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of the wool-spinner—a Very important point of view certainly, but surely not the only one. It litis been said that to make two blades of grass grow where hut one grew before is good farming. Surely it is also good farming to increase the quantity and improve the quality of wool produced h\ a flock. The success that litis attended the few classes that have been held for instruction in poultry and bee keeping leads us to hope that more will he done in this direction in the near future. These occupations, though not the most important in the wide field of agriculture, are providing employment for ti large number of individuals in other parte of the world, and if conducted on right lines should be found worthy of more general attention in New Zealand., especially in connection with small holdings. General. —We are glad to note that in the larger centres more and more importance is being attached to the social element as a valuable aid to the successful conduct of evening technical classes. It: view of the voluntary system that obtains in New Zealand, it is obviously necessary to use every legitimate means of encouraging attendance. In the case of the evening schools the authorities thereof are confronted by obstacles to attendance in the shape of numerous forms and places of amusement that are almost entirely absent in the case of schools open only in the day time. The fact that so many young people (the total number for the year was about 14,000) find their way to evening classes in spite of counter-attractions and other disabilities points, in our opinion, to the existence of a not altogether unsatisfactory state of affairs. We are sure that controlling authorities will use every endeavour, as opportunity offers and circumstances permit, to make the evening technical schools something more than mere aggregations of classes, Classes for the training of public-school teachers in subjects of manual instruct ion were again laid iii the various education districts. The subjects of instruction included elementary handwork and drawing, woodwork, cookery, physical measurements, and agriculture. In several instances special sessions h.t\e again been arranged. The success that has attended these sessions. which are usually devoted to agricultural instruction, is no doubt due in large measure to the enthusiasm displayed by the teachers themselves. Generally speaking, neither the attendance at nor the interest taken in the usual weekend classes by teachers can In- regarded as altogether satisfactory. The Science and Art Examinations of the Board of Education, London, and the Technological Examinations of the City and Guilds of London Institute, were conducted at various centres as usual by the Department. For the Science and Art Examinations the number of entries was 781, and the number of passes 501. Twenty-nine students' works were sent Home for examination in connect ion with art certificates and the National Competition, of which seventeen were accepted by tile examiners. The work of a student of the Wellington Technical School was awarded a hook prize, while that of a student of the School of Art. Christchurch. was commended. For the Technological Examinations the number of entries was 137, and the number of passes 268. A bronze medal was awarded to a student of the Wellington Technical School for plumbers' work, ordinary grade. Compared with last year there were 262 more entries for both examinations, and 1 •")■'! more [Hisses. M. 11. Browne, | , ~ ... , • , , . , • ~ ~ , ■■ Inspectors or technical Instruction. E. C. Isaac, , ' The Inspector-General of Schools. Wellington.