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Statement of Receipts and Expenditure for the Year ending 31st December, 1906, in respect of Special Classes conducted at Hokitika. Receipts. £ s. d. i Expenditure. £ s. d. Capitation on special classes .. .. 12 14 9 Balance at beginning of year .. .. 19 12 4 Furniture, fittings, apparatus .. .. 28 18 6 Salaries of instructors .. .. .. 45 15 0 Fees .. .. .. .. .. 35 0 0 Office expenses (including salaries, staSpeoial grant for training of teachers .. 75 0 0 tionery, &c.) .. .. .. 815 0 Transfer from ordinary Building Fund for Lighting and heating .. .. .. 15 8 apparatus, special Nvoodwork class .. 4 10 Examinations, &c. .. .. .. 4 5 0 Fares of teaohers .. .. .. .. 33 17 0 Furniture, fittings, apparatus .. .. 32 19 6 Balance at end u£ year .. .. .. 9 4 9 £155 14 3 , £155 14 3 A. J. Morton, Secretary.

NORTH CANTERBURY. Extract from the Report of the Education Board. During the year 1906 several important developments took place in connection with manual and technical instruction. The appointment of Mr. J. H. rJowell, 8.A., B.Sc, as Director of the Christchurch technical classes, and the energetic action taken by the Board of Managers in the matters of the erection of suitable buildings and the formation of classes in a variety of subjects, have been followed by good results, the work now being on a sound footing and of much promise. The question of manual training (cookery and woodwork), discussed at some length in a valuable report submitted by the Inspectors, has received further attention. After carefully considering the Inspectors' report and the recommendations of Mr. Howell, who has been appointed to direct and supervise the work, the Board has felt justified in extending the scope of its school classes by arranging for the engagement of two thoroughly trained instructors in woodwork and one in cookery for the pupils of Standards VI and V. Under the supervision of its Director, and with the co-operation of the headmasters, the Board hopes to have the scheme in full working-order by the end of the present year. As indicated in last year's report, the Board has appointed an instructor in agriculture, in order to further the maintenance of classes in nature-study and practical agriculture, and to assist in the establishment of school gardens. Mr. G. Rennie was selected for the position from among several applicants, and the Board is well pleased with the zeal and energy he has brought to bear upon his duties. The Board is hopeful that the Department will renew the special grant made last year towards the cost of this new work, which can hardly fail to be of much benefit to the children attending the country schools. Extract from the Report of the Inspectors of Schools. Manual Training. —ln- this necessary part of the school curriculum, which has attained such prominence in other countries and in other New Zealand centres, we hope to see a considerable advance during the forthcoming year. We refer more particularly to the work of the upper classes in woodwork, cookery, and cottage-gardening. It seemed so highly desirable that all pupils in Standards VI and V should receive training in one or other of these subjects when conditions render their introduction possible that the Board, in addition to an instructor in agriculture, has appointed Mr. J. H. Howell, Director of Technical Education in this city, to organize and direct the woodwork and cookery classes, and we have every confidence that under his able guidance the movement will make substantial and satisfactory progress. It is hoped that before the close of the present year there will be in operation a sufficient number of training centres to enable all pupils in the two upper classes of the city and suburban schools to receive instruction under such conditions as will minimise the necessary absence from the class-room. Extract from the Report on Special Classes at Kaiapoi. During the year ending the 31st December, 1906, classes were held for instruction in woodcarving, woodwork, dressmaking, and cookery. The attendance at the woodwork, wood-carving, and cookery classes was only moderate; that at the dressmaking class was good. Very satisfactory results are being obtained, especially in the school cookery and woodwork classes, the pupils of which take considerable interest in their work, and make good progress. Statement of Receipts and Expenditure for the Year ending 81st December, 1906, in respect of Special Classes conducted at Kaiapoi. Receipts. £ a. d. i Expenditure. £ s. d. Balance at beginning of year .. .. 95 19 1 j Salaries of instructors ... .. 90 9 0 Capitation on special classes .. .. 94 1 9 j Advertising and printing .. .. .. 8 0 8 Rent .. .. .. .. 27 10 0 j Rent .. .. .. .. 27 10 0 Fees .. .. .. .. .. 26 1 3 ' Material for class use .. .. .. 914 7 Sales .. .. .. .. ... 080 Petty oash .. .. .. .. 10 0 Bank commission .. .. .. 0 5 0 Honorarium, secretary .. .. .. 10 0 0 Furniture, fittings, apparatus .. .. 7 19 6 Balance at end of year .. .. .. 89 1 4 £244 0 1 £244 0 1 H. C Lane, Secretary.