E.—2.

Appendix A.

In addition to the above the following instructors in special subjects were employed :— Male. Female. Agriculture and dairying ... ... ... ••• ••• Domestic science ... ... ■•■••• ■ • • • • • Woodwork ... ... ■■• ■■■ ■•■ ••■ * ' Totals ... ... ... ••• ••■ 2 The teachers have continued to respond to the call for men to fight the battles of the Empire. Thirty-three teachers and four clerks enlisted. Of these, five have been wounded and returned, though only two are yet fit for duty, and five have made the supreme sacrifice. Instruction of Teachers.— Teachers' Saturday training classes in drawing were established at Gisborne, Napier, and Dannevirke. The attendance and work were good. The Board continued its correspondence, classes, thirty-two uncertificated teachers taking advantage of the opportunities offered. In addition to the issue of study-sheets, winter and summer schools were held in Gisborne and Hastings respectively; twenty-five attended at Gisborne and thirty-four at Hastings. The excellent results obtained by the students in the Department's certificate examination prove the great value of the classes. District High Schools. —[See E.-6, Report on Secondary Education.] Manual and Technical Instruction. —Classes in elementary handwork were recognized in 121 schools, and the material for carrying out this work was all supplied by the Board. Considerable difficulty was experienced in procuring materials for certain of the classes, but with the willing assistance of the teachers sufficient were secured to carry on the work. The average number of pupils in the different groups of classes who received instruction was :P to S2, 6,029; S3 and S4, 2,829; S5 and S6, 2,149: total, 11,007. Needlework classes under clause 26 (c) of the Manual and Technical Regulations were conducted in nine schools. The roll number was 123, and average yearly attendance 102. Most of the work done was for the Red Cross or some patriotic society. 116 science classes were recognized for purposes of capitation during the year. These included forty-five classes in agriculture and dairy science, fifty classes in agriculture, and twentyone classes in experimental science. The roll numbers were as follows : Agriculture, 50 classes, roll 1,045; agrioulture and dairy science, 45 classes, roll 969; experimental science, 21 classes, roll 765 : totals, 116 classes, roll 2,779, The Board regrets that another year has gone by and the manual-training centre for Napier is not yet an established fact. Until the question of the site for Napier Main School is settled no progress can be made in this matter. In the meantime 400 pupils are deprived of instruction in woodwork, cookery, and dressmaking. The number of classes and roll in the district in these subjects were —Woodwork, 23 classes, roll 560; cookery, 23 classes, roll 526; dressmaking, 23 classes, roll 468. The quality of the work of the pupils attending the woodwork classes is steadily on the up grade. The instrumental drawing was particularly good, and the completed models showed that both pupils and instructors are doing satisfactory work. Physical Instruction. —The Inspectors report that during the early part of the year all the larger schools and many of the country schools were visited by the Department's physical instructors. The work on the whole is progressing, and the children are showing the benefit of the training. Periodic refresher courses are, however, required for the teachers, and to this end physical instruction was included in the programme of work undertaken at the winter school held in Gisborne during the month of May. Medical Inspection. —The district was not visited by the Medical Inspector of Schools last year, but the Board has reason to hope that in the near future a permanent Inspector will be appointed for the district, and that she is to have the assistance of a district nurse. The Board trusts that the Inspector will have the assistance of a physical instructor also in establishing corrective classes. Scholarships. —Scholarships in tenure during 1917 were—Junior National Scholarship, 32; Senior National Scholarship, 8; Wairoa County Council Scholarship, 3. Buildings. —The Board regrets exceedingly to have again to deplore the delay in proceeding with the replacing of the Napier Main School, destroyed by fire in November, 1916. The question of site has proved a stumbling-block, and though the Board has done everything possible to help and meet the Department in coming to a decision, nothing definite has yet been done. The Board earnestly trusts that you will do your utmost to have the vexed question of site settled and funds allocated for the rebuilding of this important school. The Board regrets that in January, 1917, the school at Te Rehunga was destroyed by fire. The Department has provided funds to erect an up-to-date building, which is nearing completion. During the year additions to the Gisborne East and Gisborne West Schools were completed, and a new domestic-science class-room was erected and equipped at Hastings. New works are in progress as follows: New schools at Te Rehunga, Kurukuru, Springhill, and Flemington, and an addition to the school at Wairoa. The following buildings were painted and generally renovated by the Board's workmen: Schools —Wanstead, Wallingford, Porangahau, Herbertville, Wimbledon, Weber, Awariki, Kiritaki, Dannevirke North, Norsewood, Ti-tree Point, Waitahora, Mangatoro, and Dannevirke South; residences— Wanstead, Wallingford, Porangahau, Herbertville, Wimbledon, Weber, Awariki, Kiritaki, and Dannevirke North. Owing to the increased cost of materials the Board's programme for the replacement of worn-out and out-of-date furniture had to be modified, but the Board endeavoured to deal with the most urgent requirements. I have, <fee., The Hon. the Minister of Education, Wellington. G. F. Roach, Chairman.

VII