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decided upon by the Mayor of Wanganui, the Chairman of the Wanganui Education Board, and the Chairman of the Wanganui School Committee." As in the case of examinations for competitive scholarships, the want of printed regulations and information is responsible for the lack of interest or action in this matter, and as a consequence it has devolved on myself to see these appointments made. I have found, nevertheless, that of the eight nominated scholars attending last year, only two of these have justified their appointment as regards patient satisfactory work. In my opinion, an examination of some kind should be added to the simple nomination, in order that the appointment may be made to those who are most likely to do credit to the school. South Kensington Examination Results.—Of the school works for certificates sent to London last March, the following have been accepted:—For the Art Master's certificate: the following works by Caroline Blair—a sheet of linear perspective problems, diagrams illustrating the principles of foliated design, elementary design to fill a given space ; for the Art Class Teacher's certificate—sheet of geometrical problems, Leonard J. Watkin ; outline from the cast — Herbert Babbage, Gertrude E. Browne, Fortescue F. C. Huddleston, Florence Liffeton; group of models shaded in chalk—Gertrude B. Browne, Florence Liffeton; drawing from the cast, shaded in chalk—Gertrude E. Browne, Eitchings Grant, Leonard J. Watkin. Advanced Time Examination. —Papers taken, nineteen; all passed : — Freehand from the cast ... ... ... 5 first-class, 2 second-class Shading from models ... ... ... ... 2 „ 3 „ Light and shade from the cast ... ... ... 5 „ 2 „ Elementary Time Examination. —Papers taken, seventy-one; passed, forty-seven:— First Class. Second Class. Freehand from flat ... 46 candidates 12 13 21 failed. Model drawing ... ... 10 9 1 0 „ Perspective ... ... 3 „ 1 1 1 „ Light and shade ... ... 8 „ 5 2 1 „ Principles of ornament ... 1 „ 1 0 0 „ Geometrical drawing : 2 passed, and 1 failed. With reference to the large number of failures—2l out of 46—in elementary freehand, I would like to point out that, instead of using the well-known words " beside the ornament," the examiners say " flanking the ornament "in their printed instructions to candidates. This is quite a new instruction in art. The word " flank " is invariably used either in connection with the side of an animal, or as a military term in connection with troops. Many of our candidates did not know what the expression meant: as a consequence, they made their drawings too small, and they were failed. The use, or rather, misuse of the word " flank " here may be accounted for by the fact that the instructions were probably drafted by one of the many retired military officers who occupy appointments at South Kensington. It is, all the same, a very unfair word to use in connection with art, where young candidates are being examined. Another point I would like to mention in connection with the South Kensington examination. I have already said that it is most important our obtaining South Kensington certificates. I think, however, it will be admitted that six months is a very long time to wait for the results of the time examinations held here annually in June or July. With reference to the pass drawings for teachers' certificates, these were sent to London last March. We heard the result after waiting seven months, but the drawings themselves have not yet been returned, although twelve months have elapsed, and we are about to forward our next set of drawings for examination. I think, if the New Zealand Education Department represented to the South Kensington Department that the lengthy delay must necessarily have a prejudicial effect on students' work and attendance, a little more dispatch might result, for which we would all be grateful. I have, &c, The Chairman, Wanganui Education Board. David Blaib, Art Master. [Note. —The Wanganui Education Board states the cost of the school as follows: —Receipts: Government grant, £200; Government capitation, £27 10s. Bd.; school-fees, £69 18s.; Education Board, training of teachers, £100. Expenditure: Teachers' salaries, £269 19s. Bd.; furniture, £28 16s. 2d. ; scholarships, £7 10s.; general expenses, £94 2s. 6d.]

WELLINGTON. Sm,— Technical School, Wellington, 29th March, 1897. I have the honour to submit my report upon primary drawing, manual instruction, and the work of the Technical School for 1896, as follows: — Primary Work, Drawing, clay-modelling, flat-tinting, and kindred subjects have progressed Well during the past twelve months. Model drawing in particular has been very efficiently taught, and has also been taken up by a very considerable number of the smaller country schools. From an artisan's point of view the improvement in this subject is of great importance, for the faculty of ready sketching means a great saving of labour, time, and money. There is also marked improvement in the flat-tinting of freehand drawings ; heavy colouring is gradually disappearing. In exercises of this character Frank Jackson's Drawing-cards for the Standards, published by A. M. Holden, London, would be of great assistance, suggesting as they do very decorative treatments of freehand copies, and making the work more interesting.