E.— 5.

regulations were attended by seventy-three .students, of whom Eorty-six were males It is probable that the regulations adopted in the Auckland, Taranaki, and Hawke's Bay Districts will be put into operation this year (1913). The following table gives the number and the sex of pupils holding Junior or Senior Free Places at technical schools during the year : —

The number of students holding .Junior Free Places (tenable for two years) was 1,585, the number holding Senior Free Places (tenable for three years) being S!)-2. About 59 per cent, of the students who entered on Junior Free Places in 1911 continued to attend in 1912. Of the total number .of senior free pupils in their first year over 60 per cent, had previously been in attendance as junior free pupils. The remainder were either admitted on transfer from day technical schools, high schools, or district high schools, or had qualified by examination for Senior Free Places. Of the total number (2,477) of students admitted to free places. 2,081, or 84 per cent., qualified for capitation. Capitation payments on account of free places amounted to £4,279 19s. 3d., being at the rate of £2 per free place. Day Technical Schools. These schools (eight in number) are of secondary grade and provide fairly full courses in science and technology, domestic economy, agriculture, and commercial instruction. They are carried on in connexion with the technical schools at Auckland (321 pupils), Wanganui (142 pupils), Wellington (256 pupils), Napier (86 pupils). Westport (20 pupils), Christchurch (343 pupils), Dunedin (215 pupils), and Invercargill (143 pupils). The total roll number was 1,526, of whom 684 were males. The schools continue to be well attended and appear to attract a number of young people who would not otherwise, proceed to secondary schools. The courses of instruction taken up by pupils attending day technical schools were as follows :— Males. Females. Totals. Industrial .. .377 .. 377 Commercial . 213 ;)(;•> 775 Domestic ■ • .... 256 256 Agricultural .. 58 .. 58 Art ... 2 1! 13 General .. 34 13 17 Totals .. 684 842 L ,526 Nearly 50 per cent, of the pupils attended commercial courses, industrial courses being taken by 24 per cent., and domestic courses by 17 per cent. Courses of agricultural instruction were provided at two schools, and were attended by fifty-eight pupils. The school at Westport provides an engineering course only, attended by twenty pupils. The well-equipped training hostel recently established in connexion with the Christchurch Technical College will provide ample opportunities for training in home making and keeping for girls attending the day technical school attached to that institution. Capitation payments made during the year on account of attendances at day technical schools amounted to £14,807, being at the rate of about L9-H per pupil.

8

1911. 1912. .Males. Females. Total Males. Females. Total. . , ., bust year Junior tree pupils a ■\ ' l i Second year [First year Senior free pupils-i Second year (Third year (-70 356 223 130 SI 31 I 200 IK) 99 68 I.('I I 556 363 22-.) I I'.) 371 311 151 89 332 227 17!) 10'.) 50 987 5! )S I'.«l 263 130 Totals 1. Kill 848 2.308 1,580 897 2,477