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the islands, all tend to make a prominent distinction. When I was in England I studied the English school-boy's characteristics, and compared them with ours. The framers of our educational Acts never took these strongly marked differences into consideration when drawing up the syllabus. Settlers from all parts of this district have visited this manual-instruction class, and have expressed great surprise at the good quality of the boys' work. They never thought the work of such great importance until they saw it. Some had the idea that manual instruction was a sort of manual exercise as taught by military drill. Not only settlers, but competent carpenters have seen the boys at work, and have said that had they received such a training when they were at school they would have been more useful to their masters in their apprenticeship. Members of several School Committees have also seen the work of the class, and expressed a wish that it was introduced in their schools. Like every innovation, manual instruction is little understood, and its good effects cannot be appreciated until it is more fully explained to teachers and people. Money and time spent on its behalf by the Government will return fifty-fold. Yours, &c, Mr. A. D. Eiley, Director, Technical School, Wellington. Chaeles E. Joplin.

MANUAL-TRAINING CLASS, PARAPARAUMU PUBLIC SCHOOL, WELLINGTON. Insteuctob's Eepoet. Paraparaumu, 7th January, 1898. I beg to submit my report of Paraparaumu Technical School for 1897. The class commenced in February with about a dozen boys. The attendance during the quarter was not good, several not attending more than once. The instruction was given by Mr. Davies, carpenter, and the head-teacher, and the duration of class was between one and two hours per week. During the second and third quarters the instruction was generally given by the head-teacher alone, as Mr. Davies was often away from home. In the last quarter instruction was given for two hours each week by the head-teacher. Ten lessons were given, and the average attendance was six. The chief difficulty met with is that the elder boys cannot be spared from their farm duties very often, and the younger ones have not sufficient strength to use the tools properly. J. A. Smith, Instructor.

WBSTPOBT TECHNICAL CLASS. Secebtaey's Ebpoet. I have the honour to report that the first term, January to March, fell through. In the second term there were six pupils, and in the third term seven pupils. The school received this year the sum of £19 3s. 3d., made up as follows : Balance from last year, 18s. 9d.; fees (10s. 6d. per pupil), £6 165.; Government subsidy, £11 7s. 3d. The expenditure was £20 3s. 3d. Messrs. George Turner and E. B. B. Boswell have acted as teachers, receiving the pupils' fees as their remuneration. There have been two examinations (South Kensington), one of eleven applicants with seventeen subjects, and the last, two applicants with three subjects. Feank Slee, Honorary Secretary.

manual-training class, kumara public school, westland. Inspectob's Bepobt. Sic,— Education Office, Hokitika, 31st January, 1898. In reply to your request, I have the honour to report on the working during 1897 of the carpentry class connected with Kumara School. The following statement was attached to the examination report made in November: Attached to the school is a class for manual instruction under the direction of Mr. G. A. Bell. There are thirty-five pupils attending, and the class has been in existence for five months. The pupils are arranged in three divisions, but there is no attempt as yet to classify according to ability. Some of the pupils are taken from classes as low as the Second Standard, and thirteen pupils have not reached the age of twelve years, the age of several being only nine. While most of the work is satisfactory, it must be remembered that in the future, when each year new classes are formed, and pupils are engaged at different stages, the work of the instructor will be greatly increased, and on this account it is inadvisable to include young pupils, who will later have an opportunity to secure the benefits of the institution. The class is conducted in a suitable building erected for the purpose, and timber has been supplied by the voluntary contribution of residents. The course followed by the class is that adopted by the Education Department in a series of diagrams. The curriculum is strictly adhered to, and the results are satisfactory. A statement of accounts is enclosed. Of the grant of £70 received from the Minister of Education for the erection of the workshop, £68 6s. 6d. has been expended, and the painting of the building remains to be done. I have, &c. The Secretary, Education Department, Wellington. A. J. Moeton, Inspector.

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