E.—2.

[Appendix A.

on for some years, terminated in July, 1911. A new up-to-date centre has been established in Sydenham, in which classes from a number of the city and suburban schools will now be accommodated. In his report Mr. Howell refers to the value of manual training and to the need of a closer, co-ordination between this work and that of the primary schools. Holding as it does the opinion that the inclusion of manual work among the subjects of the public-school syllabus is not only of great advantage, but that without it the primary education of pupils cannot be regarded '-as"complete, the Board cordially invites the co-operation of head teachers in its endeavour to see that every boy and every girl within the reach of a manual-training centre receives instruction in some form of handicraft or domestic science. During the year in ninety-six schools classes in one or other of the several forms of handwork have been carried on, and fifty-five classes in swimming and life-saving have been continued. In elementary agriculture, covering practical instruction in school-garden work, the previous interest has been well sustained, no fewer than 111 schools having participated. As regards technical work, at the Christchuroh Technical College there has been a still further increase in the numbers of pupils attending both day and evening classes, in the former the number having reached 341 and in the latter 1,301. With so large a roll-number, and with a time-table providing for so many and such diverse subjects, the accommodation hitherto available has been taxed to the utmost. The erection of a domestic-science wing and additional workshops, however, has placed matters on a more favourable footing, and when the laboratory now in course of erection is completed the work of the College will be carried out under the most favourable circumstances. The Board desires to congratulate the Board of Managers on their enterprise in establishing a Girls' Training Hostel, and to express the belief that this institution will be of great value to girl students desirous of acquiring a thorough knowledge of domestic training. Technical classes have been continued at all other established centres. At Ashburton a new technical school now in course of erection will increase the facilities hitherto existing, and the appointment of a director, of which at the date of this report the Board is advised, will still further stimulate the interest in the work. The new technical school at Kaiapoi is now in use, the classes being under the direct supervision of an associated Board of Managers. It is a matter for regret that at Akaroa there has been no extension of manual and technical work, and that classes in operation have not been so well attended as usual. At other centres the work has been continued on previous lines. In August last the Rangiora High School Board and the local Board of Managers jointly submitted a proposal that the Education Board should transfer its powers as controllingauthority to the Rangiora High School Board, the chief reasons advanced being that under the arrangement then existing there was considerable overlapping in the work, and that the contemplated change would do away with a considerable dissipation of teaching-energy. The Education Board offered no objection so far as technical classes were concerned, subject to adequate provision being made for school classes, and the proposal was thereupon approved by the Department and carried into effect. Personal. —On the 30th September Mr. T. Hughes, 8.A., relinquished his position as Inspector of Schools, his withdrawal from active service being considered necessary by his medical adviser. Mr. S. C. Owen, M.A., for many years in the Board'.s service, and since 1904 headmaster at the Christchurch East Main School, was appointed to fill the vacancy. I have, &c, M. Dalziel, Chairman. The Hon. the Minister of Education, Wellington.

SOUTH CANTERBURY. Sir, — Education Office, Timaru, Ist March, 1912. I have the honour, in accordance with the provisions of section 174 of the Education Act, 1908, to submit the annual report of the Education Board of the District of South Canterbury for the year ending 31st December, 1911. The Board. —At the beginning of the year the Board consisted of the following members : Messrs. W. M. Hamilton (Chairman), G. W. Armitage, C. S. Howard, W. Lindsay, George Lyall, John Maze, J. S. Rutherford, G. J. Sealey, and Thomas Sherratt. Messrs. Armitage, Howard, and Lyall, whose term of office expired in August, were all re-elected unopposed. Mr. W. M. Hamilton was re-elected Chairman at the annual meeting of the Board in August. The Board held twenty-three meetings during the year, the average attendance of members being 77. The Schools. —There were eighty-four schools in operation at the end of ihe year, one more than for the previous year. The Kohika School was closed, and two "household schools" — Hook Bush and Little Boderick —were opened. Teachers. —There were on 31st December 182 teachers in the Board's service, 146 adult teachers, twenty-eight pupil-teachers, and eight probationers. Of the adult teachers, seventeen were uncertificated. During the year the Department made provision for assisting the uncertificated teachers in their preparation for their certificate examination. The offer of a grant came too late in the year to arrange for classes, so that the Board decided to pay the tuition fees of those who were receiving outside assistance. This year the Board has under consideration the question of providing for the regular instruction of adult uncertificated teachers. The chief difficulty in making the arrangements is the fact that many of these teachers are stationed in the most distant parts of the district, so that it is impossible to assemble them weekly at one centre for instruction. Scholarships.—The usual scholarship examinations were held in November and December, the numbers of candidates being fifty-eight for junior scholarships and twenty-seven for senior scholarships. Eight Senior and ten Junior Board Scholarships were awarded, and the Junior National Scholarships were won by Mary Scott, of Hilton School, and Dora Hume, of AYaimate District High School. The Barclay Prizes, which are open to pupils from public and primary schools only, were awarded for the first time as follows : First prizes, of £3 each —Mary Scott and

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