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been enthusiastically taken up by several teachers under the Wanganui Board; their efforts have been supported loyally by the parents, and the pupils have taken to the new departure with great zest and interest. The great possibilities latent in this movement can scarcely be estimated, and it is to be hoped that the Minister of Education will do all he can not only to maintain the gardens already established, but furnish the means for the establishment of more. Such gardens should be part of the equipment of every rural school. Extract from the Report on the Wanganui Technical Classes. Science and Literary Classes. The year has seen the inauguration of free classes, with very satisfactory results. Sixtythree scholarship students were enrolled during the second term, sixty-eight during the third, and 106 during the fourth. The majority of these have honestly endeavoured to improve themselves educationally, and to equip themselves for the battle of life. Their conduct, with very few exceptions, has been most commendable. The English class, which is compulsory for all scholarship-holders, has studied the rules of composition, the history of the English language, and Shakespeare's " Merchant of Venice." Such a course of study cannot fail to be of the utmost value. The syllabus for the coming year has been enlarged, to include a weekly exercise in spelling and dictation. The work of the mathematics class has been suited to the varying needs of the students, whose regularity attests to the interest they have in their studies. The commercial subjects—shorthand, book-keeping, and typewriting —have all been most satisfactorily taught. In the typewriting class, 77 per cent, of the students voluntarily presented themselves for examination, with very good results. Great difficulty has been experienced in accommodating thirty students with four machines, and, consequently, the results are all the more creditable. In connection with these classes, it is suggested that classes in advanced book-keeping and commercial law be formed for those who have passed through the senior book-keeping class. In the electricity class, during the fourth term, experts have been engaged for the senior section, an innovation that has been attended with success, as the increased attendance shows. The class in woodwork has not been so largely attended as the quality of the instruction deserves. We are hopeful chat, now that the class is becoming more widely known, a better attendance may be obtained during the coming year. During the fourth term the number of students outgrew the accommodation at our command, and, with the addition of mathematics as a compulsory subject in the free classes, another room will be needed, capable of accommodating fifty students. We have been greatly inconvenienced during the whole of the last term by being compelled to accommodate the mathematics and book-keeping classes in one room. Examinations were conducted in each class during the closing week of the term, at which 109 students voluntarily presented themselves. Thirty-nine first lass, tweriy-one second-class, and twenty-four third-class certificates were granted. To induce the students to make greater efforts to gain efficiency, prizes have been offered by His Worship the Mayor, the Chamber of Commerce, the Wellington Piano Company, the Chronicle Newspaper Company, and by Messrs. A. D. Willis, H. I. Jones and Sons, A. Hatrick, J. Duncan, L. Cohen, and Treadwell and Mcßeth. We are grateful to these donors for their kindly interest in our classes. One cannot speak too highly of the members of the staff, who have all worked enthusiastically on behalf of their students. Whatever success has been achieved is due almost entirely to their efforts. The prospects for the coming year are exceedingly bright, and, if the present number of students be maintained (and we have every reason to believe that the steps now being taken to make the benefits of the school known to the public will be successful), the Board will be set free from all anxiety on the question of financing the science, literary, and commercial side of the school. Arthur Varnet, A.C.P., Director, Science Department. Art, Plumbing, and Wood-carving Classes. The number of students who attended tiie different classes of the school during the four quarters was: Day class for drawing and painting, 20; evening class for drawing and painting, 30; life class, 6; building-construction, 17; machine-construction, 12; practical, plane, and solid geometry, 37; teachers' Saturday class, 18; art class, 29; practical plumbing, 28; theoretical plumbing, 19; wood-carving (three classes), 101: total number of individual students, 189. Drawing and Painting. —The same course of instruction has been pursued as last year. The standard of work lias been more than maintained in painting from still life and flowers. There has not been so much work from life as last year, but the quality has improved. The class for school-children has been largely attended. Good work has been done by the pupils, who have made marked progress. I would like to call parents' attention to the fact that this class is held at such an hour as to enable school-children to attend. Parents should avail themselves of the opportunity of obtaining for their children a thorough art training. The fees are very low. The pupil-teachers' class has been poorly attended owing to the removal of teachers, while the work in some cases was good ; as a whole, it was only fair. Practical Plumbing. —The number of students in attendance at this class has steadily continued to increase. It was found necessary at the begiuning of the year to remove to a larger room, until the workshop was built at the school. Last quarter it was found necessary to add to the equipment and appoint an assistant instructor. I expressed a hope in my last report that an up-to-date plumbing workshop would be provided in the near future. I have again to call your attention to the need for such a shop. I trust that the Department will make the necessary" grant to build and furnish it. Some of the students who have attended the class for six months had never done a piece of leadwork previous to their coming to the school. A two-year