10

E.—6

Wellington Education District: Papers worked—lß9s, 5,242; 1896, 5,089; 1897, 5,589. Papers passed—lß9s, 3,116; 1896, 3,306 ; 1897, 3,367. Papers failed—lß9s, 2,126 ; 1896, 1,783; 1897, 2,222. There is an increase of 426 individual candidates and 119 individual passes upon 1896. The number of schools represented under the Wellington Board is ninety-four, an increase of eleven upon 1896. The number of papers applied for outside the Wellington District was 792, of which number 489 passed. This is an increase of 355 papers upon last year; the number of schools represented being thirty-three, as against sixteen last year. The following are the schools represented :—Marlborough District : Blenheim Boys', Havelock, Fairhall, Spring Creek, Deep Greek, and Te Weka. Westland District: Kumara, Hokitika, and Jackson. Greymouth District: Greymouth, Paroa, Totara Plat, Stillwater, Greenstone, and Taylorville. Nelson District: Westport Boys', Girls' College, Boys' Central, Granville, and Toi Toi Valley. Convent of Mercy, Christchurch; St. Patrick's College, St. Francis Xavier's, and St. Mary's, Wellington; St. Joseph's Convent, Lyttelton; St. Mary's, Hokitika; All Saints', Greymouth; St. Joseph's, Kanieri; St. Patrick's, Masterton; St. Patrick's, Kumara; Wesleyan Day School, Wellington; Miss Haase's, Lower Hutt; and Wanganui Collegiate School. The total number of certificates issued in connection with this examination since its inauguration in 1884 is 26,731. Manual Instruction. —This subject will never be successfully dealt with under the present conditions of being taught outside school-hours. The arrangements under which this subject is taught in England are such that the classes meet during school-hours at defined centres : thus whole classes are dealt with in an efficient manner. Should we obtain the proposed addition to the Technical School I hope to effectively deal with manual instruction and domestic economy for all city and suburban schools. Country classes have been held at Cross's Creek, Paraparaumu, and Mauriceville West, the numbers being as follows : Mauriceville West, 20 ; Cross's Creek, 18 ; Paraparaumu, 11. In both the latter places the classes have been unfortunate in losing their instructors through removal to other districts: this has seriously interfered with the progress of the classes. At Cross's Creek, where excellent work was being done, the workshop (the property of the Eailway Department) was required for other purposes. The class was compelled to cease work for a time, but resumed under difficulties during the last quarter. I regret the removal of Messrs. Heywood and Foster, who, as instructors, were the means of establishing manual instruction in the two places named. At Mauriceville West, Mr. Joplin has kept his class well together. In his report he states that " the interest of the boys in their work is increasing with their progress, and that some of the best work is done by Third Standard boys." He furthers says, "I have observed that the ordinary schoolwork of those attending the class shows more intelligence than that done by boys who do not attend, particularly where reflective work is necessary." Settlers from all parts of the district have visited the class, and begin to understand the importance of the work to an agricultural settlement. Mr. Joplin concludes by saying, "Like every innovation, manual instruction is little understood, and its good effects cannot be appreciated until it is more fully explained to teachers and the people. Money and time spent on its behalf by the Government will return fiftyfold." Dalefield has made provision for opening classes, but, owing to necessary transfers of larid, the work will not be in operation for about three months. As a means of bridging the gap between the occupations of the primer classes and the upper standards, cardboard-modelling has been found an effective study, cultivating habits of order and exactness, quickness, and manual dexterity. Circulars have been issued giving details and suggestions for the increased working of cardboard work, clay-modelling, and model-drawing. These, I trust, will materially aid the primary work, as upon the progress of this must depend the success'of technical education. Scholarships (Primary). —The work of the sixty-two scholars holding scholarships has been satisfactory, the course including model, freehand, and elementary light and shade, and manual instruction in woodwork for boys, and clay-modelling for girls. In the latter subject some very excellent examples in ordinary modelling from the cast were produced. The amount of time available for freehand and elementary light and shade was, owing to the wood- and clay-work, considerably curtailed. The scholarships are enabling very useful work to be done, and act as a connecting link between the primary and technical school. That they are appreciated is evident from the fact that again over 180 competed for the fifty first-year vacancies. The competition produced work equal to second grade by a considerable number of scholars, and in such cases certificates were awarded. Instruction to Teachers and Pupil-teachers has been continued as usual, and I am glad to report that considerable interest is manifest in all branches of work. The geometrical and perspective classes have this year done good work. Appreciation is shown of the advantage offered to teachers of attending the classes after they have completed their full second-grade certificate. The efficiency of such teachers will thereby be increased, and should benefit the schools largely. The correspondence class work has considerably improved. The work has been defined in the various sections for each month with very beneficial results. The revision takes place the last Friday in each month, and the work is returned with remarks and corrections, together with requirements for the next months-work. The following classes are held on Saturday, and are free to all teachers in the Board's service: Drawing in all branches—model, geometrical, perspective, freehand, light and shade, and colour; manual instruction in wood and in clay. Singing: Sight-singing, voice-training, and methods of teaching. For the class in wood-carving for teachers a fee of 10s. per quarter is charged. Teachers' Drawing Certificates. —The following statement shows the position of teachers in the Board's service in relation to drawing : Head-teachers—thirty-four hold full certificates, fifty-nine