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special tact, resource, intelligence and skill than the treatment of object lessons and elementary science lessons, for it is training far more than imparting of information that is needed here. ' The mere learning of the words of a text book is of scarcely any use. Whatever facts can be observed by the children, and by them reduced to law, they must be led to observe and reduce. Exhibition of facts and of the operation of laws must take the place of talking about them.' "3. The Board believe that if the teaching of the headmaster relieved for the time the first or second assistant from the charge of his class the assistant's time, thus set free, could be utilised in teaching the S7 class, or in helping to supervise and strengthen the work of the pupil-teachers and the weaker assistants. This exchange of duties between the headmaster and the senior assistants could hardly fail to benefit the latter, and in some cases it would no doubt prove profitable to both. " 4. Headmasters are enjoined to keep a diary or log-book showing in a general way how their time is employed, except in so far as this can be ascertained from a regular time-table. " 5. The time of the headmaster of a large school is very valuable, and it should be employed to the fullest possible extent on work of a profitable character. The Board do not consider it necessary that headmasters should occupy any considerable portion of their time in connection with registration and statistics, which, though important and necessary, demand no higher qualification than mechanical accuracy. This work might be intrusted to one or more of the junior teachers, or, after a little training, to the senior pupil-teachers in rotation, to whom it would be a useful exercise. It would be necessary, however, for the headmasters to satisfy themselves that the work is carefully and accurately done. " The Inspectors have been directed to report on the manner in which effect is given to the recommendations contained in this circular." Training College.—The report of the Rector of the Training College is appended. At the close of 1887 official information was received that after the 31st December the grant of £2,000 per annum hitherto allowed to the Board for the maintenance of the institution would cease. The Board, however, realising the absolute necessity of such an institution for the efficient and successful training of young teachers, resolved to carry on the school as formerly, no material change being made in the management or expenditure. The attendance of students during the year was — Males. Females. Total. First-year students ... ... ... 18 ... 30 ... 48 Second-year students ... ... ... 15 ... 46 ... 61 Third-year students ... ... ... 1 ... 0 ... 1 On the books, 31st December, 1888 ... 23 ... 45 ... 68 The following is a return of the number of students who entered or left during the year, and of their present employment: —

Students in 1888— Males. Females. Total. Remaining from 1887 ... 16 46 62 Admitted, 1888 ... 18 30 48 Left during 1888 ... 11 31 42 On books, Dec, 1888 ... 23 45 68

Left during 1888— Males. Females. Total. Teaching in public schools 7 23 30 Awaiting appointment ... 0 4 4 On leave, at University 4 2 6 Left the service... ... 0 2 2

The total cost of the training department for the year was: Salaries, £1,082 18s. 4d.; allowances to students, £1,037 ss. sd. Drawing Department.—The report of Mr. Hutton, headmaster of the drawing department, is appended. The classes were largely taken advantage of during the year, being attended by 413 students —viz., 119 teachers and pupil-teachers, eighty-one students in training, sixty students at the afternoon classes, and 153 artisans and other students in the evening. The expenditure on the drawing department for the year was : Salaries, £471 10s.; incidental expenses, £52 Bs. 2d.: amount of fees received, £154 19s. 6d. : net cost, £368 18s. Bd. In addition to the receipts from fees shown above, the sum of £150 per annum is payable by the Otago High Schools Board in consideration of Mr. Hutton's services, but it is not shown here, as no payment for 1888 was received within the year. School Committees' Accounts.—An abstract of the income and expenditure of the various School Committees will be found in Appendix F, from which it will be seen that the Board contributed the sum of £4,258 7s. 9d. There was raised locally the sum of £1,305 19s. 9d., and there was standing to the credit of the Committees at the end of the year the sum of £1,585 16s. It will be noticed that even with the reduced income many Committees not only provided for the usual expenses in connection with the school, but were able to spend considerable sums of money in the improvement of the grounds, and in keeping the buildings and fences in repair. The accounts were audited as formerly by Mr. Park, the Board's chief clerk. School Buildings.—The total amount expended on school buildings during the year was £5,340 15s. 7d. A detailed statement, showing the expenditure in each school district, is given in Appendix A. A complete list of the school sites, showing their area, how they have been acquired, and the Board's title and date of the same, will be found in Appendix O. With two exceptions, the Board has a valid title to all its properties, and as soon as surveys are completed the two sites referred to will be proclaimed. For some time the Board has had its attention drawn to the fact that many of the teachers do not take sufficient interest in the buildings and grounds, and that few gardens were maintained in a satisfactory and creditable manner. A circular was issued in May last drawing teachers' attention to this matter, and instructions were given to the Inspectors to report in every case as to how the buildings and grounds are being kept. By order of the Board. The Hon. the Minister of Education. P, G. Pryde, Secretary.