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Extract from the Report ok the Director of the Palmerston North Technical School. The school opened in February with forty-eight classes. During the year the numbers admitted to the school reached the total of 560 individual students with approximately 1,100 enrolments. Besides the usual classes a course in the science of salesmanship was conducted by some of the leading business men of the town. The course was a successful one, and was attended by twentytwo students. The commercial classes still show the largest numbers, and, although there have been changes in the staff brought about by the war, good work has been done. Twice during the year candidates were presented for the speed examinations in Pitman's shorthand, and the school was congratulated by the Examiner on the good results shown. The school was able to reopen the plumbing class, which had been closed the previous year owing to all the men being called up for military service. The engineering classes fell off considerably through boys having changed their occupations or having left the town. Except in the practical work these classes will not be successful until electricity becomes the driving-power of the machinery of the town and more manufacturingindustries are developed. With one or two exceptions the boys who take engineering are employed in motor-garages, and the prospects in this line of work do not seem to encourage them to persevere with the theoretical and mathematical branches of engineering. A class in electric wiring and fitting was started and much good work done. However, no really successful work ca» be done in any of the trades classes until the boys are able to devote more time to the work and to take their classes in the daytime. It is not to be expected that after a day's work young people can come to evening classes with a fresh, vigorous mind. In their tired condition they have less interest in and less inclination for their work. The class in industrial history and economics was well attended, and has now completed its first three-years course. The domestic classes, especially those in dressmaking, were well attended. The pupils of the cookery classes were successful during the year at various competitions, thus proving that the work continues to be of a high standard of merit. Sheep-shearing and wool-classing classes were again held, and many of the boys acquitted themselves very well indeed in both branches of this important part of agricultural work. In connection with the above the Board is indebted to the Farmers' Union Executive for a donation towards expenses, to Messrs. Levin and Co. for the loan of an engine, to the Agricultural and Pastoral Association for the use of the shed and grounds, and to Mr. Thompson, stock-dealer, for the sheep. It is the ready assistance given in this way that helps to make the classes the success they are. The wool for the wool-classing was loaned by the Department of Imperial Government Supplies. The local branch of the New Zealand Society of Accountants again awarded two special prizes for junior and senior book-keeping. The arts and crafts department again showed a decline in numbers owing to war conditions, but the work done by the pupils was quite up to that of former years. The Standard VI proficiency class showed a considerable increase in numbers. This is one of the most useful classes in the school. Reviewing the work of the school as a whole there is no doubt that much good work has been accomplished. The Technical School is indebted to the Borough Council, Kairanga County Council, Workingmen's Club, Farmers' Union Executive, and to T. R. Moore, Esq., for valuable assistance in the way of donations. F _ D Ql , Wy Director. HAWKE'S BAY DISTRICT. Extract from the Report of the Director of Manual and Technical Instruction. The technical classes conducted by the Board during 1918 consisted of (a) teachers' classes and (6) evening continuation and technical classes at Gisborne. Teachers' Classes.- —Saturday training classes in drawing and elementary hygiene for junior teachers, probationers', and uncertificated teachers were held at Gisborne, Napier, and Dannevirke. Excellent work was done in both subjects by the instructors. Classes in agriculture and dairy science were held at Woodville ; Dannevirke, and Hastings. A class in dairy science for Class C was held at Hastings. At Napier centre a class was held for head teachers and assistants in vocal music. The Inspectors report that good work was done at all the above classes. A 'winter school was held at Hastings for the instruction of teachers taking the Board's correspondence classes. The subjects treated were agriculture, dairy science, methods of teaching, first aid, and physical drill. Gisborne Technical Glasses. —These classes were established by the Board three years ago, when the buildings, equipment, &<;., were taken over from the High School Board. The subjects taken were telegraphy, invalid cookery, woodwork, book-keeping, typewriting, shorthand, English, arithmetic, mathematics, and Latin. The greater demand was for commercial subjects, and almost all free-place pupils took the commercial course. Twenty-three free-place pupils were in attendance during the year—four seniors and nineteen juniors. Of these five withdrew before the end of the year. The remainder attended regularly and did very satisfactory work. E. Loten, Director of Manual and Technical Instruction.