5

E.—s

No changes occurred in the personnel of the school staff, who continue to give entire satisfaction. As it was evident that the ordinary revenue of the school would be insufficient, application was made to the Government for a further grant; and, this having been paid, the Council were enabled to carry on all the classes for the whole four terms of the year. In order to secure the more permanent and satisfactory control of technical instruction in this district, the Council again waited upon the Auckland Education Board at the latter part of the year, and requested that body to take over the school. Assurance was given by members of the Board of their sympathy with the proposal.and their desire to further the interests of technical education. G. Maurice O'Rorke, President.

Statement of Receipts and Expenditure for Year ended 31st December, 1900. Receipts. £ a. d. Expenditure. £ s. d. Balances .. .. .. 50 5 7 Salaries .. .. .. .. .. 173 10 0 Cash salts .. .. .. 27 6 9 General expenses —viz., gas, secretary's and Pees .. .. • .. .. .. 172 17 6 caretaker's salaries, &c. .. " .. 132 13 4 Paymaster-General— Stock and plant .. .. .. .. 48 15 10 Capitation .. .. .. 63 7 9 Bent .. .. .. .. 90 0 0 Models .. .. .. .. 4 7 0 Bank .. .. .. .. .. 159 3 4 Grant .. .. .. .. 300 0 0 Cash .. .. .. .. 14 2 7 Disoounts .. .. .. .. 215 2 Petty oash .. .. .. .. 214 8 £620 19 9 £620 19 9

Audited and found correct.—J. C. Webster, Auditor.—Auckland, 17th May, 1901

ELAM SCHOOL OP ART. Sir, — Art Gallery, Auckland, Bth February, 1901. I have the honour to submit a report of the work of this school during the past year. The year 1900 was divided, as usual, into four terms of ten weeks each, and 320 well-attended classes were held during that time. The subjects of instruction have included freehand and model drawing, geometry and perspective, drawing in light and shade, painting in oil and water colours, design, mechanical drawing, and wood-carving. The interest of the students in their work has been well maintained in all subjects, and the average of the work done has been quite satisfactory. In the examinations of the Science and Art Department eighty-seven'papers were used by students of this school, and sixty-eight passes were obtained. The failures were almost entirely in the freehand and model sections, and were owing to the fact that the elementary examinations as held in 1899 were done away with, and a higher grade substituted, and this was only known in Auckland just before the examinations took place, so that those students who were preparing for the elementary examinations had either to take the higher standard or miss the examinations altogether. The following is the list of subjects for which students entered, with their passes and failures :—Drawing from the antique : Passes, 9 ; failures, 0. Geometrical drawing (art) : Passes, 4 ; failure, 1. Freehand drawing of ornament: Passes, 21; failures, 8. Model-drawing : Passes, 10; failures, 6. Light and shade: Passes, 15; failure, 1. Painting from still life: Passes, 3 ; failure, 1. Perspective: Passes, 4; failures, 0. Science—Subject 1., geometry: Passes, 2; failures, 2. This school is attended chiefly by a class of students who, sooner or later, have to make their own livings, and I am pleased to say that a very large number of former pupils of the Elam School are now earning their livings in various businesses or professions in Auckland in which they have been enabled to obtain employment from the work in some branch or other that they have done in this school; and I constantly receive letters from grateful students acknowledging their indebtedness to the late Dr. Elam's bequest. I am in hopes that the increased capitation under the Manual and Technical Instruction Act may enable the trustees to commence evening classes in at least some of our subjects, as such classes have been badly wanted for a long time. Dp till now it has been impossible to extend the classes for want of funds, as all teaching is quite free, and each additional class means a considerable extra drain on the slender resources of the trust. I have, &c, The Hon. the Minister of Education, Wellington. E. W. Payton, Director.

AUCKLAND AND SUBURBS TECHNICAL AND ENGINEERING CLASSES. Sir,— 22nd December, 1900. I have the honour to submit a report of the work done in these classes during the year 1900. The general arrangements and work of the classes in Auckland and suburbs is substantially the same as in the previous year. The principal Auckland classes in the Wellesley Street School have been held two evenings a week, and also on Saturday afternoons, the full four terms of the year. During that time they have been attended by sixty-four individual students, the average attendance being thirty-four at the three classes. Suburban classes have also been held once a week for four terms at Onehunga and Ponsonby Schools, and for three terms at the Remuera