E.—s

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section entitled, " Farm Bookkeeping." Arithmetic (fifteen pupils)— The following work was done : Practice (simple and compound), elementary mensuration, and the easier cases of vulgar fractions. About half of the pupils did good work, two or three excellent, and the rest poorly. On the whole fairly good work was done, and gave promise of better in the future. John Kilpatrick, President.

Receipts. £. s. d. Expenditure. £. s. d. To Class fees— . By Salaries and class expenses .. 38 16 0 Ambulance .. .. .. ..500 Printing, stationery, &o. .. .. 614 0 Music .. .. .. .. 21 10 0 Incidental expenses .. .. .. 4 0 0 Dressmaking.. .. .. .. 610 0 Firing, &c. .. .. .. ..250 Bookkeeping.. .. .. 217 6 Balance .. .. .. ..161 Arithmetic .. .. .. ..250 Subscriptions, &c. .. .. .. 7 0 2 Government subsidy ... .. .. 718 5 £53 11 £53 1 1

SOUTHLAND TECHNICAL CLASSES ASSOCIATION. Second Annual Bei-obt. At the annual meeting held on the sth February last year the three retiring members of the governing body—viz., Messrs. Guthbertson, Joyce, and Eiddell—were re-elected to office for a further term of three years. Arrangements were at once made for commencing the work of the session. A special grant from the Government of £50 infused new enthusiasm into those interested in the cause, and the following syllabus of work was prepared : English, Latin, arithmetic, book-keeping, shorthand, wood-carving, plain and art needlework, dressmaking, practical plane and solid geometry and building construction, chemistry or physics, freehand and model drawing, carpentry, photography. Your Committee found that it was one thing to be "enthused" with the work themselves and another to instil that enthusiasm into the members of the community at large, and so, after every opportunity had been given to intending students to enrol for the various classes, it was found that only five of the classes out of the thirteen on the list had sufficient entries to justify their being proceeded with. These were English, arithmetic, book-keeping, dressmaking, and carpentry. A pleasing feature of the session's work was the desire evinced by a number of young mechanics in the town to have a mechanical drawing class placed on the syllabus. This was agreed to, and the class proved one of the most successful of the session. For the purpose of securing to the fullest advantage the grants given by the Government to technical classes the session was divided into two terms of ten weeks each. The number enrolled and the average attendance in each class was as follows: English : First term —number, 9; average, 7 ; second term —number, 10; average, 8-10. Arithmetic: First term—number, 6; average, 5-7; second term —number, 5; average, 4-50. Book-keeping : First term—number, 11; average, 9-50"; second term—not held. Dressmaking : First term—number, 14; average, 12-40; second term—number, 5 ; average, 4-90. Carpentry: First term—number, 20; average, 13-6; second term—number, 20; average, 17-90. Mechanical drawing: First term —number, 18; average, 14-70; second term — number, 16; average, 13-30. Last year the teachers were paid on the equal-dividend plan, this being agreed to by them so as to give the association a start. This year the principle was adopted of giving each teacher the sum of three guineas and a half for each term, with a bonus of ss. per term for every student on the roll above the number of six. This system gave general satisfaction to all. At the time of last year's report the Government had under consideration the advisableness of further subsidising this association beyond that earned by way of capitation on the average attendance, with the result that a voucher for £50 was received shortly after the commencement of the year. This sum enabled your Committee to arrange teachers' salaries as above, and left the association, at the close of its year's work, with a credit balance of £32 ss. 3d. Hopes are indulged in that further assistance may be obtained for this year as well. That the Manual and Technical Instruction Act as it at present stands is abortive is generally admitted on all hands. Eecognising this, the Government brought before the House last session a new Bill, which, as far as liberality in the matter of payment went, was a distinct advance on the present Act. Certain clauses in the scope of the Act were, however, thought by a majority of the House to be carrying matters rather too far, with the result that the Bill was killed, for the present at all events. There is no doubt but that next session a Bill agreeable to the House as a whole, and having for its end the fostering of technical education throughout the colony, will be placed on the statute book.

Balance-sheet for Year ending 28th February, 1898. Receipts. £ s. d. Expenditure. £ s. d. To Balance from 1896-97 .. .. .. 5 6 0 By Teachers'fees .. .. .. ~ 57 18 6 Special Government subsidy .. .. 50 0 0 Printing, advertising, and stationery .. 88 4 Members' subscriptions .. .. .. 110 0 Material for students .. .. .. 410 6 Students' fees .. .. .. 45 12 6 I Gas account and janitor .. .. 9 10 0 Students' material refunded .. .. 313 6 Secretary .. .. .. ..550 Government subsidy .. .. .. 10 15 9 Balance .. .. .. .. 32 5 3 Interest .. .. .. 0 19 10 £117 17 7 £117 17 7 Examined and found correct. W. A. McCaw, E. J. Cumming, Auditor, Ist March 1898. Hon. Secretary and Treasurer.