[Appendix C.

E.—2.

Swimming and Life-saving classes were taken at twenty-four schools. Needlework. —-At seventy-eight schools with no female teachers special sewing mistresses took needlework classes. ' - | Extract from Agricultural Instructors' Report. —Schemes of the course of work have in many cases too great an element of vagueness to render them of ready assistance in the teaching of nature-study on agricultural lines. The result of this is seen in the wide range, of merit shown by notebook records kept in the studies made during the year. Garden operations still form the least satisfactory feature of the course, and there still remains lack of appreciation of the fact that the garden-work should be mainly educational. Certificates of merit were awarded to forty-four schools for efficiency in elementary agricultural class-work. The, value of teachers' classes in the method of teaching agriculture and dairy science in primary schools was revealed by the improvement in the, instruction at those schools from which teachers had attended. It is desirable that similar classes be held during the coming year. During the year the Board interested itself in the endeavour to acquire a portion of the Dilworth Trust property at Papatoetoe for the establishment of a college to further agricultural education. The efforts made in this direction were unfortunately unsuccessful, but the importance of this project is such that, steps for the acquisition of land for such an institution should not be lost sight of. There has been very marked advance in the prices of apparatus, chemicals, manures, seeds, and tools during the year, and there is urgent need for an increase in the rate of capitation granted to maintain the supplies required by schools each year. TARANAKI. Extract from the Report of the Director of Technical Education, Manual Training. —Primary and secondary classes for woodwork and cookery were conducted at, New Plymouth, Waitara, Inglewood, Stratford, Eltham, Hawera, Kaponga, Pihaina, and Mangatoki. The pupils from Tariki, Ngaere, and Midhirst travelled to Stratford for instruction. Good work is being done, but there is still a little prejudice against this work- shown by some teachers, and until this is entirely removed the best work cannot be accomplished. Agricultural Instruction. —There was a better continuity of work in 1919 than in the previous years. At primary schools 120 classes were conducted in agriculture, and twenty-five, in dairy science. Ido not think there was a single school taking the subject of agriculture that was not visited during the year, and the majority of the schools were visited several times. It was pleasing to note, on my annual visit to these schools the very good work that was being done both observationally and experimentally, and the high standard of work that was being maintained. Keen interest was also being taken in the improvement of the school-grounds, and much thought, rare, and labour had been put into this work. lam also pleased to be able to report on the, keen interest taken in dairy science. The treatment and the presentation is such as to get the best from if as a, primary-school subject, and also to bring the child into thoughtful appreciation and examination of his economic environment, which should be of the greatest future importance to Taranaki. WANGANUI. Extract from the Report of the Director ok Manual and Technical Instruction. Agriculture.— 166 schools had recognized classes in agriculture or dairy-work, the average attendance being 2,469. The. Supervisors report that satisfactory work was done at most schools, a considerable improvement being shown in some cases. Many of the school-grounds are, beautifully kept, and the number of badly kept grounds is steadily decreasing. Increased activity was shown in outdoor nature-study, this work being taken up quite independently of the time-table. The value of carefully kept notebooks is emphasized. Many of the garden-tools are wearing out, and the cost of replacement at the present almost prohibitive, prices is a matter that is giving some concern. Considerable use was made of the Board's Leaflet in providing notes and suggestions for teachers regarding schemes of work, &c. Nature-study notes appeared in each issue of the Leaflet. Many specimens of plants, &c, were forwarded by pupils for identification. A combined schools' exhibit was again staged at the Manawatu and West Coast Winter Show in June, illustrating the scope of work undertaken in the way of crop-growing (experimental and otherwise) with notebooks, plans, and photographs of schoolgrounds, seed and weed collections, graphs showing various phases of the, work, and typical, experiments conducted in schools during the winter months. In the secondary departments of district high schools agricultural science has taken by all boys. The annual stock camp was held in March at Mr. E. Short's " Parorangi " farm, sixty boys being in attendance from the Wanganui Technical College, and Bulls', Feilding, Patea, and Taihape District High Schools, The instruction given followed that of previous camps of a similar character. The physical instructor was in camp and gave instruction in physical exercises and supervised the games. This was the first occasion on which such instruction was given in connection with the annual camp, and there is no doubt the boys derived considerable, benefit. At the conclusion of the camp the usual examinations and competitions in the judging of stock were held. In his report on the papers submitted in connection with the judging of Jerseys, the Examiner remarked that, taken on the whole, the papers were remarkably good considering the very limited opportunity the boys had of studying the subject,, and that the two first papers would not be beaten by many breeders with years of experience. The annual shearing-camp was held at Mount Stewart in November ; twenty-eight boys attended. ■:.-•■ Woodwork, Melalwork, and Domestic Science. —Classes were held throughout the year at Apiti, Bull's, Feilding, Foxton, Hunterville, Marton, Ohakune, Palmerston North, Patea, Rongotea, Taihape, and Wanganui. 906 pupils from thirty-nine schools received instruction in woodwork, 957 pupils

IV