E.—6.

expected to furnish in the near future an adequate supply of teachers trained inHhe science as well as the practice of home making and keeping. Elementary Agriculture. —Elementary instruction in subjects bearing on rural life was given in 1,005 schools, as compared with 832 in the previous year. Instruction in this branchof manual training is in the case of ten of the thirteen education districts supervised by trained itinerant instructors. There are now sixteen of these instructors stationed in various parts of the Dominion. The course of instruction is based mainly on experimental and observational work (both indoor and outdoor), and includes in some districts, chiefly in the North Island, elementary dairy-work. Local interest in the classes continues to be well maintained, valuable assistance being forthcoming, as heretofore, from agricultural and pastoral associations, School Committees, and members of the farming community generally. In addition to prizes, which, as in previous years, have been freely offered, contributions in money and kind to the value of nearly £650 have been received by Education Boards during the year. These contributions carry a Government subsidy of £1 for £1. Courses of instruction bearing on rural pursuits (having a domestic trend in the case of girls) were carried on in connexion with the secondary departments of district high schools in seven education districts (as compared with five in 1911), as follows :— District. Number of Schools. Number of Pupils. Taranaki .. .. .. .. 1 71 Wanganui .. .. .. 8 238 Wellington .. .. .. ..6 194 HawWs Bay . . .. . . . . . . . . 3 83 North Canterbury .. .. .. .. .. 2 1' South Canterbury .. .. .. .. . . 2 68 Ota-" •• •• .. .. .. ..6 LB9 Totals for 1912 .. .. .. ..28 887 Totals for 1911 .. .. .. ..17 499 Capitation payments on account of these rural courses amounted to £5,795, equivalent to a rate of £6 - 5 per pupil. The hope is expressed that the curriculum in the secondary departments of the district high schools located in agricultural districts will in the near future be based, generally, on the lines of the courses at present being successfully carried out in the above-mentioned education districts. What may be called the practical subjects of the course continue for the most part to be taught by visiting instructors. This arrangement, which cannot be regarded as ideal, appears to be the only practicable one at present, in view of the scarcity of trained teachers qualified to give instruction on modern lines in the various branches of natural and physical science, although facilities for obtaining the necessary training cannot be said to be nonexistent. About 70 per cent, of the district high schools in the Dominion (over fifty in number) are now provided with laboratories equipped for individual practical work in elementary physics or chemistry. In the primary schools, where special science rooms are not available, useful courses in physical measurements have in a few cases been taken up. The number of classes recognized in 1912 was 121, mostly in connexion with urban schools. The opinion is expressed that work of this kind hardly receives in the schools the attention it deserves. The number of recognized classes for swimming and life-saving was 222, an increase of twenty. Classes were held in eleven of the thirteen education districts. As stated last year, the provision made for instruction in this useful branch of knowledge still leaves something to be desired. New buildings or additions to buildings for manual instruction in connexion with public schools have been erected during the year or are in course of erection at Devonport, Pukekohe, Helensville, Marton, Motueka, Takaka, Temuka, Mosgiel, Balclutha, Milton, Lawrence, Tapanui, and Invercargill, while necessary equipment has been provided for classes at Devonport, Helensville, Pukekohe, Waihi, Marton, Woodville, Wakefield, Reefton, Sydenham, Ashburton, Lincoln, Kaikoura, South Dunedin, Lawrence, Mosgiel, Tapanui, Milton, Balclutha, Invercargill, Gore, and Riverton.

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