E.—s

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GREY. Extract from the Report of the Acting-Director of the Greymouth Technical School. Day and evening special classes at Greymouth were carried out in the same numbers and on the same lines as those of the previous year. Full courses were successfully held in commercial, domestic, and trade subjects. The engineering school with its workshop" practice did excellent work, and when reopened this year had doubled the attendance for 1915. Unfortunately the general disruption of.normal conditions caused by the war affected the general attendance of the day and evening classes by approximately 33 per cent. Nevertheless really good work was accomplished, and the establishment of the commercial and engineering day schools was amply justified. At Blackball, Ngahere, and other country centres dressmaking classes were held with very successful results. Extending over the school year teachers' training classes were held in drawing, hygiene, and first aid. These were largely attended, and good work was accomplished. Practical instruction in first aid was given by certificated instructors of the St. John Ambulance Society, and the examinations in all subjects held at the close of the classes proved that the students had derived material benefit from the opportunities of advancement afforded thei.tr by the' Department. In conclusion, I have to acknowledge my deep indebtedness to the officers of theiDepartment for the many courtesies and considerations extended during the year, and to thank the Chairman and members of the Board, the instructors, and all concerned in the conduct and up-keep of technical education in the Grey Education District. P. F. Daniel, Acting-Director.

WESTLAND. Extract from the Report -of the Education Board. A teachers' class in elementary science and hygiene, also classes in commercial subjects, including shorthand, typing, book-keeping, English, arithmetic, and algebra were held during the year. The classes in commercial subjects and the manual classes for woodwork and cookery in connection with the local public schools were carried on by instructors wdiose services were obtained by arrangement with the Grey Education Board.

NORTH CANTERBURY. Extract from the Report of the Director of this Christohuroh Technical College. An institution such as this could not fail to be influenced by the grave crisis through which the Empire is now passing, and for the first time in the history of the College the-number of students in the evening school has shown a decline. This was only to be expected, for though the enlistment age is twenty many enlist under that age, many more are unsettled by the proximity of their time for enlistment, and other younger students are devoting increased attention to military training. The total number on the roll for the past session has been 1,566, as against 1,709 in 1914. Of these, 421 were enrolled in the Technical High School and 1,145 in the evening and other classes. Technical High School. —The most notable feature of the year has been the extraordinary demand for our pujjils to fill vacancies that have been caused directly or indirectly by the war. Of sixty-five third-year pupils only fifteen remained long enough to earn full capitation, twelve to earn three-quarters, eighteen to earn one-half, nine to earn one-quarter, -while eleven earned no capitation at all. Although the position caused by the leaving of our pupils was more than ordinarily acute, our experience is similar each year. It may perhaps be thought that some pressure should be brought to bear on senior pupils to remain longer at school, but it must be borne in mind that this school is essentially different from the ordinary high school, in that it gives definite training for special careers, and therefore whenever suitable openings occur it is desirable in the interests of the pupil that the opportunity for securing employment should not be lost. Employers, for example, do not require apprentices at the end of the year only,. and if a boy were to refuse a, good offer he might not have another equally favourable. This essential difference between the technical high school and the ordinary high school has not been sufficiently taken into account in determining the method of payment for the latter. It is clear that unless something is done to place technical high schools on an equally favourable footing with the ordinary high schools it will be impossible for them to maintain efficient staffs in view of the increased salaries that are being paid both in secondary and primary schools. During the year a physical-culture and games mistress was appointed to our staff. This has rendered it possible to give much greater attention to the physical development of the girls, and in particular, by the application of remedial gymnastics, to help those who were in special need of such assistance. The introduction of folk-dancing has also added much to the benefit to be derived from the more formal physical culture and made the work more interesting, and enjoyable. In several direction's the pupils of the school have tried to help the causes that have so great a claim on us at this time. On three separate occasions cases of clothing containing about three hundred garments in all have been forwarded for the poor of Great Britain and Belgium, while by very varied effort and much hard work the pupils and staff have raised nearly £600