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required should be furnished to the department, and in all cases where assistance is rendered a lien should be held upon such objects for not less than five years. I would further suggest that catalogues of the best forms of appliances, apparatus, easts, diagrams, models, furniture, &c, should be obtained by the Education Department with a view to advising educational authorities in such matters as are needful. 6. MUSEUMS AND LIBRARIES. Museums. —In connection with industrial art it is a necessity that illustrated examples be freely provided, for the express purpose of cultivating a knowledge of what is possible and what has been accomplished in colour, design, and workmanship. The industrial art schools of New Zealand are unfortunate in having no collection of art objects and illustrations, such as are especially provided by the Science and Art Department of Great Britain, and continental departments, on behalf of their schools, by which means they are enabled to treble the value of their work. Whilst in England I took the opportunity of discussing this question with the director for art, Mr. Armstrong, who is fully alive to the importance of the matter, and who at once very kindly offered to assist the colony in every possible way. Mr. Armstrong accompanied me to the circulating branch of the South Kensington Museum, which contains an extensive collection of framed illustrations, diagrams, and art objects of every industry. These are continually distributed amongst the art schools, together with rare and valuable published works upon the decorative arts. The loans are available for three months. The following branches of art are represented: Sculpture in marble and stone; carvings in ivory, bone, &c.; leather-work, including bookbinding; pottery and porcelain, mosaics, wood-work, metal-work, coins and medals, arms and armour, jewellery, glass vessels, textile fabrics, musical instruments, silversmiths' work, enamels on metal, stained glass, lace, decorative paintings. Loans are made upon the following conditions: That adequate provision is made for exhibiting them. That their security and safe return are guaranteed. That the exhibition is open to the public, both during the daytime and the evening. That students of the school are admitted free; that arrangements are made for the admission of artisans who are not students in the school at a reduced rate on certain evenings; and that, in the event of the exhibition remaining open more than three months, it be free at least one day and one evening each week. Seeing that it is impossible for the industrial arts to be taught in connection with our schools without such illustrations as I have described, I make the following suggestions, and would strongly urge that effect be given to the same : (1.) That the Education Department establish a circulating branch of industrial art, a sum of £250 a year being voted for this purpose for the next five years. (2.) That the Science and Art Department of South Kensington be asked to grant a loan of sixty frames of examples annually, containing illustrations or reproductions for circulation amongst the schools of New Zealand ; the cost of such loan to be defrayed by the colony. (3.) That publications such as " Grigg's Portfolios of Decorative Arts "be provided in the same manner. (4.) That the sum of £30 be spent annually for the next five years in the purchase of prize national competition works ; the Science and Art Department undertaking the selection and purchase on behalf of the colony. (5.) That the authorities of the British Museum be asked to provide drawings, photographs, or reproductions of prints on behalf of the colony, such as are provided for the British schools of art, and at similar cost, or at such reductions in price as can be obtained. The whole of the cost of sections 2 to 5 to be charged to the sum of £250 suggested in section 1. With reference to sections 2 to 4, Mr. Armstrong, the director for art, Mr. Skinner, assistant director for the Kensington Museum, and Mr. Watts, superintendent of the circulating branch, have very kindly offered to give every possible assistance in the selection of such works as the department will lend, the purchase of reproductions of objects such as can be obtained at Messrs. Elkington's and of other firms, and in the purchase of national-competition works each year—the bare cost to the Science and Art Department only to be paid by the colony. With reference to section 4, as the works of the national competition were about to be exhibited, I arranged with Mr. Armstrong (subject to the approval of the Minister of Education) to purchase works to the value of £30 on behalf of the colony, as had I not done so the opportunity would have been lost, the works being returned to the various schools within a few months. The thanks of the colony are due to the gentlemen I have named for the sympathy shown with our difficulties and the keen interest taken in our future welfare. Eeferring to section 5 of my suggestion, I called upon the curator of the British Museum and discussed the possibility of obtaining examples such as I have named. I have no doubt that representations made by the Education Department of the colony would meet with considerable success, and that the result would be invaluable to our schools. Visits were also paid to Messrs. Elkington's (Birmingham), Doulton (Lambeth), and the various important publishing firms, with a view to obtaining important concessions should purchases be made on behalf of the colony or individual schools of art. I am satisfied that if the suggestions made can be carried into effect the schools will be enabled to compete on a very much more satisfactory footing in the national competitions, which are of the highest importance, and will also be very materially strengthened in their efforts and productions, which are now seriously handicapped for the want of suitable aims and examples. Technical-school Libraries. —This section is also of the greatest importance to school work. Each central institution, at least, should possess a library and reading-room, available for the use of the students, where the best possible works and periodicals might be consulted and textbooks lent to registered students. Every effort should be made to make this branch of work a success, and with this object in view I liave mentioned throughout the report the various text- and reference-works found in use at