5

E.--5

Some particulars as to the age, sex, and occupations of students are as follows : —

Summary of Occupations or Students. Number of Percentage Students. of Total. Clerical pursuits .. .. '.. .. .. 1,874 11-3 Professional pursuits .. .. .. .. .. 2,820 17-0 Students .. .. .. .. .. .. 2,179 131 " „ Domestic pursuits .. .. .. .. '.. 3,339 20-1 Agricultural pursuits .. .. .. .. .. 1,545 9-3 Various trades .. .. .. .. .. ..4,618 27-8 Other occupations not included in above .. .. .. 227 1-4 16,602 100-0 It is to be noted that of the total number of individual students nearly half were females ; and, further, that of the total number of students over seventeen years of age more than half were females. It is gratifying also to record that the number of students following agricultural pursuits shows an increase of 45 per cent, over the number for the previous year. A glance at the summary of occupations of students reveals the fact that the schools do in some measure meet the requirements of most sections of the community.

Table Jb. —Number of Classes held during 1914 in certain Subjects of Technical Instruction.

The demand for instruction in commercial subjects continues to be maintained. In addition to classes for higher commercial work at each of the four University colleges full courses of instruction, both elementary and advanced, are provided at all of the larger technical schools. Classes for mechanical, electrical, and civil engineering, in that order, continue to be well supported. The number of recognized classes in operation during the year was 150. As regards mechanical engineering, ten technical schools, including those in the four chief centres, are now provided with well-equipped workshops, and are able to offer fairly full courses, both elementary and advanced. Courses of university-rank in each of the three branches of engineering are provided at the School of Engineering in connection with Canterbury College, Christchurch. There has been a considerable increase in the number of classes for domestic subjects. During the year 339 classes were held, an increase of about 12 per cent. The subjects most in demand were cookery (including invalid and high-class cookery), home nursing, dressmaking and millinery. A number of classes have been carried on in country districts, the instruction in most cases being given by itinerant instructors sent out from central schools. The special courses in home science and domestic arts at the Otago University continue to meet with satisfactory support. Of the forty-seven students who attended during the year thirteen wero

Ago a Seventeen Ago anc Years of Under. Ovor Si Yoars iventccn sf Age. To: ;als. Males Females 1913. .. 3,190 .. 2,494 1914. 3,347 2,816 1914. 3,347 2,816 1913. 4,553 4,969 1914. 5,133 5,306 1913. 7,743 7,463 1914. 8,480 8,122 Totals .. 5,684 6,163 9,522 10,439 15,206 16,602

Subjects of Instruction. Number if Classes. » Commercial subjects Mathematics and science Mathematics and science applied to trades and industries Domestic science Art and art-crafts Continuation classes 1913. 268 118 408 299 314 219 1914. 277 153 432 339 295 235 Totals 1,626 1,731