E.—s

There are indeed indications already that in several districts fairly full courses will shortly be arranged. In several cases special itinerant instructors have been or are about to be appointed. It may be pointed out that it has been found possible to arrange a course which, besides having a direct bearing on rural pursuits, provides also for the needs of pupils preparing for the Matriculation or Civil Service Junior Examinations. The progress of the proposed schemes will be watched with much interest. Practical instruction in various branches of elementary science was given to nearly fifty recognized classes. In this connection it may be noted that there are now over twenty well-equipped laboratories available for instruction in science in connection with primary and district high schools. In the case of several of the latter schools laboratory-work forms an important part of the course of agricultural instruction. In schools where laboratories are not yet available, courses in elementary physical measurements such as may conveniently be carried out in ordinary class-rooms are found to afford excellent opportunities for individual practical work. Such courses were taken by about 100 classes. The total average attendances at classes for elementary natural and experimental science was 5,181. As in previous years, several classes received assistance in the way of voluntary contributions in money and in kind from local bodies, agricultural associations, members of the farming community, and others. Such contributions carry a Government subsidy of £1 for £1. The amount distributed by way of subsidies in 1909 was about £430. In 1901, the year in which the present scheme of manual instruction may be said to have been inaugurated, very few of the then existing district high schools were provided with any facilities for hand-and-eye or science training. At the present time over 50 per cent, of the district high schools have been provided with buildings and equipment for the teaching of one or more of the following subjects —Woodwork, ironwork, cookery, physics, and chemistry, with the result that the range of the instruction at these schools has been considerably widened. Recognized classes for manual instruction were also held during the year at over twenty secondary schools. The subjects of instruction included woodwork (average attendance, 273), cookery (average attendance, 463), dressmaking (average attendance, 170), natural science (average attendance, 841), and experimental science (average attendance, 691). Some particulars relating to the classes are as follows : — The number of recognized classes for manual 1908. 1909. instruction in secondary schools was .... 159 189 The capitation on classes amounted to .... £861 18s. sd. £946 3s. 7d. The average cost per class was .... .... £5 Bs. sd. £5 os. Tsd. Technical Instruction. A review of the year's work indicates that satisfactory progress continues to be made by controlling authorities and managers of classes in the various education districts in providing and improving facilities for technical instruction. The organization of the technical schools, in the larger centres especially, is improving year by year, graded courses are becoming an essential feature of the curriculum, while every effort is being made to provide, as far as possible, courses of instruction adapted to local requirements. Considerable interest continues to be taken in the schools by local bodies and by industrial, trade, and other organizations, augmented in most cases by assistance of a practical nature in the way of monetary contributions, which, with the Government subsidy of £1 for £1 thereon, form an important source of revenue to the classes concerned. During the year nearly £6,000 was so contributed, indicating clearly the sympathetic attitude, generally, of local bodies and others with regard to technical education. The Government has, so far as available funds and other circumstances have permitted, favourably considered applications by controlling authorities for grants

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