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HAWKE'S BAY. Extract from the Report of the Board op Education. Technical. —A good deal is being done in the way of carrying out the provisions of the Manual and Technical Act. A committee of control has been appointed by the Board to further the establishment of special classes. The committee consists of the Chairman and another member of the Board, a representative of the Napier' Borough Council, and one of the Napier High School, with the Inspector of Schools. Similar committees are being established at Hastings, Dannevirke, and Woodville. They will all act under the immediate control of the Board. At Gisborne the High School Board, established under a special Act, is now busy erecting buildings as an adjunct to the secondary classes of the District High School. It is hoped arrangements will be made to establish Saturday classes for teachers similar to those so successfully carried on in Napier and Dannevirke during the past year. Extract prom the Report op the Inspector op Schools. In anticipation of changes in the standard syllabus, much attention has been given to the fostering of classes for the training of teachers in subjects of instruction that will be required under the amended syllabus. Drawing and woodwork have been successfully taught in Napier and Dannevirke in the special classes for teachers. Unfortunately the heavy expense connected with similar classes in Gisborne for the benefit of teachers in Poverty Bay made it impossible to continue them throughout the year, but it is hoped that arrangements will be made to reopen the classes when the Technical School now being built in Gisborne is ready for occupation. Special classes for technical instruction under the Manual and Technical Instruction Act were carried on in Napier during the winter months with considerable success, but the accommodation is far from satisfactory. The plumbing class is taken in a separate building from that temporarily used as a technical school. The rooms used for instruction in woodwork and in decoration are quite unsuitable, and it is hoped that a new technical school will be provided by the Government to meet the growing needs of Napier and district. The special classes for teachers that were opened in Napier during the midwinter holidays brought together all those that had been unable to avail themselves of the Saturday classes in consequence of their living so far from Napier or Dannevirke. The course of instruction included drawing and plasticine work. Extract prom the Report on the Napier Technical Classes. The scope of the work has been greatly increased by grants from the Government in aid of the rent of a more suitable and more central building in which to carry on the work. The rooms have been altered and renovated to suit the requirements of the various classes, and to make accommodation for new subjects. In addition to the art classes and plumbers' classes already in operation in the old building, the following new classes were established during the year : Shorthand, typewriting, book-keeping, building-construction, painters' and decorators' work, botany, dressmaking, and woodwork. The total number of students for all classes was 393. The following is a brief summary of the work of the classes : — Art Classes. —The attendance at these classes has increased. The number of students who attended the several classes was sixty-four. The more central position of the school was very largely the cause of the increased attendance. In the evening classes much good work was done in light and shade, pen and ink, design and stencil cutting, the two latter subjects being especially popular with students. Excellent results were produced in decorative designs to a large scale for wall-papers, friezes, and panels, mostly in stencilled work in tempera and body colour. The sketching and painting class did good work, especially in out-of-door sketching. Teachers , Classes.—This important branch of the work which has now been in operation for nearly six years has greatly advanced. Ninety-four teachers received instruction in various branches of drawing and handwork. Teachers are beginning to realise the necessity of qualifying themselves in subjects of hand and eye training, and acknowledge, by their attendance at the classes especially established for them, the value of the work in relation to the curriculum of the public school. Some time must yet elapse, however, before the majority of teachers in this district can be said to be thoroughly proficient in hand and eye training. Early in the year grants were made by the Government for the equipment of a workshop for woodwork. A class for teachers was established, and has proved popular. Although the early hour of commencement and unsuitability of trains have prevented many of the country teachers from joining the class, thirty teachers attended the class. Instruction was given in accordance with the Department's manual on the subject. Some of the teachers were prepared for the City and Guilds of London Examination in Woodwork, good progress being made by the prospective candidates. Commercial Classes. —The number of students at the various classes was forty-four. Classes in shorthand were established at the beginning of the second quarter, and later in the year classes in bookkeeping and typewriting. The shorthand class was by far the most popular, though typewriting would have been largely taken up had more machines been available. Several students sat for Pitman's examinations in shorthand with excellent results. The book-keeping class commenced work towards the end of the year, but was only fairly well attended, though much good work was done. Plumbing Classes, Theory and Practice. —The instructor of the plumbing classes at Napier reports as follows : " These classes have been continued throughout the year, but have not been attended as well as might have been expected ; many who would attend are prevented from so doing through often halving to work out of town. Thirty students attended the classes. The fact that the borough authorities%re now insisting on plumbers obtaining a certificate of competency will no doubt cause an increase