73

E.—l

in bricks for building work, foundry work, carving and designing for ornamental brass and iron castings , carving in fired wood for decorative purposes , and carpentry I regret that the assistant teachers of the city schools have not taken advantage of these classes for carpentry In connection with their department, I am endeavouring to arrange carpentry classes for the primary scholars, and I sincerely hope before the present year is past we shall have large classes in this very necessary branch of education in working order Examinations. I take this opportunity of stating that examinations in our case are not like ordinary examinations, inasmuch as it is impossible to cram for the event. Further, in all cases it is a question of showing actual knowledge and power of doing work with instruments, pencil or brush, within a reasonable time, and in a business-like manner Our certificates are now being recognised by various trades, and consequently are of commercial value. Further, our students have the privilege of obtaining certificates from the Science and Art Department and the City and Guilds of London Institute, both of which are valuable as being recognised and accepted by any body or society throughout the world. The usual examinations were held during the year As showing the increase in the work of the school, I may state that the number of papers examined during the year was 6,690, and the number of certificates issued was 3,859. The number of certificates issued in all grades since the school was established in 1886 is 19,329, subdivided as follows Primary or first grade, 15,134 , intermediate or second grade, 2,396, higher or third grade, 740, South Kensington, 1,036, and City and Guilds of London, 23. Second Gbade (Local). —Total number of papers taken, 473, subdivided as follows Freehand, 152 candidates —93 passed, 59 failed, geometry, 83 candidates—37 passed, 46 failed, perspective, 85 candidates—37 passed, 48 failed, model, 118 candidates —58 passed, 60 failed, memory, blackboard, 35 candidates—2o passed, 15 failed total, 473 candidates —245 passed, 228 failed, 24 excellent, 29 good. Number of individual candidates examined, 296, successful, 169. In this examination the papers show marked improvement in freehand, model, and memory drawing, but the work in geometry and perspective has not shown improvement, more especially in connection with the Saturday teachers' class. The attendance has been irregular, and the homework indifferent. Under these circumstances no success could possibly be hoped for Thibd Grade (Local). —Considerable increase in the number of papers is this year recorded, 242 papers being taken, as against 98 of last year The results were very satisfactory, especially in outline from the cast, and models, light and shade, colouring, and design. Number of papers taken, 242—passes, 169, failures, 73. Individual candidates, 94, individual passes, 81. Papers excellent, 29 , papers good, 46. The following are the results : — First Year's Course. —Outline from the cast Excellent, 3, good, 3 , pass, 11. Outline from models Excellent, 2 , good, 1, pass, 19. Cast in light and shade Excellent, 1, good, 2 , pass, 9. Sepia from the cast Excellent, 2 good, 2 pass, 3. Building construction Pass, 2. Carpentry Pass, 1. Bricklaying Pass, 1. Machine construction Pass, 6. Modelling Good, 1, pass, 1. Second Year's Course. —Outline from the cast Excellent, 1 good, 1, pass, 5. Light and shade from models Excellent, 1 , good, 1 pass, 3. Shading from the cast Good, 2 , pass, 3. Monochrome from cast Good, 1, pass, 1. Still life Good, 1. Drawing from life Good, 4, pass, 3. Drawing from antique Excellent, 1, good, 1, pass, 1. Anatomy Good, 1, pass, 3. Machine construction Pass, 2. Carpentry . Pass, 1. Plumbing Theory Excellent, 6, good, 9, pass, 7 Practice Excellent, 2, good, 13, pass, 6. Science and Art Department, South Kensington. lam pleased to report exceptionally high results in connection with this department. The first art masters' certificate completed in the colony by any art student has been obtained by Mary E. Eichardson. This certificate entitles the holder to take charge of an art school, and, if in the United Kingdom, to earn the grants of the department in respect of work done. The only other school in the Australasian Colonies which has obtained this certificate is Adelaide, South Australia. By a recent regulation of the department no prizes are now awarded for works in connection with the art-class teachers' certificate, a section in which this school has hitherto been particularly successful. The works now selected for national competition are also of a decidedly higher standard. The school may therefore, under these stringent conditions, be congratulated in obtaining two prizes in the national competition—namely, national bronze medal, Florence Broome , national book prize, Mabel Hill. The bronze medal is the only medal awarded to any colonial school. The subject in which the award is made is design and historical ornament. The examiners—Messrs. Lewis F Day, Frederick Shields, A.E.W.S., and Stephen Webb—in their report, honour Florence Broome by saying they think the series of studies well selected and carefully drawn. The examiners in drawing from the living model, in which Mabel Hill obtains her prize, were W F Yeames, E.A., A. Gow, E.A., and the Hon. John Collier It may surprise many to learn that 266 art schools sent up 44,499 works for examination. Of this number, only 3,605 were selected for national competition. There is, therefore, all the more credit due to us for the prizes won in competition with these schools. 10— E. 1.