E.—B

4

"The Technical School. —At the annual examination of evening students the following certifi cates (fifty-seven) were obtained : In freehand mechanical drawing, three first and thirteen second class ; mechanical drawing, two first class ; elementary mechanical drawing, three first and six second class ; descriptive geometry and setting-out of work, seven first and twelve second class ; the steam engine (elementary), two first and six second class; the locomotive, two second class; the theory of workshop practice, one second class. In freehand drawing, seventeen passed in division 1., and fourteen in elementary geometry. " General. —The total number of students attending lectures this year will be about eighty-five, of whom ten are matriculated and taking the University course. All of those who have completed their term have been successful in obtaining remunerative employment. " bince the foundation of the department 285 students have attended the classes, of whom 225 have completed courses of varying lengths. Of these, forty have attained to positions of responsibility at Home and in the colonies, including four engineers in charge of undertakings of magnitude, two works' managers, four lecturers in colleges and technical schools, eleven draughtsmen, four draughtsmen and surveyors, nine shop-foremen, four chargemen or leading hands, twelve engineers of sea-going vessels, five engineers in freezing-rooms, pumping-stations, &c, and five have entered business on their own account, while the remainder, as far as is known, are occupied as apprentices or journeymen at their trades. " During the year many minor additions and improvements have been made to the plant, the whole of which is in excellent condition." Girls' High School. The school sustained a very severe loss on the 30th December last by the sudden death of the late Lady Principal, Mrs. T. S. Foster. Applications were invited for a successor, with the result that Miss Mary V. Gibson, M.A., obtained the position, and will probably take up the duties at the commencement of the second term. The work of the school has progressed satisfactorily during the past year. There have been, however, several changes in the staff. Miss Stevenson has been promoted to the position resigned by Miss Lorimer, and Miss K. Gresson appointed parttime teacher. A year's leave of absence has been granted to Miss Keating, teacher of dress-cutting, the classes to be carried on in her absence by Miss Easterbrook. Miss Helen Gibson entered on her duties as teacher of drawing in the second term, and these classes promise to be very popular. The number of pupils during the last term was 133. During the year honours have been gained by pupils and ex-pupils of the school as follows : Junior University scholarships were won by Mabel Connon, Ruth Gibson, and Annie Finlayson; Winifred Opie and. Louisa Wilkinson gained senior Board of Education scholarships; while all the girls who entered for the matriculation examination succeeded in passing. The loss of the University examination papers has caused delay in obtaining returns as to any successes attained by former pupils of the school. Boys' High School. The staff comprises the headmaster, ten full-time assistant masters, one part-time master, and visiting instructors in drill, swimming, singing, model-drawing, and carpentry. There were 247 on the roll in the third term of 1897. As regards the staff, Mr. T. Cane was made a full-time master. There were thirty-eight free boys attending during the first term of 1897, in addition to thirteen district scholars who receive their scholarships from the North Canterbury Board of Education. On the 19th June the school held a Jubilee celebration in the Canterbury College Hall. On the 10th November His Excellency the Governor visited the school, and was received with enthusiasm. At the recent December examinations L. S. Fanning and S. Robertson won Junior University scholarships, the former obtaining the first place and the latter the eighth of the fourteen scholars elected. T. M. Curnow and J. H. Miles also obtained places on the credit list. A. O'Brien passed the medical preliminary examination. Thirteen boys passed the matriculation examination. C. J. Griffin, E. H. Baker, and A. E.Curriewon senior scholarships given by the North Canterbury Board of Education. Public Libeaey. Beference Department. —During the year ending 31st December, 1897, this department was closed for nearly three months, to permit of the addition of a gallery. The total cost amounted to £297 2s. It was subsequently found necessary to add two windows to the building, with a view to improve the ventilation. As soon as funds permit, additional shelving will be required. For this purpose, in the meantime, considerable space is available. A much-needed work that has occupied the whole of the year is now completed—viz., the printing of the Beference Library catalogue. The total cost of printing and binding the work amounts to £135. The previous catalogue was issued in 1879. The total number of volumes in the department on the 31st December last amounted to 10,359. 181 volumes have been added since May last. The following works have been stolen from the department: "Introduction to Practical Farming," Thomas Baldwin; "Introduction to Irish Farming," Thomas Baldwin; "History of the Bod from the Earliest Period," Bey. W. M. Cooper. On the disappearance of the last-named work a reward of £5 was offered for the apprehension of the offender, but without success. The Governments of the United States, New South Wales, Victoria, Tasmania, and New Zealand have generously presented several publications to this department. The thanks of the Board have been conveyed to various private donors of volumes. Circulating Department. —lt is a matter for regret that the trustees of the Gammack Estate have been unable during the past year to make any contribution towards assisting the funds of this department. At the annual stock-taking lately held it was found that over ninety books were