£.— 5.

In the earlier part of the year the school was threatened with a misfortune of grave, import in the resignation of our excellent and deservedly popular superintendent and principal teacher, Mrs. Gardner, on whose health and energies the ever-increasing burden of work with little relaxation was proving too great a strain. By way of relief some alteration was made in the term-arrange-ments which would afford a little more leisure, additional assistance was obtained, and the more exacting the Saturday work at the High School was, through the courtesy of the governing body of that institution, intrusted to a substitute, with the understanding that at the end of the year these duties should be relinquished, the Committee undertaking that no loss of emolument should thereby be sustained. The altered conditions, though open to considerable improvement in the measure of relief afforded, have happily proved successful in their object, and re-established health and vigour now justify, we are most happy to say, pleasurable anticipations of the continued enjoyment of her valuable services. For the future it is contemplated to revert to the threeterm arrangement in existence before the Technical Act of 1895, and this, as more in accordance with the usual school terms, should prove a further relief, enabling the teachers to obtain their legitimate holidays at reasonable intervals. At the close of May last an examination was held of a number of students, under the auspices of the City and Guilds of London Institute. The result, which has just come to hand, shows that seventeen were successful, six obtaining first-class and eleven second-class certificates. Towards the close of the year the usual examination in cooking for the Association's certificates was conducted by Mrs. E. D. Harman, who reports most favourably of the work submitted, both theoretical and practical. As the result of this examination twelve students obtained certificates in nlain cooking, while on the basis of a similar examination and efficient teaching practice a teacher's certificate is granted to Miss Edith Manning, the only candidate. The laundry classes, which were resumed only in the last quarter of the year, had a very good exhibition of work done, but it was not thought necessary to arrange for any special examination. In the dressmaking classes the Anglo-Parisian system has been adopted, and we have good reason to believe has been very successfully taught. The question of accommodation, which with every extension of the school's work becomes more pressing, has again occupied the attention of the Committee during the year, with, we regret to say, no material advance towards the provision of a suitable building. For cooking purposes spacious, lofty, and well-ventilated rooms are essential to comfort, better provision for storage and for the work of a laundry is needed, and to these requirements is to be added the need of greater facilities for reproducing in the work of instruction the conditions of an ordinary household, manifestly one of the most desirable objects to be kept in view. Report of Examiner. Mrs. E. D. Harman reports that she held the usual annual examination in plain cookery. The work of the students was uniformly good ; they were quick, neat, and orderly in the preparation and cooking of the dishes, and punctual in serving them at the allotted time. Eighteen students presented themselves; twelve passed very creditably, some of the theoretical as well as the practical .work being excellent. Statement of Accounts for the Year ending the 31st December, 1902. Receipts. £ s. d. Expenditure. £ c. d. Balance from last year .. .. .. 17 410 Petty cash .. .. .. 45 0 0 Government grants— Salaries .. .. .. .. .. 242 18 3 Capitation .. .. .. .. 186 2 0 Cooking-material .. .. .. 174 8 0 Material .. .. .. .. 199 17 4 Rent .. .. .. .. 94 6 8 Rent .. .. .. .. 50 0 0 Gas .. .. .. .. 43 0 0 Board of Education grants—Capitation .. 177 5 0 Furniture .. .. .. 48 13 1 School fees .. .. •. 73 0 0 General expenses —Telephone, coal, postage, General fees .. .. .. .. 115 14 9 &c. .. .. .. .. .. 34 2 6 Admission, exhibit of works .. .. 8 0 0 Printing, advertising, stationery .. .. GlB 7 Discount ~ • • • • • • 010 9 Examination foes .. .. .. 2 2 0 Sales .. .. ■ ■ • • 68 1 3 Insurance .. .. .. .. 011 0 Bank charge for keeping accounts .. .. 0 10 0 Bank balance, 31st December £208 4 2 Less cheques outstanding 4 14 6 203 9 8 Cash in hand .. .. .. .. 0 6 3 £895 15 11 £895 15 11 O'Bbyen Hoaee, Honorary Treasurer. Extracts from the Eepoet op the Chaibman op the Board of Governobs of Canterbury College. School of Art. As compared with 1901, the number of students in attendance has been as follows : — 1901. First term —Morning, 29 ; afternoon, 2 ; evening, 135 ; Saturday, 62: total, 228 (including one extra attending nude-class only in morning). Second term—Morning, 28 ; afternoon, 3 ; evening, 123 ; Saturday, 81: total, 235 (including two extra attending nude-class only in morning). Third term —Morning, 26; afternoon, 1 ; evening, 186; Saturday, 170: total, 383. 1902. —First term —Morning, 27 ; afternoon, 1; evening, 203 ; Saturday, 138 : total, 369. Second term —Morning, 29 ; afternoon, 4 ; evening, 175 ; Saturday, 101: total, 309 (including three extra attending nude-class only in morning). Third term—Morning, 29 ; afternoon, 2 ; evening, 155; Saturday, 85: total, 273 (including four extra attending nude-class only in morning).

27