95

K—l

ing consideration. In the treatment of nature-study and elementary science very satisfactory results have been secured in a large number of schools. In order to facilitate the transfer of pupils from one class to another and to the several district high schools, the Board has recently approved of its Inspectors' proposal to hold towards the end of the year central examinations for all pupils of Standard VI, in accordance with clause 26 of the regulations. The examination centres will be as numerous as circumstances will permit, distributed in such a manner as to be reasonably accessible to the children belonging to the respective groups. Staffing of Schools.—Owing to the prevalence of epidemics such as whooping-cough, measles, and influenza, the attendance at many schools during the year has been seriously affected. In older to minimise the disturbance to school staffs and the fall in teachers' salaries, the Department issued Regulation 2, (c), allowing the substitution of the average attendance of two quarters of the previous year for the average attendance of two quarters of the year 1907. Under this regulation a number of teachers to whom notice had been given have been retained in the Board's service, but in many cases of decreased attendance owing to sickness the regulation could not be applied and the teachers have subsequently suffered a reduction in salary. It appears to the Board that when epidemics have prevailed more or less during the year, as was the case in 1907, nothing less than the substitution of the average attendance of the previous year will adequately meet the position, and at the request of the North Canterbury Educational Institute the Board recommended that such a course should be followed. The Board is further of opinion that in the case of schools reopening with a largely increased attendance at the commencement of the year, it is urgently necessary that there should be some general provision giving more immediate relief than is contemplated by the existing regulations. At present, however large the increase in attendance, no addition to the staff of a school is permissible until the end of the first quarter of the year. Scholarships.—The examination for the Board's Junior Scholarships, held on the 10th and 11th December, was that prescribed for Junior National Scholarships, while for the examination for Senior Scholarships, held on 13th December and following days, the papers were those set for the Civil Service Junior Examination. Fifty-nine candidates (3o boys and 26 girls) sat for examination in the Junior class, and twenty-four (13 boys and 11 girls) in the Senior. Nineteen Junior Scholarships were awarded. Four Junior National Scholarships were awarded. In the Senior class 11 scholarships have been awarded. There were six candidates for the Board's Gammack Scholarships. Of these, one obtained a Junior University Scholarship. Scholarships were awarded to the candidates second and third on the list. Sufficient funds having accumulated, the Board has this year awarded a third Gammack Scholarship. Manual and Technical Instruction. —The report of the Director contains a comprehensive survey of the progress made during the year in manual training (cookery and woodwork). Among other matters the report deals with the questions of accommodation, staff, travelling arrangements, classes, and exhibition of work. With the provision of a centre at the Normal School, which the Department has recently authorised, the accommodation for classes in cookery will be complete; as regards woodwork, the Director points out that it will probably be necessary before long to provide another centre. The arrival of Mr. E. Wentzel and Miss M. Evans, both highly qualified instructors, has materially strengthened the staffs, which are now adequate for the large number of pupils receiving instruction. The concessions in fares made by the Christchurch Tramway Board having removed one of the chief difficulties which suburban schools had to contend with, it is hoped that in the coming year a considerable increase in the numbers from these schools will be shown. The classes carried on by the School of Domestic Instruction have been taken over by the Christchurch Technical Classes Association, which body has become responsible for the payment of rent not provided by the Department, towards which this Board has agreed to pay each year the sum of £50. The noticeable progress made in technical instruction is shown in the report on the work of the Christchurch Technical Classes. The erection and equipment of suitable rooms and workshops has been followed by a very large increase in the attendance; the provision now made for the instruction of pupils in technical subjects is of the best; and the members of the Association and its Director are to be congratulated on the bright prospects attending their labours. In addition to the work carried on under the supervision of the Board's Director, a good deal of attention has been given to cookery and woodwork by the several associations and committees formed to further manual and technical instruction at the several outlying centres, where classes in dressmaking, woolsorting, shorthand, and typewriting have been held. In elementary agriculture and schoolgarden work, both theoretical and practical, steady progress has been made. The Board's Instructor, Mr. G. Rennie, has conducted Saturday classes throughout the greater part of the year, and has visited most of the schools in this district in order to encourage teachers to take up the work. In spite of the unfavourable seasons of the last two years, experimental work has been carried on at quite a number of schools. School Cadet Corps and Physical Culture. —During the year a number of cadet corps or detachments have been formed. On the application of their respective commanding officers the Board approved of the several battalions holding a camp of instruction during the last week of the school year. At the camp, which was held at Rangiora under favourable conditions, excellent work was done, the discipline maintained being very satisfactory and the conduct of the boys good. Classes in physical culture were held at Christchurch during two terms of the year, and at Ashburton for one term. The enthusiasm of the Board's teachers in regard to physical drill for child ren and the allied sports and games continues unabated, and was amply demonstrated by the very successful gathering held at Lancaster Park in November last under the auspices of the North Canterbury Public Schools' Amateur Athletic Association. Personal. —It is with much regret that the Board has to record the loss by death during the year of two of its headmasters and of a headmistress. I have, &c, The Hon. the Minister of Education. M. Dalziel, Chairman.