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E.—6

WELLINGTON. Extract from the Report of the Education Board Manual and Technical Instruction. —Cookery classes were conducted in Wellington throughout the year, and in the country districts. The equipment at the latter leaves much to be desired if the best results are to be attained, The number of schools in which the ordinary subjects of manual and technical instruction were carried on increased last year from sixty-three to ninetysix, the programme, in addition to ordinary subjects of manual and technical instruction, included cottage-gardening and elementary agriculture, eight classes; dressmaking, one; chemistry, two; first aid and ambulance, one; swimming, three. The capitation of 10s. per head for sewing in schools conducted by a sole male teacher is not sufficient to pay capable instructors. My Board is of opinion that the study of subjects such as gardening and agriculture should be encouraged as far as possible, especially in the country. Schools were treated as liberally as possible in the supply of material and apparatus, the expenditure on which amounted to £510 10s. Id., derived from capitation and special grants. Technical classes under the control of local managers were successfully established at Petone during the year, and local donors, with praiseworthy liberality, contributed £167 13s. 7d.; and at Carterton similar classes on a smaller scale were also conducted, for which £8 17s. 6d. was locally contributed. The administration of the Wellington Technical School is now entirely under the Technical Education Board, the Board's representatives on which were the Chairman and Messrs. Allan and Hogg. The Government grant of £200 for instruction of teachers in subjects manual and technical lias enabled a large number of teachers to render themselves more efficient in this part of the school work. Extract fbom the Report of the Inspectors of Schools. Handwork is finding more favour with our teachers. Eighty-six schools have claimed capitation under the Manual and Technical Instruction Act, and nearly all the subjects mentioned in clauses 19, 20, and 21 of the regulations under the Act are represented on these claims, plasticine and brush drawing being the favourite subjects. Other subjects represented are first aid and ambulance, swimming, cottage-gardening, elementary agriculture, elementary physics, and elementary chemistry. Some schools are following the excellent example of Mauriceville West with regard to "agricultural knowledge" combined with cottage-gardening. Two schools, which are earning the chemistry grant under the regulations of the Manual and Technical Instruction Act, are doing practical laboratory-work. The cooking classes under Miss Millington and Mrs. Neeley were continued as before, and the Saturday classes for teachers at Wellington, Masterton, and Pahiatua were well attended. EXTKACT FROM THE REPORT OF THE DIRECTOR OF THE WELLINGTON TECHNICAL SCHOOL. The number of students enrolled during the year was as follows: First quarter, 1,135; second quarter, 1,210; third quarter, 1,139; fourth quarter, 1,007, a considerable increase as compared with the previous year. Art Department. —The work generally in this department has been satisfactory. The dayclasses were well atteuded. The introduction of a life class (drawing from the head) during the latter half of the year has helped very considerably to keep up the interest, and some very good work has been done. The prize offered by the New Zealand Academy of Fine Arts for the best study of a head from life, in colour, was won by a student of this class. A new feature was the recognition of a landscape class by the Department. The class was a success, and one of the students won the landscape prize at the New Zealand Academy Exhibition held towards the end of the year. A number of works for the Art Masters' and Art Class Teachers' Certificates were sent to the Board of Education, South Kensington, for examination, and, with the exception of two or three, were all accepted. In the report of the examiners these works were described as an " excellent set." The results of the personal examinations held By the same body were also very satisfactory. In the Students' Prize Section of the New Zealand Academy of Fine Arts, open to Australasia, and in the Catalogue Cover Competition, open to professional designers, the prizes for landscape, still life, modelling, repousse, antique, head from life in colour, wood-carving, and design for catalogue cover were won by students of the Art Department. The life class has been exceptionally good in the evenings, and has done excellent work. A few costumes subscribed for by the students were of considerable advantage, but the school sadly needs a few historic costumes for the use of students (who are becoming more numerous each year) in black and white and illustration. The class in design has again been well attended, and a quantity of good work was done. There was a homework display in the recent exhibition of work at the school, which was well commended. Students of this class worked out a number of designs for various firms and others in Wellington. Wardell's Magazine, St. Peter's Club Magazine, Academy Catalogue cover, Post-office Christmas card, the merit certificate in connection with the Cadet Industrial Exhibition, and posters in colour for the Art and Science Departments may be cited as examples. Modelling and Casting. —This class has been well attended, and some good work was done in the plasterers' section. The school is sadly in need of a properly equipped casting-room. Wood-carving and Bepousse classes were successfully carried on, some good works being executed and exhibited in the Academy of Fine Arts Exhibition, and also in the Exhibition of School-work. Elementary Art and General Drawing. —These classes have been fairly well attended, but the subjects of instruction are not sufficiently varied, and time should be found for classes in naturedrawing, elementary colour-work, and elementary principles of ornament, instead of confining the attention of the student to shading and model-drawing. The syllabus for 1905 has been arranged