E.—s

50

ment. Wet weather seriously interfered with shearing operations, but the class was a great success. In all 500 sheep were shorn, and some of the students towards the end of the course were able to shear at the rate of seventy a day. Mr. Burridge was so pleased with the way they worked that he offered to let them shear, at the ruling rate, any more sheep he could get. The instructor in this class was Mr. Burke, a thorough expert in the art of shearing. Mr. Neilson has been of great assistance to the wool-classing students. He came out twice during the year and gave lectures. He also took three of the students with him to Terawhiti Station, and he has had another away with him for six weeks. Applications have come in from several places for classes, and in some cases we have not been able to supply the demand, as it would be suicidal to send a man who is not thoroughly competent. This is a splendid class for young men, as there is a large demand for competent wool-classers. During the year Mr. Ackroyd also gave two lectures to the class. Students from the school are at sheds all over the province, while applications for classers have been received even from the South Island. The reports from the various instructors are throughout of a highly satisfactory nature. The instructors have given me every assistance, and have tried in every way to make my work as light as possible. The attendance at the plumbing class was large at the beginning but fell off after the first term. Tn order to improve the general efficiency of this class some .slight alterations are being made. Excellent work is being done in this class by a few young and promising pupils. The electricity class is now held on two nights a week, and everything seems to be working excellently. No doubt by the time the class reassembles the wireless apparatus will have arrived. As I have pointed out before, this class suffers from want of a workroom, but now that the Department has granted £315 no doubt that difficult}' will soon be removed. The matriculation class has done splendid work. It is undoubtedly a difficult class to teach, as there are so many subjects and the students are at different stages of progress. Mr. Olson has done a year's hard work, and I regret very much that he finds that he has not the time to devote to the school. The physical-science class has done good work during the year. Mr. Hey is an enthusiast in his work, and does not spare himself. As years go on this class will become a most important one, and I hope to see a number of pupils taking this subject for Senior Public Service next year. The art class, which is now held at night, has had a more successful 3?ear and has been better attended than during the past three years. Good work has been done by several pupils. The instrumental-drawing and trade-drawing class has done more advanced work this year than last. The work of the third-year students was very good indeed. The first-year pupils also did better work this year. This class is gradually working in with such classes as carpentry, plumbing, and electricity, and when students realize it is better to take a course of study than one isolated subject the better it will be for all concerned. The cookery class this year has not been so successful in point of numbers as last year. This no doubt is somewhat due to the beginning of a millinery class, at which some of the students attended who otherwise would have attended the cookery class. I think that this is one of the most important of the domestic classes, and I should like to see it better supported The millinery class, which was started as an experiment, kept up its numbers very well, and good work seems to have been done. The dressmaking class has been to me one of the most disappointing classes for a number of years. This year it started off excellently, but there was a large decrease in the second and third terms. I have certain proposals to make with regard to the domestic classes which might to a certain extent save expense and stop the overlapping which seems to exist. I would suggest that in the first quarter dressmaking and cookery, in the second quarter dressmaking and millinery, and in the third quarter millinery and cookery be taken. If this policy were adopted I do not think it would be a retrograde step. I think that we would probably get a far better total attendance than we do now, and a great saving would be effected. The English and arithmetic classes have been larger this year than last, and Mr. King and Mr. Olson have done particulaiiy good work in teaching pupils of unequal attainments. I must express my regret that Mr. King feels compelled to give up two of his nights a week after being so long associated with these classes. The shorthand and typewriting class has done very good work this year, and Mr. Mitchell is to be congratulated on the manner he has handled such a large class. Three extra typewriters were obtained at the beginning of the year, and we now have a sufficient number. It is probable that we shall have to exchange two Barlocks, which are getting old and easily go out of order. If this class goes up to over thirty next year it will be necessary to appoint an assistant instructor. The arrangement made last year whereby Mr Olson and Mr. Hey were appointed to assist me worked splendidly. In fact, I could not possibly have done the work without their help. Some five or six boys have during the year obtained their Standard VI competency pass, and others are sitting for the various examinations which are being held. Three are sitting for subjects in the Public Service Senior Examination, six are sitting for Matriculation, while twelve more pupils are taking subjects for the Public Service Entrance or Intermediate Examinations. The carpentry class has done an excellent year's work, and some of the work is a credit to the pupils and to their very enthusiastic instructor, Mr. Walton. The Cadets have had a satisfactory year. I must take this opportunity of thanking Sergeant-Major Ryan for the keen interest he has taken in our company. Mr. W. Olson resigned his commission during the year owing to pressure of business. I must thank the staff, one and all, for their loyal and generous support throughout the year; likewise the Board of Managers for the hearty way they have supported any suggestions that I have put before them, and also the honorary secretary for his help and advice at all times; the Education Board and the Education Department, too, for their support on all occasions. During the year we had a visit from Mr. Isaac, the Department's Inspector. His inspection was very thorough, and the advice ho gave was invaluable. I must not omit to