B.—l.

TABLE I1.—Average Attendance at and Capitation on Classes for certain Subjects.

Considerable attention is being given to mechanical and electrical engineering, and to lead- and wood-working— i.e., to subjects related to important industries and trades. It is gratifying to *iote that the schools are doing a good deal to provide opportunities for instruction for those engaged in these pursuits. Satisfactory progress is being made in connection with instruction in pure and applied art. In most of the larger centres special attention is being given to the application of art to industries. Specially qualified instructors have in some cases been imported, and, although the classes for applied art are generally speaking at present somewhat small, there is little doubt that the instruction in art has been considerably strengthened by the increased attention now being given to art crafts. There appears to be no diminution in the demand for commercial instruction. Classes for such instruction were held at 41 centres, while the total average attendance was higher than for any other group of classes. Classes for such subjects as cookery, dressmaking, and millinery were also widely attended. The number of centres at which such classes were field was 86, the total average attendance being 3,278. It is a matter for regret that but little progress has been made in connection with technical instruction in subjects relating to agriculture. With the exception of classes for wool sorting and classing, and training classes for teachers, very few technical classes for agriculture have been held during the year. The efforts that have been made in certain districts to establish such classes do not, generally speaking, appear to have met with the encouragement they deserve at the hands of the farming community so far as attendance at the classes is concerned. This is somewhat surprising in view of the repeated requests made by various bodies representing agricultural interests for facilities for such instruction. It is to be hoped that the interest, now becoming widespread, that is being taken in some districts in classes for instruction in wool sorting and classing may be the means of arousing farmers to the fact that there are also advantages to be derived from systematic instruction in other branches of agriculture. Provided students were forthcoming, there is little doubt that controlling authorities would, so far as was practicable, provide the necessary facilities for instruction. About two thousand students were admitted during the year to technical schools as holders of junior or senior free places—an increase of about two hundred. Nineteen per cent, of these students held senior free places, a considerable improvement on the previous year, when the percentage was only 7. The courses of instruction taken by free pupils were as follows :— „ „ T . Number of Courses of Instruction. Freo pupils _ Science and technology .. .. .. .. .. 516 Pure and applied art .. .. .. .. .. .. 137 Domestic economy .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 277 Agriculture .. .. ' .. .. . . .. ~ .. 7 Commercial instruction .. .. .. .. .. .. 1,063 Total .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 2,000

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Subjects of Instruction. Average Attendance. Capitation. Engineering . . iead- and wood-working 'ure and applied art Experimental and natural science )ressmaking, cookery, &c. Commercial subjects Subjects of general education .. Vool-classing * 4 1,658 1,897 4,355 2,079 3,278 5,549 2,601 101 £ ; s. d. 1,425 8 9 1,810 9 7 4,494 15 7 1,174 3 4 2,563 13 8 4,198 5 6 1,844 11 2 89 15 0 Totals 21,518 17,601 2 7