55

E.—s

3,024 brushes for brush drawing, 4,320 crayon-books, 4,320 tubes yellow ochre, 4,320 tubes Prussian blue, 4,320 tubes crimson lake, 2,160 boxes of crayons (seven colours in each box), 1 cwt. paper for folding, 3£ cwt. plasticine, 1,440 plasticine boards, 9 gross plasticine tools, bcxes of coins, clock-faces, &o. Compasses, set-squares, pencils, rulers, and rubbers are also supplied to the pupils of the woodwork course. In consequence of the above order parents are relieved of considerable expense in this direction. Other Classes. — The upper standard in Gisborne School takes agricultural chemistry. Physical measurements are taken in the upper standards at Napier Main, Napier South, Port Ahuriri, and Standard V, Gisborne. Average attendance, 226. With the exception of Gisborne School the teaching of swimming and life-saving is not carried out on a systematic basis. The Gisborne School has well-organized classes for this work, and the instruction is given regularly and thoroughly. A number of schools have been equipped with sets of meteorological instruments. The set comprises five instruments —rain-gauge, wall thermometer, aneroid, maximum and minimum thermometer, wet- and dry-bulb thermometer. Since the beginning of the year forty-four schools have been equipped and thirty-six sets are on order, and will be forwarded to schools as soon as they arrive from Home. Rural Course in District High Schools. —This course was introduced into the three district high schools three years ago. The object of the course was to give the pupils a scientific training with a bias, if possible, towards agricultural. The first portion of the object has been attained, for undoubtedly under Mr. Morris the pupils receive a thorough training in scientific method. The science subjects of the course —science of common life, dairying and agriculture — are taken by Mr. Morris, Miss Hyde takes the girls for domestic science and dressmaking, Mr. Dandy the boys for farm woodwork, and the remaining subjects of the course are taken by the staff of each district high school. The science course is spread over two years. At the end of the year the total numbers of pupils were as follows: Hastings, 39; Waipawa, 35; Woodville, 16 : total, 90. The roll number at the beginning of the year was 120. From these totals it will be seen that thirty pupils left during the year. Commenting on the number of pupils who leave during the year the assistant instructor says: " I think that 25 per cent, is too great a number to lose during the year, and it would be decidedly advantageous if some system were devised whereby pupils could be compelled to remain at least one year in the school after being admitted." Owing to the distance separating the district high schools a large proportion of Mr. Morris's time is spent in travelling. At Waipawa and Hastings matriculation classes in agricultural science (including agriculture, dairying, and elementary physics) were established. The Hastings class was instructed by Mr. T. S. Atkinson and the Waipawa one by Mr. Morris. Agriculture and dairy science are now taken by all district-high-school pupils for the Public Service Entrance Examination, and agriculture for Matriculation. The results of these examinations, together with my oral examination at the end of the year in science subjects, is positive proof of the excellent work being done by Mr. Morris. With reference to the garden-work, the following extract , has been made from the report of the assistant instructor in agriculture : " As this part of the scheme seems to be most important it will be necessary to give a brief review of the garden activities at each school. At Woodville the gardens are very satisfactory. Flower-gardens were established for the girls of the High School and Standard VI, whilst the boys of Standard VI and the District High School worked the ordinary plots. The orchard at this school is looking splendid, and next year a number of the trees should be bearing. As regards Waipawa very much the same can be said. Miss Smith has control of the flower-plots. The agricultural plot in the Domain is equal to either of the school-gardens at Woodville and Hastings. At Hastings we are still dealing with our strip of poor land, and getting rather remarkable results. Miss Hodgson still has the flowergarden under her control, and generally has it looking very picturesque. The flower-massing is! excellent. Too much praise and credit cannot be given to Miss Hodgson for the manner in which she works." A very successful and educative visit was paid to Mr. Horton's nursery in March by the District High School pupils for practical work in budding. A visit was also paid to Arataki Experimental Farm by the District High School pupils, and later they were given a demonstration in butter-making at the Heretaunga Factory. The pupils of the different district high schools also visited the local gasworks. If the time can be spared these visits will be carried on each year. The following gentlemen have placed their orchards at my disposal for pruning practice: Hastings, Mr. Pegler; Waipawa, Mr. Bibby; Mr. Harding. Mr. Morris and myself desire to place on record our appreciation of the assistance rendered us by the head teachers and assistants of the district high schools. Training classes for teachers were held at Gisborne, Napier, Hastings, Dannevirke, and Woodville. The subjects taken were art, science, agriculture, and brush drawing. The total number of students on the rolls of these classes was 110, and the average yearly attendance 82. The classes in art and science were formed for the purpose of preparing pupil-teachers and probationers for the D examination. In addition to these above-mentioned classes for pupil-teachers and probationers, the Board also asked the Napier Technical Association and the Gisborne High School Board to inaugurate classes in elementary hygiene. Thirty-eight teachers, of whom twenty-two were pupil-teachers and probationers, attended these classes. In addition to these lessons, instruction in the practical work of agriculture, dairying, and hygiene was given at the winter school which was held at Hastings in midwinter. The subjects taken at the winter school, and the time devoted to each, were as follows : Agricultural and dairying, thirty hours; practical hygiene, sixteen hours; drawing—model ten hours, instrumental ten hours; vocal music, twelve hours. Altogether thirty-nine students attended this school. Included amongst these were the twenty-nine teachers who joined the course at the beginning, and seven other teachers from Board and Catholic schools. The work treated at the winter school was as follows : Model and