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association in the pursuit of its good work. This, with a balance of £18 Is. Bd. in hand, enabled the committee to prosecute the work with vigour. Ten classes were put on the prospectus for the year—viz., English, wood-carving, dressmaking, building, surveying, chemistry, freehand and model drawing, carpentry, mechanical drawing, perspective drawing, and cookery. As in previous years, your committee found that the list had to be altered somewhat. An additional class was added, that of book-keeping, while two classes —perspective drawing and cookery—failed to obtain sufficient entries to justify their being started. All the classes mentioned, with these two exceptions, were carried on during the two terms with marked success. The total number of students was higher during the past year than in any previous year. The wood-carving, dressmaking, and mechanical-drawing classes proved very popular; the numbers in attendance were so large, and the instruction being chiefly individual, teachers were compelled to divide their classes into sections and devote extra evenings to their work. The number of students enrolled, and the average attendance in each class, are given in the following table: —

As hitherto, the teachers received the sum of three guineas and a half for each term as salary, with an added bonus of 6s. for each student in excess of six in any class. Your committee has found that this system of paying their teachers is an equitable one, and has given entire satisfaction to all, while it has also had the effect of helping the teachers to feel that they are in vital touch with the committee in working for the success of the association. Aα exhibition of work performed in the wood-carving, carpentry, and drawing classes was held at the close of the session, and the steady influx of visitors showed the interest that was taken by the townspeople in the work of the association. The classes are now fairly established, and your committee look forward to a time, which they hope is not very far distant, when students will undertake systematic work in order that they may qualify themselves to obtain the certificates issued by the City and Guilds of London Institute, and by the Science and Art Department, in the various branches of technical education. Your committee would here tender their thanks to the Education Board for their unvarying generosity in giving the association the free use of their buildings, and also for the handsome donation of £20 to its funds. It is evident that without such kindly consideration the association would have the greatest difficulty in carrying on its work. On behalf of the governing body, Wμ. E. Eiddell, President. Invercargill, 16th March, 1900. William A. McCaw, Secretary. Balance-sheet for Yeae ended 28th February, 1900. Receipts. £ s. d. Expenditure. £ s. d. Balance from 1899 .. .. .. 18 1 8 Teachers' salaries .. .. .. 105 9 0 Interest in P. 0.0. .. .. .. 0 4 5 Advertising, &o. .. .. .. .. 8 18 0 Subsidy from Education Board .. .. 20 0 0 Gas and janitor .. .. .. .. 815 6 Government capitation, 1898-99 .. .. 15 0 Secretary .. .. .. .. 7 17 6 1899-1900 .. 33 15 6 Students' material .. .. .. 1 15 8 Students' fees .. .. .. 82 0 0 Befund to Education Board (capitation) .. 415 0 Timber acoount refunded .. .. 15 6 Bank charge for keeping acoount .. .. 0 5 0 Stamps and stationery .. .. .. 0 8 6 Balance.. .. .. .. 18 7 11 £156 12 1 £156 12 1 6th March, 1900. William A. McCaw, Treasurer. Examined and found correct. —E. J. Cumming, 13th March, 1900. Approximate, Cost of Paper.— Preparation, not given; printing (1,626 copies), £15 2e..

By Authority: John Mackay, Government Printer, Wellington.—l9oo.

Price 9d.]

Roll, First Term. i Average Attendance. Boll, Second Term. Average Attendance. English Book-keeping Wood-carving Dressmaking Chemistry ... Carpentry ... Mechanical drawing ... Freehand and model drawing ... Building surveying ... 7 12 40 27 8 13 23 12 5 6.4 10-0 35-1 26-1 6-6 10-6 19-4 10-7 4-4 7 4 M 18 6 11 20 10 5 6-5 3-9 31-8 172 5-6 80 17-3 8-6 4-5 Totals 147 1293 115 103-4