Altogether twelve lessons each of three hours' duration were given. This work was greatly appreciated by the farmers. Twenty-four students were in attendance. Teachers' classes in elementary hygiene and drawing were conducted at Gisborne, Napier, and Daunevirke; classes in domestic science at Gisborne and Hastings; and in agriculture at Hastings. The classes (nine in all) were held on Saturdays. With the exception of the classes in domestic science the standard of instruction was that of Class D. I have to thank the Board for their consideration of all recommendations made by me during the year for the improvement of technical work throughout the district, and the Inspectors and Secretary for valued and willing assistance in many ways. E. G. Loten, Director. Extract from the Report of the Director of the Napier Technical College. The work of the Technical High School which has been most successful during the year was divided into three definite courses—(a) A meohanicaP course for boys who intend to enter skilled trades or ultimately take up farming; (b) a special commercial course for boys who intend to enter offices or warehouses; (<;) a combined commercial and domestic course for girls in which half the time is devoted to work which will fit them to become home-makers, and half to work qualifying them for an office career. The enrolments for the year were 108, as follows: First-year pupils, 68 (left during year, 14); second-year pupils, 27 (left during year, 12); third-year pupils, 13 (left during year, 6). The roll at the end of the year was seventy-six. I would again draw attention to the number of pupils who withdraw before the end of the second year. It is almost an evil that this should be when free secondary education is provided by the State. An average pupil who works well is fairly well equipped for an office at the end of a two-years course, but for a pupil to leave before the expiration of two years is such a serious handicap that it should be avoided if possible. The attendance has been very good indeed, and the home-work has been well attended to in most cases, and I wish to thank both parents ami pupils accordingly. Homework is set regularly and a record of it kept during the year, and the results of the year's work are calculated on home as well as on class work. The usual exhibition of pupils' work in all branches was held at Hastings in October, and was very favourably commented on. The event of the year was the building of the new social room and gymnasium, which has cost about £800. The building was utilized for the annual exhibition of pupils' work in December, when the Hon. J. A. Ilanan, Minister of Education, officially declared the building open. It will be of immense benefit to the pupils for physical training and social purposes. It will also be used as a drawing-office. The half-yearly and annual examinations were carried out and the results were entirely satisfactory, although the standard was raised very considerably this year. Sixty-eight pupils sat for the annual examination. There were two failures, who were only 3 per cent, below the pass requirements, and two absentees through illness. The usual sports have been carried on—cricket, football, hockey, tennis, basket-ball, swimming, &c. At the competitions for life-saving the College was successful in annexing all the trophies—viz., Vigor Brown Shield and four medals, Cottrell Cup and one medal, also the prize for the life-saving competition for girls. Long-distance certificates for swimming were won by twenty boys and thirteen girls for distances varying from 100 yards to three miles, this latter distance being covered by a girl. Two pupils entered for City and Guilds of London Examinations in cookery and millinery, and were both successful in passing the examinations. The boys have paid visits of inspection to the Railway Workshops, Messrs. .1. J. Niven and Co., and also the electric power-house. These visits are of great educational value to the boys, and will be continued in the future. During the year the girls have made some shirts, bandages, sandbags, &c, for the troops at the front. Two school picnics have been held, one at the beginning and one at the end of the year. A sports programme was carried out on each occasion, thus developing a very healthy rivalry in both girls and boys. Evening Classes. —This important branch of the work of the Technical College has been carried on during the year with a considerable amount of success. The course of work has been arranged in two definite courses-—a course for continuation pupils who desire to qualify for Standard VI certificates, and a complete course of technical education, which has again been