20

E.—s

The open scholarships offered by the Education Board in art, architecture, and machine-drawing were duly competed for, and awards were made in connection with the nominated scholarships. Two scholarships in connection with the wood-carving class were donated by A. Hatrick, Esq., and J. Thain, Esq. At the annual examinations of the Board of Education, South Kensington, in science and art, the following were the results : Freehand—first class 5 passes, second class 1 pass ; design (elementary)— second class, 1 pass ; drawing of plant-form —second class, 1 pass ; practical plane and solid geometry— second class, 1 pass ; machine construction —first class, 2 passes ; building construction—first class, 1 pass ; theoretical inorganic chemistry—first class 3 passes, second class 7 passes ; plant-form from memory—second class, 1 pass. David E. Hutton, Director. In addition to the classes referred to in the above report, classes in Latin, English, mathematics, electricity, and commercial subjects were also held. The classes in Latin and English were fairly well attended, and several of the students passed the Matriculation Examination at the end of the year. The classes in mathematics and shorthand were very poorly attended, financial loss being incurred in the case of the class in mathematics. The classes in commercial subjects, including accountancy and commercial and industrial law, were well attended, and some students sat at the New Zealand Institute of Accountants' examinations. The electricity class was largely attended. Among the students were a number of the District High School boys. The general conduct, work, and attendance of the students were on the whole very satisfactory. Extract from the Report on the Palmerston North Technical Classes. Classes were held during the year by Mr. L. Watkin in drawing, painting, building construction, machine drawing, signwriting, brushwork, and drawing from life. In addition to the usual day and evening classes, a special class for teachers was held on Saturdays. At the beginning of the second quarter the school was removed from the Library buildings to the new rooms. New furniture and casts have been provided during the year. The average number of students during the year was sixty-five, an increase of ten over the previous year. A public exhibition of students' work was held at the opening of the new rooms. Extract from the Report of the Hawera Technical Classes. Classes were held in freehand and geometrical drawing, free-arm drawing, drawing in light and shade, brushwork, and painting from still life in oils and in water-colours. Twenty-five students exclusive of school children attended the several classes. Advantage is taken of the proximity of the Art School to the District High School to allow the pupils of the latter school receiving instruction in drawing, brushwork, and modelling at the Art School. The number of pupils receiving such instruction was 331. In addition to the art classes, continuation classes in shorthand and book-keeping were also held, the number of students' t being fourteen and eleven respectively. Excellent progress was made by the majority of the students.

WELLINGTON. Extract from the Report of the Education Board. Manual and Technical Instruction. —In April the Technical School was placed under the control of an Associated Board, constituted under the provisions of " The Manual and Technical Instruction Act, 1900," consisting of the Rev. W. A. Evans, John P. Luke, John Smith, and James J. Devine, representing the City Council; David Robertson, representing the Industrial Association; and F. Bradey, A. W. Hogg, and R. Lee, representing the Education Board. On Mr. Bradey asking to be relieved of the position, Mr. William Allan was elected one of the Board's representatives. For the three months of the year during which the Technical School remained under the Board's management the receipts were £450 15s. 5d., and the expenditure £744 15s. 6d. The grants received by the Board as controlling authority, during the nine months of the year, and handed over to the associated Board, amounted to £1,856 ss. lid. With regard to technical education, the total cost to the Board for this work since 1886 has been £14,285 18s. 4d., the receipts having been £21,349 6s. 3d., and the expenditure £35,635 4s. 7d. During the past year manual instruction was given in sixty-three schools, the subjects taken up embracing : Stick-laying, paper weaving and plaiting, drawing in chalk, free-arm drawing, bricklaying, paper-folding, designing in coloured paper, modelling in plasticine, modelling in carton, brush drawing, cane-weaving, free-arm and blackboard drawing, elementary design and colour-work, cottage gardening, swimming, elementary agriculture, sewing, mat-weaving, geometrical drawing, basket-weaving, paper-cutting and mounting, and cookery. The present year should see this work taken up in almost every school under the Board's control. Cookery. —The cookery classes were controlled by the Technical School until the end of June, when the Board took over the management. The city classes were removed to the Newtown School, where a room was fitted up for the purpose, the cost of such fittings—£lll 13s. —being defrayed by the Government. The teacher, Miss Ivey, having obtained six months' leave of absence, her position was rilled by Miss Manning. The cost of the classes will be covered by capitation.