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well-trained teachers in the various branches of this subject, more time will be devoted to elementary science in the domestic course. Industrial Course. —Provision is made in this course for a sound preliminary training in carpentry, joinery, and cabinetmaking, and in mechanical and electrical engineering. AH the schools (eight in number) now have workshops well equipped with modern machine tools, and the necessary apparatus and equipment for carrying out a full course of elementary instruction in both theoretical and practical work. The instruction throughout is for the most part on good modern lines with, a sound foundation of mathematics and mechanics, the trend being in the direction of having all problems as far as possible closely related to those the students are likely to meet in actual workshop practice. It appears necessary again to refer to the desirability of placing the teaching of mathematics, which is one of the most important tools of the engineer, in charge of the instructor in engineering, who in his teaching is more likely to employ genuine concrete problems such as the workshop supplies than the instructor who views mathematics as a subject of instruction without reference to its application. To meet the requirements of those who aim at obtaining the third-class marine engineers' certificate! as early as possible, it is to be hoped that the engineering workshop practice will be arranged to include constructional work, and, generally, in preliminary exercises, to avoid those which servo no useful purpose other than to supply practice in the use of hand tools. The arrangement of a series of elementary practical exercises of general utility giving practice in the use of the principal hand tools, and involving the application of elementary principles, should not present any unsurmountable difficulties. The course in woodwork, while not as popular as engineering, offers a sound elementary training in the principles and practice of carpentry, joinery, &c. The practical exercises are almost entirely confined to handwork, which, affords excellent practice! in setting-out from drawings previously made by the students, and in carrying to completion by hand pieces of detail work which under ordinary workshop conditions would be regarded as journeyman's rather than apprentice's work. At most of tho sohools comparatively large sums have been raised for patriotic purposes by the sale of articles made by the iads taking the course in carpentry; many of the articles seen were good examples of sound design and workmanship, and appeared to servo the double purpose of raising funds and providing an excellent and varied scries of exercises of exceptional value te> the lads. Agricultural Course. —The ceunparatively small number e)f students (about 12 per cent.) taking this course has provided much food tor thought. Tho course, while not generally supplying practice in actual farm erperatiems, deies provide plenty of opportunities for carrying out series of related experiments both in tho laborateuy and the field which may have far-reaching results, and this added to theoretical and practical work in botany, chemistry, geology, and animal physiohtgy make up on the one hand an elementary course admirably fitted to equip those who are to work on the land with a scientific basis for further study, and on the other forms a good starting-point for those who desire te> take more advanced work ; and the question arises Why the course fails to attract more students. It may ba that it is another illustration of the truth of the old saying, " The farthest fields are always greenest." The need for the higher training of those who are to be the future agriculturalists and pastoralists of the Dominion has often been voiced. For various reasons no attempt will bo here made to indicate how this need may best be met. Suffice it to say that it is understood that the matter is receiving attention in the proper quarters, and that the adoption of a-definite scheme of systematic training capable eif general application will be one of the many important matters to bo dealt with when conditions generally are more normal than at present. In the! meantime it would appear that the natural course to pursue lies in a men-e extensive use of the facilities at hand. Day and Evening Classes. Art- —It was fully expected that the disturbing influences of the war woulel have seriously affected the attendances at classes in pure and applied art; but it is gratifying to report that while the roll number of semie of the classes has fallen, the average attendance at the art classes generally has been fairly well maintained, and evidences of a deeper- earnestness and a closerr application to their work are not wanting among the students. The number of classes in operation was 295, as compared with 254 for the previous year, while group courses were taken by 646 students, a decrease of thirty-eight. With reference to the courses of study provided at tho principal schools it is satisfactory to note that, while it is obviously impossible to arrange the courses so that they directly bear on local industries, a very earnest attempt is made to render the art teaching in both the elementary and advanced grades as purposeful as possible ; and it is a matter for regret that so many of those engaged in trades, to whom a knowledge of drawing, modelling, and design would be of incalculable value in their daily work, de> not enrol as students. There is, however, this compensation, that much good work is done by many earnest students in subjects more or less directly bearing on their occupations. As an illustratiem of this, at one of our art schools a furniture salesman was taking a course in perspective and object-drawing for the express purpose, it was gathered, " of acquiring the ability to make a perspective sketch of a piece of furniture suitable for forwarding to prospective buyers." Isolated instances of this type could bo multiplied ; but the fact remains that many who would increase their efficiency as workmen by taking up the study of a branch of art cannot be induced to attend the classes. The improvements in the methods of instruction appear to be well maintained, and there are indications that the development of the students originality and powers of individual expression are eemsidered to be e)f more importance than the development of the imitative faculty. This may be regarded as a most important step in tho forward movement, as self-reliance and a memory well stored with "facts and forms" and the power to express them intelligently in various media are valuable assets to the. art worker.