E.—s

The fall in the attendance at some of the above schools is due to withdrawals as the result of enlistment. The attendance at the schools and classes generally must be regarded as satisfactory in view of the fact that it is for the most part voluntary. That so many students are prepared to take up definite courses of study involving attendance on three or more evenings a week is not the least gratifying feature of the present voluntary system. Capitation earnings for the year totalled £34,771 (including £9,599 on account of free pupils, pupils admitted under " compulsory regulations," and returned soldiers), being at the rate of nearly £2 per student. The rates of capitation vary from 2d. to Bd. per hour according to the year and nature of the instruction. These rates are increased by one-half in the case of classes in remote centres. An additional rate of 3d. per hour is paid on account of free pupils, " compulsory " pupils, and returned soldiers. Payment is not made on account of any student for more than 400 hour-attendances a year, but this maximum is only reached by a small proportion of students. 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 nine and the latter at thirteen centres. The total number of entries was 421, and the number of passes 262. In connection with the technological examinations bronze medals were awarded to two Auckland students on the results of the examination in electrical wiremen's work, Grade I, and plumbers' work, Grade 11, respectively. Two candidates, one at Wellington and one at Invercargill, attained the standard required for a prize in the subjects of mechanical engineering, Division 11, Grade 11, and cabinetmaking, Grade I, respectively, but being instructors were disqualified. Technical High Schools. These schools, eight in number, are of secondary grade, and provide industrial, commercial and general, domestic, agricultural, and art courses. They are under the same management as the technical schools of which they form part. The number of pupils" in attendance during the year was as follows : — Technical High School. ** '' Auckland ... ... ... ... ... ... 464 508 Wanganui ... ... ... ... ... ... 185 250 Wellington ... ... ... ... 254 285 Napier ... ... ... ... ... 108 111 Westport ... ... ... ... 20 29 Christchurch ... ... ... ... ... ... 421 376 Dunedin ... ... ... ... 304 315 Invercargill ... ... ... ... ... 199 231 Totals ... ... ... ... 1,955 2,105 The total enrolment for the year, which shows an increase of 7-7 per cent., must be regarded as satisfactory, indicating that these schools, which are mainly vocational in character, are fully justifying their existence as units in the system of secondary education. Speaking generally, it would appear that requirements in the way of secondary education in the case of a rural centre, or, indeed, of any centre outside the larger urban centres, would be best met by the establishment of what may be termed a general-purpose school, of which the technical high school may be cited as a typical example. The number of pupils taking up the various courses provided was as follows : — p Number of Pupils. UO r ■ Males. Females. Total. Industrial ... ... ... 480 ... 480 Commercial and general ... 338 831 1,169 Domestic ... ... ... ... 301 301 Agricultural ... ... ... ... 153 ... 153 Art ... ... ... ... ... 2 ... 2 Totals ... ' ... ... 973 1,132 2,105

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