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The buildings have been kept in good order throughout the year. The equipment has been added to where necessary, though much more is required in every branch of the work. It is not possible, however, to use much more in our present quarters. The thanks of the school are due to the Wellington City Corporation, New Zealand Institute of Architects, and New Zealand Academy of Fine Arts, who contributed £300, £10, and £10 respectively to the funds of the school during the year. yj g. La. Trobe Director. Extract from the Report of the Director of the Petone Technical School. The work of the school proceeded during the year in a most satisfactory manner. All the classes were in good working-order, but the influenza epidemic prevented us from completing the ordinary annual examinations for senior free places. There seems to me to be an urgent need for reform in the method of granting capitation to technical schools. Classes at Lower Hutt were successfully carried on for a fourth year, but the attendance requires close attention if the classes are to be a financial success. During the period of the influenza epidemic the school was used as a temporary hospital, and I have been assured by those in authority that no better emergency hospital could be found in the district. The following donations were received during the year : Gear Company, £25; Petone Borough Council, £30; Lower Hutt Borough Council, £20; Wellington Woollen Company, £5; Mr. Jenkins, £1 Is. The Board wishes lo thank the subscribers for their generosity, without which the school could not be carried on successfully. j AS g_ Lynskey Director. Extract from the Report of the Managers of the Masterton Technical School. The weather throughout the greater part, of the year was very severe, and militated somewhat, against the attendance at the evening classes. Nevertheless, useful, steady work was being done, and only four weeks were required to complete the third term's work when, at the request of the Health Department, the school was closed, and about a week later was converted into a temporary hospital. The total number of individual students who attended the school was 336—166 males and 170 females. Of these, 169 were free-place students, 108 holding junior free places, 49 senior free places, and 12 being returned soldiers. On the whole the attendance, the conduct, diligence, and progress of these students were thoroughly satisfactory. Twenty-four pupils holding the endorsed competency certificates attending at the opening of the session, the Board resolved to inaugurate a special English and arithmetic class for them. Excellent progress was made by the pupils. A class to enable teachers to qualify for plain needlework in the 1) Certificate Examination was much appreciated by those who attended. A French class was also conducted. In addition to these new classes instruction was availed of in the following : Painting, freehand drawing, general drawing, model drawing (light and shade), cookery, dressmaking, art, needlework, plumbing (theoretical and practical), woodwork, magnetism and electricity, typewriting and shorthand (Pitman's and Gregg's systems), book-keeping, accounting, Public Service and matriculation subjects, English, arithmetic, and history and economics (University extension lectures). It might be added that the Board, at some expense, established day classes for returned soldiers in wool-classing and in woodwork, with drawing as an integral part. The six soldiers who attended, were much interested in the work and made satisfactory progress. By effluxion of time the junior free places of forty-eight pupils lapsed on the 31st December, 1918. As a result of the report of the Director on their attendance, conduct, diligence, and progress, the Department awarded thirty-six of these pupils senior free places, entitling them to three years' additional free tuition from the Ist January, 1919. The statement of receipts and expenditure shows the receipts from all sources (including a credit balance of £235 3s. 4d. at the beginning of the year) to have been £2,623 14s. 7d. Of this amount £200 9s. 6d. was received in class fees, £475 in voluntary contributions, and £1,685 16s. Bd. in grants from the Government. The disbursements amounted to £1,443 15s. Id., principal items of expenditure being salaries, £1,126 15s. 6d.; material for class use, £93 15s. 5d.; printing and advertising, £87 19s. 2d.; lighting and heating, £69 I2s. 3d.; furniture, fittings, and apparatus, £44 14s. 7d. A sum of £850 was placed at deposit for one year in the Bank of New South Wales. The year closed with a credit balance in the current account of £179 19s. 6d. The Board has pleasure in acknowledging the financial assistance again rendered by the Masterton Trust Lands Trust and the Borough Council. In addition to a special grant to the Teachers' Institute of £50 to establish a central library at the Technical School, the Trust voted £300 and the Borough Council £25. The Managers recognize thai the scope of the school must be extended in the near future. An effort was made to secure the corner site (a Trust Lands Trust lease) adjacent to the present building to extend the operations of the school. The Board's offer of £500 was, however, declined by the occupier. The advisability of adding to the permanent staff of teachers has also been fell. Day classes must be extended to cope more adequately with the demand for technical education. J. M. Coradine, Chairman. D. E. Leslie, Director.

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