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prevents the broad expansion of drawing and hand-and-eye work combined. This expansion is in the direction of combining the head with the hand in the production of work, instead of the purely imitative methods usually practised in schools, which tend to mould every child in the same direction. By a combination of drawing, modelling, colour-work, and elementary design a more intelligent and harmonious system of work may be arranged with great advantage to our primary-school system. I had hoped that the rearrangement of the syllabus would have enabled the first-grade drawing examination to be dispensed with during the present year. It has been decided, however, to continue this examination until the Education Department has issued its new regulations relative to primary instruction. Hand-and-eye exercises have, however, considerably increased in number during the past year. Now that assistance is rendered by the Department of Education for hand-and-eye work and manual instruction, I have no doubt a very considerable increase in this important work will take place, as the funds provided will practically cover the cost of material. The Board of Education has made arrangements by which a supply of material will be available for all schools taking the subjects as specified in the regulations recently issued by the Education Department. First-grade Drawing Examinations. In this examination the following were the results : The total number of papers issued was 6,895, and the number worked 6,291. Passed : Freehand, 1,136 ; geometry, 1,158 ; scale, 1,014; model, 479 : total, 3,787. Of the above papers 668 were taken by schools not under the Wellington Board, and 471 passes were recorded. Number of papers "excellent," 101; number of papers "good," 291; individual candidates, 4,691; individual passes, 3,102 ; schools presenting candidates, 148. The total number of papers worked—6,29l —shows a decrease upon that of last year. The following are the schools representing the 668 papers : —Marlborough District: Blenheim Boys', Blenheim Girls'. Westland District: Kawhaka, Kumara, Woodstock, Blue Spur, Callaghan's, Jackson's. Greymouth District: District High School, Hatter's, Granville, Paroa, Poerua, Humphrey's. Nelson District: Appleby, Girls' Central, Boys' Central, Reefton, Foxhiil, Promised Land. Convent of Mercy (Lyttelton); St. Mary's Convent (Christchurch) ; Convent School (Hokitika) ; St. Francis Xavier's (Wellington); Convent School (Newtown); St. Mary's (Boulcott Street) ; St. Joseph's Orphanage (Wellington) ; St. Patrick's (Masterton) ; St. Joseph's (Greymouth) ; Convent (Greymouth); Convent (Akaroa); Miss Page's Studio (Napier). The total number of certificates issued in connection with this examination since its inauguration in 1884 is 41,086. Manual Instruction in Wood. No progress in this important work is to be reported. Arrangements will, it is to be hoped, be made for a teachers' class from July to December next. Domestic Economy. Cookery classes, under the instruction of Miss Ivey in the Wellington centre, Miss Millington in the Wairarapa and Forty-mile Bush, have been continued throughout the year ; whilst Miss Williams conducted classes for the West Coast, Petone, and the Hutt during part of the year. Owing to the cost the latter were discontinued in August. The regulations issued by the Education Department will prevent the continuance pf this work as at present organzied, with the exception of the Wellington centre ; the continuance of the latter depends upon the contribution of the Wellington Gas Company being continued. The visits of a cookery instructor to individual schools cannot be continued in the country districts under the present regulations, the capitation being insufficient to anything like meet the expenses of upkeep and travelling. At the Wellington centre the total number receiving instruction was 489. In Wairarapa and the Forty-mile Bush the number receiving instruction was 321; at Levin, 28 ; at Otaki, 26 ; at the Lower Hutt, 41 ; and at Petone, 40. The general progress has been satisfactory. Appreciation has been shown in all the centres, and it is to be regretted that the finances of the Board prevent the continuance of the whole of the work. The West Coast instruction was discontinued at the middle of the year, much to the regret of all concerned. The Wellington Gas Company gave a generous donation of £50 towards the Wellington centre; this, with the Government subsidy, will enable the classes to be carried on for a further period of twelve months. The capitation received is insufficient to cover the cost, unless the subject is taught by the teachers of the primary schools. Primary Drawing Free Studentships. The work of the sixty-two scholars holding free studentships has been satisfactory. The boys' course of manual instruction has been considerably improved. The scholars manifest a keen interest in this branch of the work. The girls' course included light and shade and colour-work upon brown paper, as well as clay-modelling. Useful work is being done in this section, which acts as a connecting-link between the primary and the technical schools. The number of competitors continues as large as in former years, 179 competing for the vacancies. For the twelve secondyear free studentships there were eighteen competitors. The above are awarded to holders of firstyear studentships, the work of the past year being taken into consideration, as well as the results of the second-grade drawing examinations.

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