E.—s

18

shorthand (four classes), 101; carpentry, joinery, and cabinetmaking (two classes), 35; building and machine construction (one class), 17; magnetism and electricity (one class), 18; agricultural chemistry (one class), 11; wool-classing (two classes), 27; plumbing (two classes), 11; dressmaking (six classes), 87; art needlework (two classes), 26; cookery (two classes), 38; art (four classes), 34; elocution (two classes), 21; history and economics (University extension lectures), 63 seniors. In addition, at the request of the Wellington Education Board, two lessons in cookery were given weekly to the girls of Standards V and VI of the Lansdowne School. To enable students living at a distance to attend the Technical School for a complete commercial, a home-science, or an arts course, and to reach home daily by the late afternoon train from Masterton, the Managers included English and arithmetic and book-keeping in the time-table of 1917 day classes as well as in the evening time-table as in the past. A greatly increased attendance of country students was the result. Unfortunately, the war exigencj- time-table on the railway was brought into operation early in the session, and many of the students had to leave. Others were not able to attend all their classes as arranged. So many students entered for the book-keeping classes at the opening of the session that it was decided to inaugurate a class for accounting. To this class the more advanced free pupils taking book-keeping were transferred. Other students enrolling, the number soon reached thirtyfive, which was maintained throughout the year. A class for women in wool-sorting and wool-classing was conducted for two terms with a roll number of twelve. The ladies displayed a very keen, interest in their work. Nine of the class were awarded certificates for their success in both the theoretical and practical examinations. It'might be added that three of the ladies immediately accepted positions to class the clips on neighbouring sheep-runs. The men's evening class for wool-classing attracted an average attendance of eleven. The course in history and economics, comprising fifteen lectures, " Stepping-stones to the Twentieth Century," was again most successful, the Students' Association very materially assisting in its management. A number of students sat for Pitman's and Gregg's shorthand certificates, and the success attained was highly creditable to students and teachers alike. A member of the general-knowledge class succeeded in passing with credit marks the Public Service Entrance Examination. A student of the accounting class passed the Book-keepers' Examination of the New Zealand University. As a result of the wool-classing examination eleven candidates passed the first year's tests, while one qualified in the third year's test for a wool-classer's full certificate. The plumbing students also met with some success. In the registration examination held in June three sat for their certificates with success. One, too young to enter for the practical tests, qualified in the December registration theory examination. Two also sat with success for the City and Guilds of London Institute tests, while one sixth-year student passed the Inspectors' examination of the Sanitary Institute, London. The trophies presented by Messrs. H. Beale and S. R. Kingdou for competition among the plumbing students under twenty years of age greatly assisted in maintaining the interest of the junior students. It is the intention of the Board of Managers to award in future certificates in all departments of the school to students showing particular merit. Twenty-six pupils, whose junior free places terminated at the end of the year, were awarded senior free places entitling them to three years' additional free tuition. The statement of receipts and expenditure shows the receipts from all sources (including a credit balance of £75 lis. Id. at the beginning of the year) to have been £1,948 9s. 6d. Of this amount, £260 13s. was paid in class fees, £233 Is. in voluntary contributions, and £1,316 7s. lid. in grants from the Government. The disbursements amounted to £1,713 6s. 2d., the principal items of expenditure being—salaries, £1,028 10s. 7d,; material for class use, £84 3s. 2d.; final payment for cookery-room and for lavatory alterations, £128 10s.; furniture, fittings, apparatus, £148 3s. Id. ; advertising and printing, £65 14s. 6d. At the end of the year the balance to credit was £235 3s. 4d. The funds have been carefully conserved with a view to the erection at the earliest possible date of a motor-engineering workshop and of a laundry. Special acknowledgment is made of the financial assistance rendered by the Masterton Trust Lands Trust and the Borough Council. Thanks also are tendered to the Masterton Press and to the officers of the Education Department for their unfailing courtesy and co-operation. J. M. Coradine, Chairman. I). E. Leslie, Director. NELSON DISTRICT. Extract from the Report op the Director op the Nelson Technical School. Classes were held during the year in the following subjects: Art and art crafts, 9; commercial subjects, 8; dressmaking, 9; millinery, 3; cookery, 4; carpentry, 4; plumbing, 2; photography, 1; telegraphy, 2; engineering, 10; English and arithmetic, 5; mathematics, 1; history and geography, 1; chemistry, 1; botany, I; hygiene, 1; French, 1: a total of 63 classes. The total number of pupils enrolled for technical subjects during the session was 421, comprising 84 senior free pupils, 97 junior free pupils, I returned soldier, and 239 other students. The majority of these students took grouped courses of work. The school again showed a marked decrease in the number of adult paying students. In this respect, however, the school has suffered less than schools in larger centres. In spite of the decrease in numbers the attendance remained satisfactory on the whole. Owing to the fact that the majority of the students took definite courses of work, and that a more regular attendance was maintained, the amount of the capitation earnings for the year was greater than that for any previous year,