E.-l.

&c, £38,153. The expenditure under the latter heading again appears as an exceptionally heavy item, exceeding by £3,351 the amount set down for similar purposes in 1906, and practically doubling that for 1905. Of the amount stated, the contribution from special Government grants during the vear was £9,473. S Table L2—Summary of thk Accounts of Income and Expenditure for 1907 furnished by the Governing Bodies of Secondary Schools. Receipts. £ g d Expenditure. £ Credit balances on Ist January, 1907 .. 38,236 12 4 Liabilities on Ist January, 1907.. .. 1,593 6 8 Endowment reserves sold and mortgage Expenses of management .. 3 421 2 1 moneys repaid .. .. .. 1,054 13 4 School salaries .. .. .. 50,'037 16 11 Rents of reserve3 .. .. .. 25,731 12 11 Boarding-school accounts .. .. 6,177 13 7 Interest on moneys invested .. .. 3,600 8 0 Examination expenses.. .. .. 297 13 1 Reserves Commissioners' payments .. 4,304 13 7 Sch' lar.-b.ips and prizes 2,026 19 0 Government payments— Printing, stationery, fuel, light, &o. .. 4,127 15 0 For technical instruction .. .. 1,046 14 3 Buildings, furniture, insurance, rent, and For free places .. .. .. 22,945 14 5 rates .. .. .. .. 38,153 2 3 Subsidy on voluntary contributions .. 555 18 6 Expenditure on endowments .. .. 2,558 8 0 Grants for buildingi, sites, furniture, &c. 9,473 10 11 Intere-t .. .. 1*668 17 11 Statutory grant (Marlborough High Sundries not classified.. .. .. 19 4 School) .. .. .. 400 0 0 Credit balances, 31st December, 1907 .. 27,729 4 4 School fees (tuition) .. .. .. 20,128 3 8 Boarding-school fees .. .. .. 7,559 5 3 Loans for buildings, sites, furniture, &o. 3,700 0 0 Books, &c, sold, and refunds .. .. 586 16 11 Sundries not classified.. .. .. 5,938 6 2 Debit balances, 31st December, 1907 .. 5,781 711 £151,043 18 2 £151,043 18 2 Manual and Technical Instruction. Considerable progress continues to be made in the several education districts in connection with the establishment and conduct of classes for manual and technical instruction. In districts in which the controlling authorities or the managers, as the case may be, have appointed directors or superintendents there is evidence of a decided advance, in face of many real difficulties and hindrances, towards the goal in view—namely, the establishment of organized technical schools, providing graded courses having a direct bearing on local requirements in the way of science, art, and technology. It is to be hoped that the time is not far distant when attendance at a technical school shall mean not, as has been too often the case in the past, merely attendance at one or two classes, not necessarily connected, but attendance at a definite course of instruction. The advance referred to, while due in some measure to the provision made by the Government for free technical education has been brought about by the continued efforts of those in charge of the schools, supplemented by the enlightened attitude, in many cases, of employers who have done and are doing a good deal to encourage attendance at classes. Valuable assistance in the same direction has also been rendered by many local bodies and industrial and trade associations. Assistance of a practical nature in the shape of monetary contributions continues to be received by controlling authorities and managers. These contributions are to be regarded as evidence of local interest in the work, and, with the Government subsidy of £1 for £1, have made a welcome addition to the funds of the classes concerned. During the year applications by controlling authorities for new or additional buildings and equipment for classes have been favourably entertained so far as available funds and other circumstances permitted. In one or two instances the estimate by the controlling authority of the actual requirements of a centre in the way of buildings seems at present hardly to have been borne out by returns of classes and attendance thereat.' There is, however, reason to expect that in the instances referred to the accommodation provided will be fully taken up in the near future. The matter is in the hands of those in whose interest it is to use the opportunities now placed within their reach. Reference was made last year to the establishment in certain districts of sub-centres in the smaller towns. This desirable extension of work continues to progress with results that appear to justify the experiment. Given suitable

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