E.—ll

10

travelling-expenses of teachers, about £396 ; bonuses for qualifying teachers, about ,£lO2 ; examina-tion-expenses, about £45: total, £4,969 17s. 4d. The first and second, or elementary, classes or standards are furnished with printed sheets of exercises, from which they are expected to take their lessons. The Eirst Standard test I consider was fairly satisfactory : the children understood the position of the various lines upon their slates, but were deficient in the matter of application of lines and angles to objects. The Second Standard drew a square and an oblong upon their slates; but this exercise was unsatisfactory. The Third Standard were deficient in the groundwork, having no knowledge of the various simple figures, and seemed to have little idea of proportion or construction. The Fourth, Fifth, and upper Standards were copying various exercises in their drawing-books, including landscape, and the figure with light and shade, and drawing from the model, or from a group sketched upon the blackboard. The drawing of the upper standards in the school visited I consider generally to be of an ornamental rather than useful character. The work shown by the Education Department at the Adelaide Exhibition contained several good specimens of freehand, and a number of sketches of models, some taken from the actual group and others from blackboard sketches. From my inspection of the work and methods adopted in the model school visited, I should say that it would be far better to employ the present visitingmasters in giving good sound groundwork to elementary standards, or in giving instruction to the pupil-teachers and seeing that instruction carried out. There would then be a prospect of having something to work upon in the higher standards. Ido not see how an efficient system of industrial drawing is to be established should the groundwork remain as it is. There is no doubt it is better to have all teachers certificated as teachers of drawing ; but that the ordinary teachers are quite capable of doing the elementary work, after receiving a certain amount of instruction, is now proved beyond doubt. Again, the children have an idea that it must be something exceptionally difficult if the ordinary teacher cannot do it; and a specialist visiting a school does not know the individualities -of the scholars, and often has little control: this must have, to a certain extent, a demoralising effect. Where no visiting-teachers are arranged for, the ordinary staff of the school are expected to give the necessary instructions. In a circular upon drawing recently issued by the department the following text-books are recommended : (1) Vere Foster's drawing copy-books, Books Al and A2 ; - (2) South Kensington Drawing-book; (3) American Text-books of .Art Education. 2. The Wobking-men's College. This institution is centrally situated in Latrobe Street, closely adjoining the Public Library and the Trades Hall, and conveniently situated as regards the principal lines of traffic. The building is at present incomplete, only the back portion—about one-half—being erected. From the plans and elevations shown the building will present a handsome appearance, and add considerably to the architectural features of the city. The portion of the building now erected has cost about £11,000, and a like sum, it is estimated, will be required to complete it. The initiation of this institution is due to the Hon. Francis Ormond, M.L.C., who subscribed £5,000 towards the building upon condition that the same sum was raised by public subscription. The site was granted by Government, as well as a vote of £2,000 for fitting up and maintaining the institution for the current year. The college is governed by a Council of eighteen members, consisting of the founder and representatives of the founder, the Government, the University, the Public Library, the Trades Hall Council, subscribers of £1 and upwards, and subscribers of from 2s. 6d. to £1 sterling. A subscription of from 2s. 6d. annually gives the privilege of a vote for members of the Council. The college is intended to improve the general and technical education of the working-classes ; but it is open to all, women as well as men. The classes are conducted almost entirely in the evening, between the hours of 7.30 and 10.15 p.m. There are thirty-nine weeks of lectures in the year, divided into terms of about equal length. The institute was opened on the 7th June, 1887, with an attendance of 300 students, and at the close of December, or the second term, there were 985 students on the roll. The following table gives the subjects, nightly average attendances, percentage, and fees received, showing second and third terms:—