43

E.— 5

A number of schools are now making arrangements to improve the appearance of the grounds by planting shrubs and trees, and by making lawns. It is to be hoped that this movement will become general. Kaponga is a good example of what may readily be done in this way. Woodwork (Mr. Clark). Thirteen school classes were held at Wanganui, Hawera, and Eltham. In addition there was a day class from the Wanganui Technical School, and a Saturday class for teachers, but the latter was poorly attended. On the whole the attendance was good. The highest percentage was attained by Standard VI, Queen's Park, but this class was a rather small one. At Eltham, Standard VII dwindled away towards the end of the year, and at Hawera the classes became irregular during the last few weeks. This was attributable partly to the removal of the workroom from the public school to the Technical School, and partly to the withdrawal of several pupils in Standard VI and Standard ATI who were preparing for various examinations. The work proceeded on similar lines to those of the previous year. At Eltham a slight variation was made in the case of Standard VII anticipatory of probable changes in the conditions of their work if the rural course of instruction were introduced in 1910. The last series of lessons for this class was the construction of a bar-frame bee-hive, from suggestions made by the Government Bee Expert. The head teachers continue to lend their very welcome support in the maintenance of discipline. ('inikery (Miss Mollison and Miss Grant). During the first half of the year the classes were held at Hawera and Eltham, and at the end of the term a practical examination was held in each centre, three local ladies acting as examiners. Work was then resumed in Wanganui—after a year's cessation —and, as in the northern centres, the work was tested by a practical examination, the results of which have been sent to the Board. In addition to the school classes, a teachers' class was held. Several teachers sat for the City and Guilds Examination, and all succeeded in gaining certificates. In Wanganui some of the utensils need replacing, and if the Board could see its way to provide diagrams of the digestive organs, &c, this part of the workcould be carried on more efficiently. School cookery classes were held at Patea, Marton, and Bull's, and two technical classes at Feilding. In all the classes there was a very good average attendance, and the children seemed to work earnestly during the whole course, while some especially showed signs of great progress. Commercial Instruction (Mr. Cox). Two classes were conducted weekly at Feilding (one afternoon and one evening). At the former the roll was only 4 at the commencement of the period, but rose later to 10, and the third term showed an average register of 7. For the evening classes the first and second terms showed an average roll of 20, and for the closing term 16. The attendances represented 85 per cent, of the roll, and the work of practically all the students was of a satisfactory nature. During the first and second terms the average roll of the classes at Marton was 9 and 8 respectively, and 88 per cent, of attendances were registered. At the commencement of the third period only 4 students were offering, and it was deemed advisable to discontinue the class. Classes were conducted at Hawera until the second week in June. Mr. Hawson then took over the work in that district, and I devoted the evening thus freed to Taihape. The term taken at Hawera commenced with 4 for senior work and 6 for junior, and ended with 3 and 5. The attendances were practically full, and the work of the students decidedly good. The endeavour to take two grades of work simultaneously I consider was not very satisfactory to either students or instructor, and only the small number allowed it to be done at all. A class at Taihape was commenced in June, and continued to the end of the year. For the two terms the register averaged 15 and 13 students, a large portion of whom were adults. About 80 per cent. of attendances were registered, and the progress of the class was very satisfactory. The attendances at book-keeping, &c. (day classes) at Wanganui averaged for the three terms 53, 55, and 57. These figures represent three classes weekly (two afternoon and one morning). Shorthand was also taken on one afternoon weekly, the attendances averaging 29, 31, 27. Two evening classes were held weekly throughout the year, the attendances together being 28, 26, 21. A third evening class for adults was also formed in the third term, 9 being enrolled. The work of the classes generally was satisfactory. A want is felt in connection with book-keeping classes, in that there is no New Zealand examination short of the accountancy degree for which students can sit. It has been suggested from various sources that the recently formed New Zealand Society of Accountants should establish an examination in book-keeping and commercial knowledge for those who have no desire to go so far, or as an intermediate step for those who do. Should this be brought about younger students would have something to aim at, and might obtain a certificate which would carry some weight with prospective employers. Failing any result from the source indicated, arrangements might possibly be entered into for local examination in connection with some English examining body. Wool-classing (Mr. Cahill). Useful work has been done by farmers in the first year of starting the wool-classing classes, and the returns coming to hand are bearing the instruction out. I myself saw a return of London January sales where the clip was handled by students attending the classes. This clip brought in London the highest price, 15(1., average 13|d. ; this clip fetched Bd. last year. Wool did not rise nearly double in price, so in this instance instruction paid handsomely. I might say that all who attended the classes were highly pleased at the instruction received, and this year, of course. I will go into it much more fully.