7

E.—B.

attending for the last term were as follows: Draped—morning 13, evening 8 ; nude—morning 6, evening 8. At the beginning of last term a ladies' class for drawing from the full figure was started, and nine students attended. This class was established by the Board at the request of the lady students, and will, doubtless, prove a great help to their progress, as nothing can equal study from the figure for learning form and proportion. The work from the life surpasses anything yet produced, especially that from the nude, of which there is a splendid series of drawings and sketches in the annual exhibition, showing the very marked progress of the students. Glasses in woodcarving and sloyd have been held, for the former on Friday from 3 to 5 p.m., and on Saturday from 10 to 11.30 a.m., and for sloyd on Saturday from 11.30 a.m. to 1 p.m. The attendance for the last term was six in each class. Compared with that of last year this is somewhat disappointing considering the educational value of sloyd work. The work for the most part consisted of chipcarviog and the construction of models in cardboard. The few who attended produced some creditable work, especially in the carving. Classes in geometry and perspective (elementary and advanced) have been held. The attendance has been about the same as the two previous years, but the results of the work, as shown by the examinations, have much improved, especially in elementary geometry. The teachers under the North Canterbury Board of Education have attended on Saturday mornings from 9.30 to 12.30, and have been taught freehand, model, geometry, perspective, elementary light and shade, and memory-drawing on the blackboard. The same number as in the previous year completed their full second-grade certificates—viz., Sydney Taylor and Bobert S. Pearson. Classes in architecture and decorative design have been held on Thursday and Friday evenings, from 7to 9, under the direction of Mr. Hurst-Seager. The last term the attendance was—Decorative design, 25; architecture, 12. The lectures, illustrated by limelight views of the best examples of all periods, were well attended throughout the year, and the home- and class-work based on the principles learnt were very creditable. A loan collection of studies from South Kensington was shown for three weeks last September, and was exceedingly useful in showing what standard our students would have to strive for in the various branches of art work. Our thanks are due to the Education Department for obtaining these works. It is very desirable that we should have a set on permanent exhibition, and I hope we may succeed in obtaining one this year ; for a temporary loan, though useful, is not sufficient. "The work at the Boys' High School has been similar to last year, except that the attendance has been larger. Model-drawing has been taught to a junior division on Monday from 3.20 to 4, and a senior one on Thursday for the same period. " The six free studentships offered by the Board for the annual competition on the past year's work were won by the following students : —Morning class: Landscape painting from nature, E. Procter and E. Turner, equal; painting from life, E. Procter (this student also gets the medal given in this subject); painting from still life, M. H. Aitken, M. Fuller, and E. Turner, equal. Evening students: Drawing from life in monochrome, A. E. Abbott, A. L. Ford, and A. E. Maling, equal; drawing from the antique in monochrome, L. H. Booth; architecture, G. Hart. Prizes: Modelling in clay (Whitcombe and Tombs), E. Archbold and G. Hart, equal; painting from still life (head master's), E. Simpson. Arrangements have now been completed for the competition in connection with the scholarships offered by the Canterbury Industrial Association. Four are to be offered in one year and three the next (alternately). The value of each scholarship will be £5 (or £2 10s. per annum, this sum being the yearly fee for three nights per week). Apprentices connected with trades in any way associated with art will be eligible to compete, and an examination will shortly be held at the school to select the first holders. lam glad that the interdependence and well-being of the school with the industries of the district is being recognised in this way by such a body as the Industrial Association, and I trust that it will be an incentive to, and a beginning of a closer interest in the work of the school on the part of these societies and individuals whose work is partly our work—viz., the furthering and developing of our industries. " The annual local examinations were held last December, with the following results :—Second grade: Freehand 60, model 51; geometry, 23; perspective, 14; blackboard, 12. Full secondgrade certificates, 10. Modelling in clay from the cast (elementary stage)—first-class, 9 ; good, 3 ; pass, 3. Advanced stage from drawing or photographs, three passes. Wood-carving and sloyd, two passes in each. The first examinations in connection with the South Kensington Science and Art Department were held last July. The results are appended, and. on the whole are exceedingly creditable. The average of passes was 76 - 6 per cent., the total number of entries being 128 in all subjects, and thirty failures. Some of the best works done during the year we shall send to London to compete in the national competition which takes place in May. The annual exhibition of students' work done during the past year is now being held, and it must be conceded that for quality and quantity it has never been excelled. Similarly to last year the life and still-life work and modelling in clay show out remarkably well, the new features especially noticeable being the casting in plaster and the large series of drawings from the full figure. We have to thank Messrs. Mountfort and Gibb for kindly acting as judges and examiners again. The former examined in architecture, perspective and decorative design, and the latter in drawing and painting. "At the end of the first term, Miss Munnings, after serving the Board well for six years, severed her connection. Praise is due to her for the efficient way in which she has always discharged her duties, and her loss has been appreciably felt. Misses H. L. Gibson and H. L. Smith, two students, have been appointed in her place, and have so far given every satisfaction. I cannot speak too highly of the earnest work and help rendered by my staff, to whom the success of the year's work is largely due. " The results of the annual competition were as under : Free studentships, morning students : Painting landscape from nature —Emily Turner and Eobert Procter, equal; G. Bell, A. McLean, A. M. Nurse, hon. mention. Painting from life in colour—Eobert Procter. Free studentship and medal —M. H. Aitken and M. Fuller, hon. mention. Painting from still-life in colour—M. H. Aitken, Mary Fuller and Emily Turner, equal; A. McLean and E. Procter, hon. mention. Evening