15

E.—s.

The Standard VI proficiency class is undoubtedly one of the most useful classes in the school, as it gives to all who have been unable to pass Standard VI an opportunity of reaching that standard of education. About fourteen students are to be presented for the examination this year. Reviewing the work of the school as a whole, there is no doubt that much good work has been accomplished, as is shown by the good positions obtained by the pupils attending the classes. The credit is due largely to the punctuality ami earnestness of the instructors, who take a personal interest in their pupils. The school is fortunate in its staff. The school- is indebted to the Borough Council, Kairanga County Council, Working-men's Club, Workers' Educational Association, ami the Farmers' Union Executive for valuable assistance in the way of donations. ■ p jj Opie Director HAWKE'S BAY DISTRICT. Kxtract prom the Report op the Diueotor of Manual and Technical Instruction. Technical classes were conducted during the year at Hastings and Gisborne. At Hastings classes jn agricultural chemistry and book-keeping for fruitgrowers were held during the winter months. Good work was done in each subject. The total roll was fifteen, and the average attendance thirteen. At Gisborne the classes conducted, with the roll numbers of each, were as follows: Telegraphy, 19; invalid cookery, 12; carpentry, 6; English, 32; arithmetic, 31; mathematics, 6; book-keeping, 34; typewriting, 20; shorthand, 25; accountancy, 22; Latin, 5; French, 12. There was an increase in the number of pupils attending classes as holders of free places, three senior free pupils and eighteen junior free pupils having been admitted at the beginning of the year. The work of the majority of these pupils was very satisfactory. The Gisborne Borough Council contributed £20 towards the funds of the classes, and Mr. James Stafford presented a chest of carpenter's tools. The attendance throughout the year was not all that could be desired, but a number of the students were required to work overtime in the evenings, and this greatly interfered with, the average attendance. Classes for the training of teachers in drawing and elementary hygiene were established at Gisborne, Napier, and Dannovirke. The attendance and progress were very satisfactory. Winter and summer schools for uncertificated teachers were held at Gisborne and Hastings respectively. The subjects of instruction included English, arithmetic, geography, history, methods of teaching, hygiene, agriculture, and dairy science. Twenty-five teachers attended at Gisborne and thirtyfour at Hastings. Ernest G. Loten, Director of Manual and Technical Instruction. Extract prom the Report op the Director of the Napier Technical School. The total number of pupils enrolled in the Technical High School was 130, of whom sixtyseven were first-year pupils, forty-five second-year pupils, sixteen third-year pupils, and two fourth-year pupils. There were fifty-four boys ami seventy-six girls enrolled. There were eight paying pupils, ten receiving free tuition under the Board of Managers, the remainder being holders of proficiency certificates. The courses provided were the same as were provided last year. Thirty-seven pupils took the trade course, seventeen the commercial course, and seventy-six the combined commercial and domestic course. The physical development of the pupils has been satisfactorily attended to. Friday afternoons from 2 o'clock have been devoted to games at Nelson Park. Swimming practice has been held at the Municipals Baths throughout the year, and long-distance certificates were gained by twentyseven boys and nineteen girls, ten girls and one boy swimming over one mile. In August; Mr. W. Fossey resigned after eight years' service as Director, and was succeeded on the Ist November by Mr. I. E. Newton, of the Christchurch Technical College. The number of students enrolled in the evening classes was 300. Courses of instruction were provided as follows: Art, sixteen students; commercial, 107 students; domestic, twenty-two students; engineering, thirty-nine students; plumbing, six students; general, twenty-four students. A class for wool-classing was formed during the year, and was attended by twenty-four students. The classes were conducted in the woodwork-room under obvious disadvantages. A new room has been secured in the Athemeuni Buildings for the coming session. Eighty students from Hukarere College attended cookery classes at the school, and twenty-nine students from the Marist Brothers' School took a course in woodwork. The total number of individual students other than those attending the Technical High School was 409. Examinations for Pitman's shorthand certificates were held at the school in August and November, the results being as follows : Eleven students gained elementary certificates, and three gained theory certificates. Thanks are due to the Chamber of Commerce for its donation of a gold medal for the best commercial pupil, to Mr. A. L. Beattie for his presentation to the school of 206 blue prints of locomotives and cars, and to the various local bodies which contributed to the management of the school —namely, the Education Board, the Napier Borough Council, the Builders' Union, the Working-men's Club, and the Agricultural and Pastoral Society. I. E. Newton, Director.