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NELSON DISTRICT. Extract from the Report of the Director of the Nelson Technical School. Technical classes were held during the year in the following subjects: Art and art crafts, 8; commercial subjects, 8; dressmaking, 7; millinery, 2; cookery, 5; woodwork, 4; plumbing, 2; photography, 1; telegraphy, 2; engineering, 1I ; English and arithmetic, 7; mathematics, 1; history and geography, I ; chemistry, I ; botany, I ; hygiene, 1 ; cardboard modelling, 1 : a total of 63 classes. The total number of pupils enrolled during the session was 415, comprising 76 senior-free-place pupils, 84 junior-freo-place pupils, 2 returned soldiers, and 249 other students. The majority of these pupils took grouped courses of work. In the early part of the year the practical part of the work in the woodwork and engineering departments had to be abandoned during the rebuilding and enlarging of the school; also during the latter part of the session sickness seriously affected the attendance, so much so that when the school was finally closed by instruction of the Public Health Department the average weeklyattendance had fallen to considerably less than half the normal attendance, with the result that our capitation claim showed a decrease for the first time since 1912. The commercial classes have been again very largely attended, and in order to meet the demand for increased accommodation it was decided to change the dressmaking-room for the commercial room. The dressmaking and other domestic classes were not so numerously attended as 'formerly. The evening classes in millinery and one-day class in dressmaking had to be abandoned. A new class in art needlework was formed and was moderately well attended. The art classes also were not large, but some excellent work was done. The plumbing class did some very good work, their great need at present being accommodation. The telegraphy class continued doing good steady work; unfortunately, however, several students forfeited their privileges as free-place students through failure to attend the compulsory subjects, English and arithmetic. The photography class was abandoned at the beginning of the second term owing to the instructor being called up in the ballot. This year an innovation was introduced. All the free-place day girls were given each week a short course in physical culture. It was very successful, and much appreciated by the students. It is hoped to give the day boys a similar course during the coming session. Thanks are due to the trustees of the Methodist Church, who generously permitted the use of their gymnasium free of charge. The evening class in cabinetmaking was not very well attended, mainly due, I believe, to the disorganization at the early part of the year owing to building operations. The day classes in woodwork were well attended by the boys taking the engineering course; the practical work was, of course, greatly interfered with for the same reason. The engineering classes were well attended by the day pupils. After the classes were able to use the new workshop much time had necessarily to be spent by the boys in re-erection of plant, and in rewiring and fitting up the new workshops with electric light. Progress in the matter of equipping has been much slower than was hoped, owing mainly to delay in material and equipment coming to hand. It is gratifying to note that interest in the school is awakening. The Waimoa County Council, following the example of the City Council, promised a donation. The Farmers' Union are also fully alive to the benefits of technical education, and are taking steps to participate more fully in the affairs of the school. The usual classes for teachers were held in chemistry, botany, and drawing, and were, with some exceptions, well attended. F c j Cockburn, Director. Extract from the Report of the Director, of- the Westport Technical School. It is gratifying to be able to report an increase in capitation returns over those of 1917 by over £100. The total for 1918, including fees, levies, <vc, is roughly £1,318, with fees in hand and outstanding of about £13. A surprising increase took place in the commercial classes, the capitation being in round figures £256, against £139 for 1917. All other departments were similar to those of 1917. From the 18th November to the sth December, at the request of the Citizens Committee, the cookery department of the school was used as a cooking and distributing centre for food on behalf of the victims of the influenza epidemic. The relief work done was of inestimable value, and was much appreciated by the residents of the district. q Tomkies Director Extract from the Report of the Local Supervisor of Manual and Technical Classes at Reef ton,. The following classes were held: Dressmaking, twenty-one students; zoology, ten students; book-keeping, nineteen students. As usual, the commercial classes were well attended, and good work was done. Eight students sat for the Book-keepers' Diploma Examination in November last. The adult dressmaking classes would have been much more successful had there been continuity of instruction. A practical zoology class for teachers did very satisfactory work, and teachers were able to receive the practical work necessary for their examinations. W, A. Rumboli), Local Supervisor.

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