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value to modelling, knowing full well how the mind is impressed with the form of any object actually made. The mind, the eye, and the hand are in this case compelled to act in unison. The Fourth Standard has this year, in accordance with the syllabus, taken up geometrical drawing with excellent results, as will be seen by the examination returns. One of the greatest difficulties has been the want of necessary (good but cheap) material, and small models for the purpose of practical application. lam endeavouring to meet this requirement, and hope to successfully terminate my arrangements by the end of March. I regret that, owing to difficulty in arranging for suitable appliances, the proposed new syllabus has not been issued. A temporary one was, however, prepared and circulated. I wish the new one to be complete in all respects, and therefore await the satisfactory arrangements re apparatus before issuing the same. A number of scholars holding the full first-grade certificate have received instruction in the School of Design on Wednesday afternoon, with good results, as will be seen by the work produced. I am anxious to see more advantage taken of this class by scholars holding the full first-grade certificate, and should be glad if the headmasters of schools would permit such scholars to attend. Instruction of Teachers and Pupil-teachers.—The School of Design has beea open daily throughout the year to all teachers in the Board's service, and considerable advantage has been taken of the opportunities afforded. Special classes and class lectures were held on Wednesday afternoon and upon Saturday morning, with large attendances. A special teachers' class was held on Friday afternoon, and opened with a good attendance; but the subsequent attendances, with about eight exceptions, became very irregular, and very little good resulted from this endeavour to assist them in obtaining the necessary instruction. The interest shown by those assistants who did attend, and by the larger proportion of pupil-teachers, is worthy of notice, many very excellent papers being worked at the annual examination. During the early part of the year a course 'of lectures was given at the St. John's Schoolroom upon the teaching of drawing in primary schools. These lectures were largely attended. Later in the year a second course was given, dealing more minutely with the standard teaching, the special teachers of the various standards attending. The majority of schools have been visited as in former years. The arrangement of continuing classes during the midwinter vacation proved of value to country teachers desirous of obtaining information with regard to drawing. The position of teachers in the Board's service with respect to drawing certificates may be ascertained from the following table :—

Number op Students on the 801 l number of students has during the year averaged in the Central School 237 per term, subdivided as follows : General students, 100; teachers, 45 ; pupil-teachers, 85 ; scholars, 7. The attendances during the year number over 10,000, giving some idea of the use of the school. The numbers on the rolls of branch classes are :At Newtown an average of 22, and in the Wairarapa an average of 21, —giving a total of 280 students. Examinations. —The examinations are now classed as follows: First grade, elementary primary schools; second grade, intermediate; third grade, local; third grade, South Kensington. The total number of certificates obtained since the establishment of the school (four years ago) is 4,126, subdivided as follows: First grade, 2,810; second grade, 1,077; third grade, local, 203; third grade, Kensington, 36. First Grade. —The examination took place in September, this month being found most suitable. The number of papers examined was 1,885, as follows : Freehand, 747 —passed 403, failed 344; model, 218 —passed 91, failed 127; scale, 211 —passed 147, failed. 164; geometrical, 609—passed 477, failed 132: total, 1,885 —passed 1,118, failed 767. Number of papers "excellent," 144; "good," 189. Number of individual candidates, 1,515; passes, 896; holding full certificates, 52. The increase upon 1888 is as follows : Papers worked, 626 ; passes obtained, 518 ; individual passes, 326; individual candidates, 391 ; in schools presenting candidates, 15. The Second-grade Examinations were held in December only, as against June and December last year. The number of papers examined was 399, as follows : Blackboard, copy, 30—passed 21, failed 9; blackboard, memory, 36 —passed 13, failed 23; freehand, 106—passed 89, failed 17; model, 68—passed 40, failed 28 ; geometrical, 93—passed 52, failed 41; perspective, 66—passed 39, failed 27 : total, 399 —passed 254, failed 145. Number of individual candidates examined, 218 ; successful, 164. Number of passes " excellent," 28 ; "good," 25. Increase upon last examination —papers, 106 ; candidates, 49. Number of persons holding full certificate, 45. The total number of local papers examined during the year was 2,386, being an increase of 632 papers. The Third-grade Local Examinations were held in December, at which 102 papers were taken, thirty-six passes were obtained, and the number of candidates was forty-three. Third-grade Examinations — Science and Art Department. —The results of this year's examinations are satisfactory. The students find themselves placed upon a level with the schools-of Great Britain, .and therefore know that any honours or passes obtained are of recognised merit. Considering that the number of works sent to the department for examination was 60,855, and of that number only 1,851 in advanced stages were selected for national competition, the school maybe congratulated upon the fact that out of eleven students submitting works seven were awarded certificates and prizes, The prizes awarded were, a bronze medal for monochrome painting.

Full Certificate. Five Certificates. Four Certificates. Three Two Certificates. Certificates. One Certificate. Nil. lead teachers assistants Ix-pupil-teachers ... 'npil-teachers 13 6 2 6 3 6 5 4 4 7 8 18 6 16 j 6 10 8 29 7 6 1 •17 23 12 8 10 Totals 27 17 20 48 53 31 45