E.—s

20

MANUAL-TRAINING CLASS, NOEMAL SCHOOL, CHEISTCHUBOH. Instbuctor's Ebpobt. Sib.— Normal School, 4th January, 1898. I have the honour to report on the manual-training classes for the nine months ending the 31st December, 1897, as follows : — The first quarter commenced on the 3rd April, and was attended by seventy-two masters, students, and pupil-teachers, and 130 boys, formed into ten classes, seven of which were held in the afternoons, one in the morning, and two in the evening to suit masters, pupil-teachers, and students at the Normal School. The second quarter commenced on the 12th July, and was attended by fiftyseven masters, &c, and 150 boys, formed into eleven classes, two of which were held in the evening. The third quarter commenced on the 4th October, and was attended by 125 boys and thirty teachers, formed into nine classes. During this quarter the Normal students did not attend. A fee of 2s. 6d. for boys and ss. for masters has been charged. This keeps away a great many who would attend if it were free, but at the same time it improves the class of boys who come, by weeding out a number of those who have no liking or aptitude for the work. Taking the work as a whole, it has been very satisfactory. The drawing of the boys is much better than I expected to find it, and the whole of the classes have shown great aptitude with the tools. I have kept specimens of the work done for your reference, and for future comparison. The discipline has been excellent, and reflects very favourably on the training given at our schools. I am much indebted to the masters for their selection of boys as sent to the classes. A number of teachers have made application to take the first-year examination under the London and City Guilds examiners, which is to be held in June next. The work done by the teachers is very good ; in many cases it is excellent. This is to be expected from men who give a whole day and travel (as many do) thirty or forty miles for two hours' instruction. I am indebted to the department in Wellington for a number of specimens of New Zealand timber, also to several of the masters—viz., Messrs. Cookson, Withell, Watson, and Sydney Smith — for specimens of colonial and foreign woods. I trust that in the near future Fifth Standard boys will be admitted, as boys from the Seventh Standard do not stay long enough to reap much benefit, many of them leaving to go to work. I have, &c, The Chairman, Normal School Committee. P. W. Sandfoed, Instructor.

The following table shows the number of teachers and boys that attended at the Normal School, with the number of classes held during each quarter:—

Balance-sheet for the Year ending December, 1897. Receipts. £ s. d. Expenditure. £ s. d. To Government grant for fitting up work- By Instructor's salary .. .. .. 78 10 0 shop .. .. .. .. 172 10 0 Fitting up room .. .. .. 69 1 6 Fees .. .. .. 79 17 6 Tools .. .. .. 85 0 6 Capitation grant from Government .. 41 7 6 Lathe .. .. .. 16 10 0 Timber for use in school .. .. 14 0 8 Gas .. .. .. .. .. 85.0 Stationery, &c. .. .. .. 9 6 8 Balance .. .. .. .. 13 0 8 £293 15 0 £293 15 0 Fees charged per term : Masters, ss. ; school-children, 2a. 6d.

MANUAL-TEAINING CLASS, LEESTON. Instbuctok's Bepobt. Sir, — Normal School, 4th January, 1898. I have the honour to report on the Leeston manual-training class, held on Saturday evenings, for the past quarter, ending 18th December, 1897 :— I held ten classes on separate nights, each lesson being of three hours' duration, from 6.30 to 9.30 p.m. The class is mainly composed of masters in the district schools surrounding the Leeston School, several of whom have to travel several miles. Considering the distances I think the attendance is very satisfactory. The work is above the average of any other class which I instruct. This is, I think, due to the fact that the pupils are enthusiasts, and do a great deal of " homework " ; this enables them to show good results at class. I expect good results from this class at the forthcoming examination. I have, &c, The Secretary, Board of Education, Christchurch. P. W. Sandfobd, Instructor.

Roll-number. Quarter commencing Number of Total Roll-number. Classes. Teachers. Boys. !rd April 2th July : th October 10 11 9 72 57 30 130 150 125 202 207 155