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conferred upon the College if local bodies and others would come forward and take a live interest in the work of the College. There is a real danger that in the endeavour to make ends meet the educational- interests of the students may be overlooked, and that one section of the College maybe starved in order to make good deficiencies in another section. After an interval of nearly two years an effort was made to revive the class for mechanical engineering. During the last term a start was made. It ran for a short term of nine weeks, and, although only a small class, and greatly handicapped by the shortage of necessary tools, &c, was most successful, the students being regular in attendance and enthusiastic over their work. Ihe commercial classes were very well attended, one very satisfactory feature being the largely increased attendance at the English and arithmetic classes. More and better work could be done if more typewriting-machines were available. Many of the machines in present use are of an obsolete pattern and quite incapable of producing good work. The domestic course proved popular, the dressmaking classes being particularly sought after, and many intending students had to be refused admission. The telegraphy class steadily grew during the year, and did some good work, many of the students obtaining their promotion early as a direct result of their efforts in this class. A further loan of instruments was obtained from the Post and Telegraph Department to meet the increased needs of this class. The evening class in cabinetmaking and carpentry was composed principally of amateurs who did some very creditable pieces of work. It is rather disappointing to find that such a class is not taken advantage of by the young apprentices in the trade. The photography class was not attended as well as might have been expected, but turned out some very excellent examples of the art. The evening class in cookery was also very poorly attended, and lapsed at the end of the second term. During the last term a short course of invalid cookery was started for the nurses from the Hospital. A short course in cookery was also started for Boy Scouts. The art and art-craft classes, as in previous years, attracted a large and increasing number of students, who took up various branches of art, wood-carving, copperwork, embossed-leather work, enamelling, stencilling, lead-light working, design, drawing and painting from nature, ticket-writing, &c. The usual classes for teachers in drawing, chemistry, and botany were held on Wednesday and Thursday evening's and on Saturday mornings. These were rather late in commencing owing to the hop-picking holidays. Courses of work in farm carpentry were conducted at Stoke Orphanage and were attended by some fifty boys. Ihe following is a summary of the numbers enrolled and the subjects taken : There were 416 students on the rolls taking technical subjects; of these, 81 held Junior* Free Places and 43 Senior Free Places, a total of 124 pupils. 194 students took up grouped courses of work, earning the higher rate of capitation; 117 students took commercial subjects, 123 art and artcrafts, 21 photography, 33 telegraphy, 8 mechanical engineering, 48 carpentry and cabinetmaking, 80 cookery, 156 dressmaking, 83 millinery, 96 English and arithmetic, and 8 accountancy. A most successful year was brought to a termination by the annual exhibition of work, which was formally opened by the Chairman of the Board. Manual-training classes in metal-work (190 pupils) and cookery (152 pupils) were conducted at Westport, and in woodwork (forty-eight pupils) and cookery (forty-two pupils) at Reefton by special instructors. The day technical classes in mechanical engineering at Westport commenced the session with a roll of thirteen, but fell away towards the end of the year to nine. This is a smaller number than in previous years. Six made the maximum number of hour-attendances (800), thus qualifying for the higher rate of capitation ; three made 600 and one made 400. The smaiiness of the class was to a certain extent accounted for by the unsettled state of affairs in Westport during the latter part of last year. When the Railway Department recognizes the work of the students the future of this particular class will be assured. Special classes were held for the most part during the evenings. The subjects taken were typewriting, shorthand, book-keep-ing, art, mechanical engineering, and carpentry. The attendance in most cases was far from satisfactory; in fact, several students will forfeit their free places from this cause. In seven cases holders of free places failed to attend the classes in arithmetic and English, although these are compulsory subjects and their free places are held conditionally upon their attending. This is a serious matter. In the first place, the student has failed to gain any real benefit, and also it means a considerable loss of revenue to the school. In this case it will probably amount to not less than £50. During the 1912 session at tho Nelson Technical School no less than sixteen students forfeited their free places on account of irregularity in attendance, but in 1913 we had no loss from this cause. I attribute this fact to the system adopted during the year of sending out notices to all free pupils who were absent twice in succession without the cause being known, and I would suggest that the same system be adopted at Westport. Amongst the paying students a similar laxity in attending was apparent. In out of a roll of seventeen at the beginning of the session only five were in attendance at the end of the session. Similarly, in shorthand and typewriting the session began with seventeen pupils and finished with five. Other cases could also be quoted. Excellent facilities have been provided for technical instruction in W T estport, and I confidently expect that during the present year the .work and scope of the school will be better supported and appreciated. To the local bodies in the Westport District our thanks are due for donations provided towards the support of the school, and also to the Inangahua County Council for their contributions towards the expenses of conducting classes at Reefton. I hope that during the present year additional classes will be formed at Reefton centre. In conclusion, I have to thank the Education Department for meeting the requirements of the College in so ready a manner, the Post and Telegraph Department for the loan of instruments, the Board's staff for the valuable assistance rendered to me during the course of the year, and the members of the College staff for their loyalty and support. F. C. J. Cockburn, Director.