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to carry on the work, and lack of funds means lack of instructors; the increased value of boy-labour is also an important factor against attendance. However, new regulations have been, gazetted under the Act by which increased capitation grants are to be paid for technical and continuation classes. This should give a great fillip to the work, for if the funds are available the instructors can be found. Courses of instruction were carried on at Waimate, Timaru, Ternuka, Geraldine, Ashburton, Rangiora, and Greymouth, whilst individual technical and continuation classes were taught at Fairlie, Akaroa, Doyleston, Leeston. Lakeside, and Kaiapoi. The compulsory clause of the Act was put into force at Ashburton at the beginning of the year. Generally it worked smoothly enough.; it certainly had the desired effect of increasing the numbers of pupils, and of making the attendance of others more regular. No new technical-school buildings were erected during the year, but valuable grants of land were given by the Timaru and Greymouth Borough Councils as sites for technical schools. The matter of dealing with the Timaru site is still held in abeyance, but a substantial amount has been approved for the erection of a technical building at Greymouth, for which plans are in progress now, and it is expected that the erection of the building will be proceeded with immediately. It is pleasing to note that there is an increased demand for technical education in Greymouth. The commercial work done there during the year was of a very high order, and it is extremely unfortunate that the Board is losing the services of the instructress who is responsible for putting the work at that centre on a good footing. The requirements of pupil-teachers, probationers, and uncertificated teachers have not been lost sight of, as classes for instruction of such students have been conducted at Timaru for agriculture, drawing, and hygiene; at Christchurch for agriculture, drawing, ambulance-work, and hygiene; and at Greymouth for agriculture, mathematics, English, drawing, ambulance-work, hygiene, and singing. These classes have been well attended, and the instruction given has been helpful to the younger teachers both in their actual teaching and in (heir examination work. For teachers in remote parts of the district correspondence classes were carried on. It is now over three years since the Canterbury Education Board took over this important branch, of education for this large district. A retrospect of the work done during that time shows steady and solid progress. There is evidence to show that more classes are carried on all round, that better facilities are provided, and that there is greater interest in the work as regards elementary handwork, advanced handwork, agriculture, teachers' classes, and technical and continuation classes. Ritchings Grant, Supervisor. Extract from the Report of the Director of the Ranks Peninsula Technical Classes Association. Only one technical class was carried on during the year —namely, a class in dressmaking, Thirteen pupils attended this class, and good work was done during the term. Violet Oheyne Farnie, Director. Extract from the Report op the Dieeotob op the Ashbubton Technical School. The year has been a period of many changes. In August Mr. .Moore, who had guided the destinies of the school since 1912 received well-deserved promotion to a similar position in New Plymouth. Other changes in staff and the curtailment of the railway- service made it difficult to carry On some of the classes. However, the loyal assistance of the staff enabled (he Director to make a wholesale reorganization of classes in which Saturday became the chief school-day. The reinstatement of the original railway time-table in October allowed the classes to resume the normal time-table, but the school ran shorthandod until the end of the session. Satisfactory progress in the work of the school was made, and (he attendance kept up remarkably well throughout a trying year. Every department in the school showed an increase in numbers over those of the previous year, the increase in the commercial and trade classes being most pronounced. The number of individual students at technical classes was 499, as compared with 435 for 1918. Full-term dressmaking and millinery classes were held at Methven. and Staveley, while a short course of six weeks was all that could be managed at Mayfield. The instructress deserves special mention for her successful management of these classes under very trying transport difficulties. Twenty-six students, twenty-one of whom were returned soldiers, took the sheep-shearing course, and the instructor is to be congratulated on the excellent work done. The wool-classing class also proved, a signal success. Forty-one pupils were granted senior-free places, a,nd fifteen were granted an extension of their junior free places for another year; two gained Pitman's speed certificates, and three sat for the London City and Guilds Examination in Electricity. The growth of the school forced the Board to hire a room in tin- town for the home-nursing classes. Plans have been prepared for new engineering and woodwork shops. The equipment of the new engineering-shop will add a much-needed branch of the activities of the school, and the removal of the woodwork classes to their new room will relieve the congestion in the main building. A display of woodwork, metal-work, cookery, and needlework from both primary and technical classes was exhibited at the annual agricultural and pastoral show, prizes being given by members of the association and other gentlemen. At the end of the year a most successful exhibition of work was held, many parents and other visitors remarking on the fine quality and wide range of work carried out at the school. A question which is beginning to become acute is the need for suitable playing-grounds for students. The lack of these, and the need for a hostel where teachers and students could obtain suitable board and lodging, are having a marked detrimental effect on the efficiency of the school. The Board is greatly indebted to the late Mr. Charles Baker, who bequeathed to the school a legacy (subject to a life interest) of £1,000. Such large-hearted generosity is what is badly needed to enable the school to fulfil its functions, and to make it more worthy of the rich district of which it is the educational centre. Thanks are due to the Mayor, Mr. Galbraith, for the loan of a piano to the school ; to Messrs. Madden and Kissano for the use of grounds for basketball; and to the following for generous contributions throughout the year : County Council, Agricultural and Pastoral Association, Canterbury Sheepowners' Union, Borough Council, High School Board of Governors, and numerous private subscribers. R- J. Thompson, Director.