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MANUAL AND TECHNICAL INSTEDCTION IN THE SEVERAL EDUCATION DISTRICTS.

AUCKLAND. Report of the Boaed op Education. Technical Instruction. —Very little has been done during the year in the formation of school classes. The Board has undertaken the management of the Auckland Technical School, and applications have been invited by advertisement within the colonies and in England for a director. At present the work of the school is carried on under great disadvantage in a rented building quite inadequate for the purpose. Report op the Inspectors op Schools. A good deal of suitable kindergarten work has been done in a number of the schools, and it is quite a pleasure to the children. It is likely to be taken up more freely during the coming year. In one or two schools " brush-work " has been substituted in some of the intermediate standards for the ordinary drawing course, but it would be premature to speak of results, which, however, are not unpromising. As yet nothing has been done to provide regular instruction in woodwork or practical cookery, though the Department offers substantial grants in aid of such classes on very reasonable conditions. Early in the year I suggested that immediate provision should be made for teaching these subjects in the city and suburban schools at two centres, one at Newmarket and the other at Newton East or Howe Street. To classes at these centres pupils from most of the city and suburban schools could easily walk. I was then, and still am, of opinion that these special subjects cannot be conveniently taught either at each school or at a single centre. It seems to me that there is urgent need of adequate provision for giving the girls of the higher classes a coarse of instruction in cookery not only in Auckland, but also at the Thames. In the other great educational centres of the colony a start in this direction has been already made.

Report of the Director of the Elam School of Art. I have the honour to report as follows on the work of the school during the year 1901 : — There were four terms of ten weeks each. For the first three terms eight classes were held each week, as in the preceding year, while during the fourth term three additional classes were established. There were 8,327 attendances of two hours each registered during the year, and, as this number represents attendances at day classes only, the result may be looked upon as satisfactory. A number of new students joined the school during the fourth term, while many of the old students took advantage of the opportunity to attend more frequently on the additional days. I am glad to say that the number of teachers and pupil-teachers attending the school increased considerably during the year. I am quite sure that more good can be done by this school in educating the teachers, and in teaching them how to teach drawing and kindred subjects, than by teaching individual students. I should, be very glad if the local Board of Education could see its way to offer some inducement to its teachers to attend here for a few terms, in which case I should be only too pleased to arrange special classes for their benefit. There is, I am glad to note, a marked improvement in a large number of the drawings by pupils of public schools that come before me each year, which, I believe I am right in saying, is to be attributed directly to the influence of this school on the teachers and pupil-teachers who have attended it. Old-fashioned methods are gradually disappearing, for the teachers who attend the Elam School of Art are taught not only how to draw, but also how to teach drawing to others. In connection with the Science and Art Examinations of the Board of Education, London, the following results were obtained : Perspective, 3 passes, 0 failures ; painting from still life, 5 passes, 0 failures; drawing in light and shade, 8 passes, 3 failures; model-drawing, 16 passes, 2 failures; freehand drawing of ornament, 13 passes, 7 failures ; blackboard drawing, 9 passes, 1 failure; drawing from the antique, 6 passes, 0 failures. Sixty passes out of seventy-three papers cannot be looked upon as unsatisfactory when it is remembered that the standard examinations in freehand, model, and light and shade have been very considerably raised during the last two years. The students generally have worked willingly and well, many coming early and working late and not limiting themselves to the nominal class hours ; the school is open continuously from 9 a.m till 5 p.m. On the whole, I have every reason to be satisfied with the work done during 1901. E. W. Payton.

TARANAKI. Report of the Inspector of Schools. lam pleased with the rapid strides made in handwork. In a number of schools recognition under the Manual and Technical Instruction Act has been asked for. In many others the work has been carried on without such recognition, and many of the teachers have provided the necessaries for the work out of their own earnings. Free-arm drawing cannot be satisfactorily introduced unless at some expense for appliances ; the slates which are used, and by some teachers used well, being only a makeshift substitute. Brush-work in many of the schools is displacing drawing, and the progress has been very satisfactory. Last year a grant was given by the Department for the instruction of teachers in the work for school classes, as indicated by the regulations under the Manual and Technical Instruction Act, and when classes were established I was more than gratified at the interest taken in the work, about one-half of the teachers of the district being enrolled. The examinations at the end of each term were very satisfactory, and certificates were issued on the results.