E.—s.

Carpentry and Joinery are now under the instruction of Mr. Alexander Graham, in place of Mr. Low, who resigned in June. The number of trade apprentices has increased, and an advanced class has been established on behalf of the trade only. Plumbing, Theory and Practice, continues to attract large numbers of students, the classes being well attended throughout. The resignation of Mr. Haynes (theory instructor) in the early part of the year was followed by the appointment of Mr. Barter, of Sydney, who resigned at the end of the following quarter. Mr. A. Parton was appointed to the temporary charge of the class until the end of December. The course of work is now undergoing revision, and it is hoped to establish a scheme of work in theory and practice suitable to the requirements of the trade. Mr. Eeed, of Sydney, who holds high qualifications, is now in charge of both theory and practice. Owing to the large number in attendance the workshop is quite inadequate ; the ventilation also leaves much to be desired. The City Council has declined to contribute towards the cost of the plumbing classes unless represented upon the Board of Management. General and Commercial Classes. Mathematics. —This class, now under the instruction of Mr. Gifford, M.A., has made progress upon last year's work. It has now been deemed advisable to separate the work into three distinct sections—elementary, advanced, and practical mathematics—thus insuring a more thorough course of instruction. Book-keeping. —The numbers have very considerably increased upon the previous year. Several of the students presented themselves for the Institute of Accountants' examination, two of whom headed the list of the students' section. The advanced class established during the year has meet with success. Shorthand and Typewriting. —All classes have proved successful, and good work has been done throughout. Many of the students have left the school to take up permanent positions in various city offices. Students have the advantage of dealing with the office correspondence daily. In connection with the examinations I should like to see a Colonial Board of Examiners appointed by the Government for the control of this work. Arithmetic. —This class has considerably increased in number during the year. It is highly essential that all students requiring a technical training should be well grounded; it is therefore a pleasure to see the steady increase, which means greater efficiency in the more advanced and special instruction to follow. Latin and English. —These classes have been continued as formerly, with gratifying success in the Matriculation and Civil Service Examinations. Wellington College and Girls' High School. —ln the former institution the work of drawing and woodwork has been continued as formerly. It is still held out of school hours, and considered an extra in the upper forms. The headmaster is, however, desirous of removing this restriction, ,and it is hoped that this work may shortly be considered a part of the ordinary school course within school hours and without extra payment. The Girls' High School classes in drawing and brushwork have continued, as during the previous year, within school hours and without extra payment; and, although the time allowed is short, nevertheless it is a beginning in the right direction, and I hope later to see an excellent course of lessons developed in the various sections of the work throughout the school, with a reasonable amount of time at our disposal for the carrying-out of such a course. Arts and Grafts Guild. In connection with the Art Department of the school the Guild has done much useful work. The repousse, embossed leather, art needlework, stained glass, photography, and the architectural sections have all done good work. Lectures were delivered by Mr. T. L. Mills upon " Black-and-white Drawing as applied to the Prees " ; " Eeproduction by Photo-Lithography," by Mr. W. Palmer ; and upon " Gesso Work," by Mr. Herdman-Smith; whilst the Architectural Section has read papers fortnightly, and finally paid a visit to Christchurch during the Christmas holidays under the guidance of Messrs. McKay and Lawrence, where the section was well received by a number of the local architects, and escorted to various places of architectural interest. A sum of £18 was subscribed by local Wellington architects towards the object of the Guild work, which is allied to the ordinary class instruction of the school. The work of the Photographic Section during the year has been very successful. Demonstrations in various branches of photography have been given at the monthly meetings, and the competitions have been keenly contested. Although the membership of the section is somewhat small, a large number of prints have been entered for each competition, and the quality of the work was very favourably commented upon by the judges. The Art Needlework Section under Mrs. Tripe has also met with considerable success, as shown by the work exhibited at the recent exhibition, when some very excellent articles of workmanship were displayed. At the annual meeting in October the following passage appears in the report of the Committee : " Profiting by the experience gained during the last two years, it is evident that a further change must be made in the direction of consolidating the work of the Guild by making lifework, still life, design, repousse, modelling, carving, and stained class adjuncts of the ordinary work of the school, thus leaving architecture, needlework, and photography as the Guild subjects."

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