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Plumbing — Theory and Practice. —The numbers in attendance continue satisfactory. The examinations have been held as usual locally, and under- the City and Guilds of London Institute. I am pleased to report an increased number of candidates in connection with the latter, many presenting themselves in the higher stages. Many students, although they have passed the necessary examinations, have returned to the classes to continue their studies. The necessity of studying practical geometry and model-drawing has been recognised by many, who found themselves unable to deal with the simplest problem of construction. The City Council have contributed this year £60 towards the working expenses of these classes. Charles W. Martin has completed his full technological certificate in plumbing of the ordinary grade, having passed in practical plane and solid geometry and building construction, in connection with the Science and Art Department, in accordance with the requirements of the City and Guilds of London Institute. This is the first full technological certificate obtained in New Zealand. Carpentry, Wood Carving, and Modelling. —Good work has been done throughout the year in these subjects. I have been enabled by the Dramatic Students' Fund to purchase five portfolios of wood-carvings from the South Kensington Museum (by Eleanor Eowe), consisting of illustrations of English, Flemish, French, German, Italian, Spanish and Icelandic Further specimens have also been obtained from the School of Art Wood-carving, South Kensington, the whole forming a valuable addition to these classes. Shorthand. —During the first two quarters this class had but a small attendance, probably owing to the fee being £1 per quarter; in the fourth quarter this was reduced to 10s., and the class increased by three. There is now, however, a class of eighteen, with an excellent prospect for the year. The sections of instruction are elementary, corresponding, and reporting. Practical Plane and Solid Geometry, and Perspective. —These classes have been fairly well attended, but I am anxious to see the junior students, especially of the evening classes, make greater use of the facilities offered in this direction for obtaining a thorough grounding in the principles of their work. It is all very well to shirk this as drudgery in the first year's course, but the want of this knowledge, especially in mechanical pursuits, is a bar to satisfactory progress. I would urge all students joining the school to master these essential principles first, and so save themselves a considerable amount of time in after work. Advanced Joinery, Stair-work, and Handr ailing. —This class was fairly well attended during the first two quarters, but fell off considerably in the third quarter, and was discontinued in the last quarter. The class has, however, been re-established under the instructorship of Mr. Joseph Fossette, and gives evidence of success in its present stage. The class is held on Tuesday and Thursday evenings, from 7 to 9 p.m., the fee being 10s. per quarter. Wellington College. —The numbers in attendance at the College drawing class have been respectively twenty-six, eighteen, and eighteen in the three terms, the work being confined to secondgrade freehand, model, and elementary light and shade. Additional appliances have now been added by Mr. Firth, which will enable more thorough instruction to be given. The classes in manual instruction in wood-work have also been conducted by Mr. Barrett, instructor of the Technical School. The numbers under instruction were twenty-seven for the first term, twentyfour for the second term, and twenty-one the third term. Examinations. There is an impression abroad that it is of no use attending the Technical School unless students are prepared to submit themselves for examination. This statement is injurious to the school. It is entirely at the students' option whether they present themselves or not. There are a very large number of students, particularly in art work, who never attend an examination. The first grade is for primary schools only. The second and higher grades, and the examinations of the Science and Art Department and the City and Guilds of London Institute, are solely for the behalf of teachers and trade students, who require to hold certificates. It is a great advantage to be enabled to hold examinations under the two latter bodies, for their certificates are recognised accepted by any body or society throughout the world. The number of papers examined during the year was 7,548. The number of certificates issued was 4,608, exclusive of 290 full certificates in the various grades. The number of certificates issued in all grades since the school was established in 1886 is 33,114, subdivided as follows : Primary or first grade, 26,731; intermediate or second grade, 3,357 ; higher or third grade, 1,202; South Kensington, 1,740; and City and Guilds of London, 84. Second Grade (Local). —Total number of papers taken, 538; subdivided as follows : Freehand (179 candidates) —Passed, 120; failed, 59. Geometry (90 candidates) —Passed, 52; failed, 38. Perspective (68 candidates) —Passed, 44; failed, 24. Model (154 candidates) —Passed, 100; failed, 54. Memory, blackboard (47 candidates) —Passed, 22; failed, 25. Excellent, 24; good, 29. Outside districts: Papers, 104; passes, 65; failures, 39. Number of individual candidates examined, 314; passed, 241. The most important feature in connection with this examination is the increase of 246 papers upon last year's numbers, and the much better results obtained in geometrical, perspective, and memory blackboard drawing. Third Grade (Local). —Number of papers worked, 244 ; number of passes, 149 ; failures, 95. Number of individual candidates, 104; and passes, 79. Thirteen papers were excellent and twenty good. Science and Art Department, South Kensington. In connection with the National Competition Florence Broome obtained sufficient marks to entitle her under the department's regulations to a free studentship for one year. During the year a collection of works from South Kensington as a loan to the Education Department was exhibited in the main hall. The works were, however, to a very large extent