E.—l,

The School of Art has recently been thoroughly cleaned, the casts painted, and everything is now in good order and condition except a few casts which require repairing, and which will be attended to at the earliest opportunity. My assistants have performed their duties most satisfactorily, and the work of the classes has been carried on more systematically and with better results than formerly. To enable .the students attending this school to participate in some of the privileges enjoyed by those attending schools of art under the Science and Art Department, London, and to raise the standard of the work produced, I would strongly urge upon the Board the desirability of affiliating this school with the Science and Art Department. If this were done the students' works could be forwarded to London every year for examination and competition, and local examinations could be held annually under the same department. This, I feel confident, would have a beneficial effect upon the students, stimulate them to increased exertion, and raise the standard of the works produced. I hope, from the importance I attach to this recommendation, that it may meet with the warm approval and concurrence of the Board, and that no difficulty may arise to prevent members from forming themselves into a Local Art Committee to carrj7 out the regulations laid down by the department. I herewith forward Science and Art Directory, which contains all the necessary information on the subject. I may mention that the school is in every way fitted up according to the requirements necessary, and contains all the models and casts requisite, for conducting classes under the Science and Art Department. I have, &c, The Secretary, Otago Education Board. David C. Hutton, Art Master. Occupations of those attending Evening Glasses. —Baker, 1 ; blacksmiths, 3 ; bootmaker, 1; bricklayer, 1 ; cabinetmakers, 5; carpenters, 16; clerks, 8; coachbuilders, 3 ; chemist, 1; compositor, 1; confectioners, 5; decorator, 1; draughtsman, 1 ; draper, 1; dressmakers, 4; engineers, 17 ; engravers, 3; engine-fitter, 1; grocer, 1 ; governesses, 2; hatter, 1; ironmongers, 4; lithographers, 5 ; lithographic artists, 2 ; milliners, 2 ; mining student, 1; ironmoulders, 4 ; pianomaker, 1 ; patternmaker, 1; plasterers, 3; plumber, 1; painters, 6 ; printers, 2; photographic artists, 3 ; retouchers, 8 ; stationer, 1 ; signwriters, 4 ; saleswomen, 2 ; storeman, 1; tailor, 1; tailoress, 1; teachers, 7 ; upholsterer, 1; wool-spinner, 1; no occupation, 15 : total, 154.

SOUTHLAND. Sir, — Education Office, Invercargill, 21st March, 1890. As required by section 102 of " The Education Act, 1877," I have the honour to submit this the twelfth annual report of this Board, being for the year ended the 31st December, 1889. The Boaed.—The retiring members of the Board for the year were Messrs. George Froggatt, Thomas M. Macdonald, and John Turnbull. Of these three gentlemen, only Mr. Froggatt offered himself for re-election. In terms of the Act the usual steps were taken to fill the vacancies thus caused. Four nominations were received, and the voting resulted in the return of Dr. Hodgkinson, M.H.8., and Messrs. George Froggatt (re-elected) and James Mackintosh. It is but an act of simple justice to record here the genuine regret which was felt not only by the Board, but by School Committees throughout the education district, at the retirement of Mr. T. M. Macdonald, who had since the constitution of the Board in 1878 been one of its most active members, and for the whole of that period (eleven years) its respected Chairman. At the last meeting of the Board prior to his retirement the following resolution, the terms of which were cordially indorsed by his colleagues in office, was unanimously adopted: "The members of this Board feel it their duty to place on record an expression of their feelings of great regret that their Chairman, Mr. Thomas M. Macdonald, who has been associated with the Board's work since its institution, should have found it inconvenient to continue to render his valuable services in connection with the administration of the educational interests of this district. The Board considers that the unflagging zeal of Mr. Macdonald in the cause of national education, and his unfailing attention to the business of the Board while acting in the capacity of Chairman, has pre-eminently contributed to the judicious establishment and management of the public schools of Southland, and the members of this Board hope that his severance from work so congenial will only be temporary." A resolution expressive of the Board's high appreciation of Mr. Turnbull's services as one of its members for many years was also adopted by the Board. At the first meeting of the Board in April Mr. Alfred Baldey, who had also been a member since its constitution, was elected Chairman for the ensuing year. During the year twelve ordinary and three special meetings of the Board were held, while its Executive Committee (consisting of all the members of the Board for the time being) met twenty-nine times. The attendance of members throughout the year has been uniformly good, the average being, for meetings of the Board slightly over 8, and for the Executive 66. The individual attendances were as follows : Meetings of Board—Mr. Baldey, 15 ; Mr. Bain, 15 ; Mr. Froggatt, 15 ; Mr. Lurnsden, 14 ; Mr. McLeod, 14 ; Mr. Matheson, 13; Mr. Morison, 11; Mr. Mackintosh (nine months), 9; Dr. Hodgkinson (nine months), 8. Meetings of Executive Committee—Mr. Froggatt, 29; Mr. Baldey, 26; Mr. Lumsden, 26; Mr. Bain, 21; Mr. Matheson, 20; Mr. McLeod, 19; Mr. Mackintosh, 18; Dr. Hodgkinson, 12; Mr. Morison, 11. It should be mentioned that Dr. Hodgkinson was absent on leave for a period of three months during the session of Parliament. The annual returns, eleven in number, prepared by the Board for the Education Department, and which it is usual to priiS; annually as appendices to this report, supply full information respecting the educational interests of the district, such as attendance of pupils ; ages, and classification of scholars according to standards ; number of_ schools, and classification according to average attendance ; the number and names of teachers in the district, with their rank, position, and emoluments, &c. There therefore remains but little for the Board to report, except, perhaps, to institute

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