Appendix A.

E.—2.

2. Marlborough : Saturday classes would not benefit those teachers who most require assistance. Arrangements: (1.) Correspondence classes by weekly notes throughout the year. (2.) At the end of the year a course at Blenheim extending over a fortnight was attended by twenty-five teachers. Work for the teacher's certificate was undertaken in English, arithmetic, singing, drawing, dairy science, needlework, and physical instruction. Favourable report has been made of the attention and diligence of those who attended this course. 3. Course extending over a month at the Training College, Kelburn: A course in preparation for the certificate was held in February, 1917, in completion of the year's programme, and was attended by thirteen teachers. Subjects : Agriculture, English, arithmetic, school method, hygiene and first aid, drawing, singing, physical drill. Work was set to be done during the remainder of the year. The teachers studied with commendable earnestness. 4. Spring course of a fortnight, in agriculture at Masterton : After preparations were well advanced it was found necessary to abandon the course, owing to the disorganization caused by epidemics. Training College. —A full statement of the work of the year will be found in the report of the Principal in Appendix D. The following is a brief statement of the statistics of the institution : The total number of students was 114—21 men and 93 women—comprising first-year students, 58; second-year students, 56; and classified thus : Division A, 105; B, 4; C, 4; D, 1. They came from the following districts: Wellington, 45; Wanganui, 20; Hawke's Bay, 15; Taranaki, 8; Marlborough, 8; Nelson, 9; Westland, 7; North Canterbury, 2. Manual Instruction. —The following table shows in detail the subjects of manual instruction undertaken in school classes, and the number of pupils under instruction : — Subject. .Number of Pupils. Agriculture ... ... ... ... ... ... ... 1,656 Botany ... ... ... ... ... ... ... 58 Chemistry ... ... ... ... ... ... ... 153 Cookery and domestic economy ... ... ... ... ... 1,143 Dressmaking ... ... ... ... ... ... ... 85 Handwork ... ... ... ... ... ... ... 18,058 Laundry-work ... ... ... ... ... ... ... 360 Needlework (sole-teacher schools where special instructress is engaged)... 315 Physical measurements ... ... ... ... ... ... 796 Physical science ... ... ... ... ... .. 34 Physiology and first aid ... ... ... ... ... 293 Swimming and life-saving ... ... ... ... .. 1,194 Woodwork ... ... ... ... ... ... ... 1,374 By the erection of small laundry-rooms instruction in laundry-work was extended to five new laundry centres. The full rural course was undertaken at six of the nine district high schools, the average attendances totalling 214 pupils. It is satisfactory to note that in the simple nature-study and practical gardening programme of the smaller and in the more advanced programme in agriculture of the larger country schools steady progress is recorded by both Inspectors and instructors. It is not less pleasant to note also the increasing number of schools at which the shelter-belt, the trim hedge, the garden, and the lawn not only proclaim the taste and skill of teacher, children, and Committee, but also assist in developing the artistic sense in others. The Board has for two years endeavoured to assist by the offer of hedge and shelter shrubs to those Committees who would undertake to prepare the ground and plant and protect the trees. Quite a large number of schools have benefited by this offer. The Board wishes to commend highly the efforts of instructors, teachers, and Committees to develop in the child a real love of the plant and its country home and an interest in its life habits, and to develop a love of the country life. District High Schools. —The work of the district high schools is fully discussed in the report of the Inspectors. The average attendances for the year 1916 were—Carterton, 36; Eketahuna, 21; Greytown, 14; Hutt, 18; Levin, 35; Masterton, 72; Normal, 18; Pahiatua, 34; Petone, 59 : total, 307. Medical Inspection and Physical Instruction.—The Board notes with appreciation the friendly co-operation of parent and teacher with the Medical Inspector and the physical instructors in the effort to remedy physical defect; the establishment of special corrective classes (twenty-six in the city and a number in the Wairarapa) has its entire approval. A word of thanks is accorded to the teachers who have undertaken this special work. The Board notes with satisfaction the report of marked progress in physical instruction. The great importance of perfect bodilydevelopment justifies steady, persistent effort to attain high efficiency in this branch of teaching. Buildings. —The following were the principal building operations of the year: New schools— Hataitai, Woodbank, Pirinoa (replaced after fire); additions—Clyde Quay, Te Horo, Shannon; new residence —Carrington (replaced after fire); septic tanks (9); conveniences, new and improved (8); water services (5); laundry-rooms (5); minor works (23); schools overhauled (36); residences overhauled (23); fencing renewals (4). Immediately on the amalgamation of the Marlborough and Wellington Districts a rapid though fairly comprehensive survey was made of the Marlborough schools and residences with

ji—E. 2 (App. A.)

IX