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The prizes offered by the Council of the Otago Art Society, Artists' Colourmen, the Builders' Association, N. Y. A. Wales, Esq., James Hislop, Esq., and "a friend," were awarded as follows: Otago Art Society —Silver medal for the best life-study done during the session: John Kilgour. Artists' Colourmen—Box of oil- or water-colours for the best design for a decorative panel: Miss M. Blundell. Artists' Colourmen —Second prize, box of oil- or water-colours for the best landscape, in either oil- or water-colours, painted direct from nature. (This prize was not awarded. Owing to the inclemency of the weather the competitors could not finish their studies in time; the judges, however, agreed to leave the competition open for next session.) N. Y. A. Wales—Prize for the best drawing in light and shade, from the cast: Miss E. Napier Bell. J. Hislop—Prize for the best outline drawing from the cast: Miss C. Klee. (Mr. Hislop was so well pleased with the outline drawings that he awarded Miss E. Bridger a prize for her outline drawing of foliage from nature.) " A friend " —Silver medal for the best drawing of the figure from the antique : Theodore Cameron. The Builders' Association scholarship is to be awarded when the school reopens. These prizes caused a good deal of emulation, and had a beneficial effect on the competitors, who highly appreciated the generosity of the donors. The first presentation of science and art certificates took place in the school on the 27th March. The Hon. J. MacGregor addressed the students and presented the certificates. W. M. Hodgkms, Esq., President of the Otago Art Society, and James Hislop, Esq., also addressed those present. About forty original drawings and paintings have been framed and glazed and are on exhibition in the school. These drawings are of inestimable value as works of reference to the students preparing work for competition or certificate drawings. Several important additions have been made to the collection of casts and vases to assist in teaching and to meet the requirements of the Science and Art Department. The general progress of the school has been satisfactory, and the work done in the various classes evinces a great advance on former years. This may, perhaps, be more noticeable in the advanced studies from life and the machine-drawing. I cannot speak too highly of the zeal and assiduity with which all the members of the staff have devoted themselves to their respective classes. The annual exhibition of the students' works was open three days, and attracted a large number of visitors. I have, &c, David C. Hutton, Art Master, Principal. The Secretary, Otago Education Board.

The following list shows the occupations of the students who attended the evening classes: Artist, 1; bank clerk, 1; blacksmiths, 2; boilermaker, 1; book-canvasser, 1; bricklayers, 2; cabinetmaker, 1; carpenters, 11; clerks, 7; coachbuilders, 2; compositors, 3; confectioner, 1; decorator, 1 ; drapers, 3 ; dressmakers, 2; electrical engineers, 2; engineers, 9; fitter, 1; ironmongers, 2; jeweller, 1; land agent, 1; lithographers, 6 ; milliner, 1; moulders, 2; photographic artist, 1; painters, 8; patternmakers, 3; plasterer, 1; plumbers, 2 ; retouchers, 3; saddler, 1; sailmaker, 1; salesman, 1; shop-assistants, 2; surveyor, 1; eignwriters, 2; students, 27; teachers, 2 ; tinsmith, 1; traveller, 1; typist, 1; upholsterer, 1; no occupation or home duties, 11: total, 134.

5. MINUTE OF THE COMMITTEE OP COUNCIL ON EDUCATION, sth AUGUST, 1890 Suggestions as to formulating the course of manual instruction to be given under the minute of sth June, 1890 :— The Lords of the Committee of Council on Education desire to leave the managers of schools as free as possible in formulating the course of manual instruction to be given under the minute of the sth June, 1890, for grants from the Department of Science and Art, provided that this course be adapted to teach the use of tools employed in handicrafts, not so much as an initiation in a special handicraft as a disciplinary educational course to train the hand and eye to accuracy by a progressive series of exercises connected with freehand drawing and drawing to scale. As, however, many questions have been asked as to what precise form of instruction should be followed, the following observations have been prepared. These must, however, be considered more in the light of suggestions than regulations. Before commencing to work with tools it will be found very useful to practice the children in cutting out and putting together solid models in cardboard or paper from plane projections (known technically as "nets"). All work with tools must, as stated in the minute, be from careful full-size drawings prepared by the scholar, the dimensions being taken off this drawing in the workshop. The tools required for the early stages of manual instruction in carpentry are the saw, the plane, and the chisel. The construction and mode of use of these tools, the proper methods of sharpening them and of keeping them in good working order, should form the subjects for preliminary lessons. A great variety of exercises may be arranged, suited to the strength and ability of the scholar, in the use of these tools, which will give an elementary knowledge of the principles of construction, and at the same time teach accuracy and carefulness. Clear ideas respecting the various kinds of hard and soft woods, the growth and structure of wood, its fibre and grain, may be given by means of a small collection of the different descriptions of timber commonly used in carpentry, with longitudinal and cross sections.