E.—s

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Scholarships (Primary). —The work of the sixty-two scholars holding scholarships has been satisfactory, the course including model, freehand, and elementary light and shade, and manual instruction in woodwork for boys, and clay-modelling for girls. In the latter subject some very excellent examples in ordinary modelling from the cast were produced. The amount of time available for freehand and elementary light and shade was, owing to the wood- and clay-work, considerably curtailed. The scholarships are enabling very useful work to be done, and act as a connecting-link between the primary and technical school. That they are appreciated is evident from the fact that again over 165 competed for the fifty first-year vacancies. The competition produced work equal to second-grade by a considerable number of scholars, and in such cases certificates were awarded. Instruction to Teachers and Pupil-teachers has been continued as usual, and I am glad to report that considerable interest is manifest in most branches of work. In the geometrical and perspective classes the work of the junior pupil-teachers was unsatisfactory. Appreciation is shown of the advantage offered to teachers of attending the classes after they have completed their full second-grade certificate. The efficiency of such teachers will thereby be increased, and should benefit the schools largely. The correspondence class work has improved. The work has been defined in the various sections for each month, with beneficial results. The revision takes place the last Friday in each month, and the work is returned, with remarks and corrections, together with the requirements for the next month's work. In connection with the singing-classes conducted by Mr. Parker, twenty-five teachers presented themselves for examination, and eighteen obtained certificates, eleven of whom passed with distinction. The Examiner, Mr. A. J. Merton, of Christ's College, Christchurch, reported very satisfactorily of the work done, particularly in practice. The following classes are held on Saturday, and are free to all teachers in the Board's service : Drawing in all branches, cardboard work, brushwork, manual instruction in wood and clay, singing, and cookery. For the teachers' class in wood-carving a fee of 10s. a quarter is charged. Technical School. Day classes were held in design, drawing and painting (whole-day and half-day), geometry and perspective, drawing and manual instruction (separate classes for primary-school scholars, secondaryschool scholars, teachers, and pupil-teachers), wood-carving, advanced geometry, clay-modelling, singing (Saturday and Wednesday), cookery. Evening classes were held in architectural and building construction, mechanical drawing, drawing, drawing from life, practical plumbing, theory of plumbing, wood-carving and modelling, mathematics, joinery and carpentry, shorthand, design, geometry, perspective. The number of students was: First quarter, 777; second quarter, 817; third quarter, 794; fourth quarter, 734. The following occupations are represented amongst the students of the evening classes : Saleswoman, 1; office boy, 1 ; blacksmiths, 2 ; law students, 3; cutter, 1; mechanic, 1; watchmaker, 1 ; draper, 1; engineers, 51; milliner, 1 ; carver, 1; coachbuilder, 1; optician, 1 ; stereotypist, 1; joiners, 4 ; carpenters, 23 ; plumbers, 36 ; clerks, 22 ; dairyman, 1; signwriter, 1; electrician, 1; architects, 2; architects' assistants, 2 ; teachers, 20; warehousemen, 2; jappaners, 2 ; bricklayers, 3 ; scholars, 8 ; Civil servants, 2 ; masons, 3 ; printer, 1; tailors, 2 ; cadet surveyor, 1 ; coaldealer, 1; brickmaker, 1 ; dressmakers, 2 ; wood-carvers, 3; surveyors, 2 ; fitters, 3; grocer, 1; telegraph messenger, 1; draughtsman, 1, Drawing, Painting, and Elementary Modelling. —Mr. H. S. Wardell examined these sections and expressed satisfaction with the results obtained and the progress of the school during the past year. The day classes in design have received every encouragement and done good work, and lam hopeful that the evening classes will be equally successful. The want of good illustrations is a serious drawback, but this 1 hope to overcome by selections of designs from various illustrated art papers, and from purchased examples. I trust my recommendations to the Government upon this subject, contained in my report, will be favourably considered, for by this means the value of art instruction will be more than doubled. Memory drawing, monthly competitions, and occasional set subjects have been continued "as hitherto. There is, as is always the case, a difficulty in persuading students to practice memory-drawing away from the school. The mere making of an accurate copy of a cast, model, or object is in itself of little importance. The questions of reflected light, shade, shadow, direction of light, and, most important of all, the actual forms requiring to be expressed, should receive very careful consideration. A student should be able to model from memory a cast or model after once drawing the same; this alone is the real test of knowledge. If a mere copy is made, it is hardly worth the paper it is drawn upon, from a knowledge point of view. Clay-modelling has been continued more as a part of the general instruction. There is still considerable objection on the part of many evening students to take up the subjects of practical geometry and model-drawing as a groundwork upon which to base their future study, applicable to trade purposes. All constructive trades require this knowledge. It means a great saving of time, money, and labour to those who have that grounding. It has now been made compulsory that all trade students under eighteen years of age who have not gone through such a course, or its equivalent, shall be required to do so, for without it a considerable waste of the instructors' time takes place, and it is of the highest importance to the student himself. Machine-construction and Drawing .—This class has increased in number. The work was examined by Mr. Fulton, C.E., theoretically and practically, who reports the results as exceedingly satisfactory. As a knowledge of mechanical drawing is essential in up-to-date machine-shop practice, the value of the work that is being done in the class cannot be overestimated. An excellent set of machine models have been provided for class use, considerably reducing the difficulty hitherto experienced in explaining different parts, movements, principles and construction.