E.—s

Evening School. —The attendance in the trades department may be considered satisfactory, especially in wool-classing. In plumbing and cabinetmaking a slight improvement has been shown, but these trade classes are certainly not attended by anything like the numbers that the importance of the trades demands. With the improvement of our woodworking machinery a great stimulus should be given to cabinetmaking, and .1 trust that this will, prove to be the case. If is regrettable that no provision has been made for training in motor engineering pr moulding in a town like Christchurch where engineering is such an important industry. With the strong demand for engineering instruction on the part of returning soldiers, and the growth of the engineering department in the Technical High School, it is urgent that this omission should be rectified. The returned soldiers who have attended our classes so far have, for the most part, confined / themselves either to the commercial or to the wool department, only a small number taking any branch of engineering. Those students who have persevered in their work —and this is a large proportion of the whole —have made very good progress, some of them remarkably good; and it should be a great encouragement to others suffering from similar disabilities to find that in spite of them such progress can be made. Owing to the large number of partially disabled soldiers that are returning our opportunities for usefulness in this direction will be greatly extended during the coming session. Buildings. —The addition of four class-rooms to the south wing, and the extension of our cloak-rooms and lavatories, were amply justified by the large increase in the number of pupils enrolled in the Technical High School. Indeed, without these extensions it would have been impossible to admit all the students offering. It should add greatly to the efficiency of the art instruction in the Technical High School now that this work can be carried on in a room specially adapted for the purpose instead of in ordinary class-rooms; while the additional accommodation has rendered it possible for the first time for some years to reduce all our classes to a reasonable size. John H. Howell, Director. Extract from the Report of the Director of the Ashburton Technical School. The session opened with very satisfactory enrolments, showing an increase in domestic and trade classes. The number of individual students attending technical classes was 435, against 424 for the previous year; the total rolls of (lie various classes amounted to 3,295, against 2,315 for the previous year (including 540 for school classes, against 544 for 1917). In the above number of individual students there were ten discharged soldiers, seven of whom were enabled to take up occupations by reason of the instruction received at the school; one was transferred to another district, and two were unable to continue owing to the state of their injuries. Classes for dressmaking and millinery were conducted at Staveley, Mayfield, Methven, and Lyndhurst, but the last-named was discontinued owing to lack of support. Two new classes were held during the year by way of experiment—one for adults in economical cookery, including economical food-substitutes and diatetics, and the other (also for adults) in popular economics. An attempt was made to continue the plumbing classes, but proved a failure and had to be abandoned after the first term. The usual good display of students' work was held in March at the Ashburton Agricultural and Pastoral Show. The work generally throughout the year has been disorganized, owing to heavjr snowstorms, Armistice celebrations, and the influenza epidemic. The various activities of the students and staff on behalf of our soldiers and sailors have been carried on with undiminished enthusiasm, and the usual Christmas parcel was sent to each ex-student. The acquiring of the half-acre of ground adjoining the school was a commendable act of wisdom and foresight and a sound business proposition, for it will now be possible to extend building operations in this direction when additional buildings are needed in tho near future. Thirty-seven students were awarded senior free places on the results of the annual examinations, and four were successful at the examinations held by the City and Guilds of London Institute. The Hoard's thanks are due to the following contributing bodies : County Council, Agricultural and Pastoral Association, Canterbury Shipowners' Union, Borough Council, Hampstead and Borough School Committees, and numerous private subscribers. A. L. Moore Director. Extract from the Report of the Kaiapoi Technical School Board. The technical classes were fairly well attended in woodwork, cookery (by electricity), woolclassing, electricity, and dressmaking. Only one returned soldier attended the classes. During the epidemic the Technical School was used as a hospital, and was found very suitable. The Kaiapoi Freezing Company was added to the, number of contributing bodies. The Managers wish to thank all those who have kindly forwarded donations during the year. Extract from the Report of the Akaroa Technical School Board. Classes were held in woodwork, cookery, dressmaking, and engineering drawing, and from the increase in the number of the pupils there are prospects of reviving interest in the work of the several classes. The association is again indebted to the Akaroa Borough Council, the Akaroa County Council, and the Akaroa and Wainui Road Board for donations towards their funds. Wilfred W. Garton, Secretary.

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