E.—ld

4

No. 5. The Secretary, Canterbury Industrial Association, to the Hon. the Minister for Public Works. Sir, — Industrial Association of Canterbury, Christchurch, 18th October, 1884. I have the honour, by direction of the above association, to hand you the following resolution, agreed to at its meeting last evening:—■ Besolved, " That the Government be written to, asking them to what extent they will be prepared to endow a scheme of technical education for the Provincial District of Canterbury." I have, &c, W. Jameson, The Hon. the Minister for Public Works. Secretary.

No. 6. The Secretary for Education to the Secretary, Canterbury Industrial Association. Sir, — Education Department, Wellington, 22nd October 1884. I have the honour, by direction of the Minister of Education, to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the 10th instant, addressed to the Hon. the Minister for Public Works, and by him referred to the Minister of Education. I am to say, in reply, that in the opinion of tho Government the question of providing a scheme of technical education for the Provincial District of Canterbury is one that the Canterbury College Board should deal with; that the College has been largely endowed for the purpose; and that the Board, with its staff and its technical science museum and other appliances, should be able without Government assistance to undertake what is recognised by the Government as a most necessary and most important work. I have, &c, The Secretary, Industrial Association, Christchurch. John Hislop.

No. 7. (Circular.) The Secretary for Education to Managers of Schools for Higher Education. Sir, — Education Department, Wellington, 19th January, 1885. I have the honour, by direction of the Minister of Education, to invite your attention to the great importance of including in the programme of the secondary schools as much instruction as possible in subjects that have a direct bearing upon the technical arts of modern life. Endowments and other public aid have been bestowed on grammar and high schools to enable them to supply to all classes, and not to the professional classes only, a course of study preparatory to the more direct and immediate training for special careers. The secondary schools should therefore be prepared to supplement the primary schools, and to carry on pupils trained in them to higher studies. The State also expects the managers of the secondary schools to bear in mind that the professions are likely to become overcrowded unless something is done to create a bias towards industries, and that our manufacturing industries will not be followed by our brighter and more intelligent youths if they are merely drilled in the ordinary subjects of a grammar-school education. In other countries increasing attention is now being paid to geometrical and mechanical drawing and the handling of tools, as useful subjects of school instruction. The schools of this colony might do good service by taking up these subjects as well as physics and chemistry. Good work might also be done by holding for a few months in each year evening classes, in which apprentices and others might have an opportunity of getting sound instruction in drawing and other subjects connected with their businesses or trades. In some town's voluntary effort has to a certain extent supplied what is wanted in the way of evening classes, but the schools could in some instances afford scientific instruction more thoroughly. It should be remembered that some schools hold their endowments under trusts requiring them to keep up evening classes. If the secondary schools have become in any respect unpopular in any parts of the colony, it may be because the people have not seen direct practical results flow from them. Were attention paid to technical education as well as to ordinary studies in secondary schools, the objections now urged against the endowing of high and grammar schools would probably not be heard. The Minister hopes you will be able, as far as the revenue of your school permits, to give this subject your early attention and support. I have, &c, The Chairman of the Board of Governors, . John Hislop.

No. 8. The Secretary, Napier High School Board, to the Secretary for Education. Sir,— Napier, 7th February, 1885. -)-*-:-#* * * * I may add now, in answer to your circular of January, that our Board has agreed to give Mr. Heath a workshop, with forge, lathe, and carpenter's bench, for the use of the boys. He had repeatedly asked this from the date of his appointment. Mr. Heath also looks favourably on evening classes for drawing, &c, on two nights a week, but the Board think he has enough on his hands for the present, and are to revert to the matter at the beginning of next term. I have, &c, The Secretary for Education, Wellington. David Sidey.