E.—2.

[Appendix C.

This enabled each garden to receive a fair supply. In view of the scarcity and high price of grass-seed efforts were again made to get children interested in the gathering of coofcsfoot, and the collections forwarded to this office realized £42 13s. 4d. In addition to this it is known that a considerable amount was gathered by other school-children and sold direct to the seed-merchants. Advanced Needlework. —Work in this subject was carried ou during the year in forty schools on similar lines to those of last year, the making of garments for patriotic purposes occupying a prominent place in the scheme of work. From the material provided by the Board over fifteen hundred children's garments were made, and with the exception of a number which were handed over to the League of Social Service for local distribution amongst the needy all were forwarded Home for the benefit of those in distress through the war. The girls in all the schools where advanced needlework was carried on entered most enthusiastically into the work, and the results were a credit alike to teachers and pupils. Other Subjects. —As regards the work in other manual subjects there is little that calls for special comment. In physical measurements the number of schools receiving instruction was eleven—the same as for the two previous years. In classes for swimming and life-saving there was a reduction, there being only five schools where instruction was given, and in some of them unfavourable weather prevented the course from being completed. It is much to be regretted that out of the whole district there should be so few schools where instruction is given in this most, important subject. The following are the number of schools taking various manual subjects (excluding elementary handwork): Elementary agriculture. 109; physical measurements, 11; advanced needlework, 42; swimming and life-saving, 5; elementary physiology and first aid, 2; woodwork and cookery, 72; standard needlework (special instructors), 23.

VIII