E.-r 5.

authorities an assortment of the best works executed at these examinations by students in different technical schools in Great Britain, illustrative of the various subjects in which examinations are held. These works were in due course forwarded to Invercargill, and were placed on view in the Board's room. The exhibition was visited by quite a number of those interested in such works, and doubtless the full benefit of the Department's thoughtfulness will in time be reaped. Buildings —The work has been somewhat hampered by the want of suitable buildings in which to carry on the classes, as was the case last year ; "but this drawback will soon be a thing of the past, as a promise has been given by the Department that a sum of £2,500 will be granted to erect buildings sufficient for present requirements. Accordingly a first contract has been entered into to erect two class-rooms for woodwork and cookery, these rooms being most urgently required in view of the extension of these branches of education in the town schools. The buildings are now approaching completion, and a larger structure for art and class purposes will be tendered for shortly. When these buildings are completed, the difficulties that now exist in carrying on the work of technical instruction will be considerably lessened. Gore, Mataura, &c, Technical and Continuation Classes. Last year I had to report that classes were held at fourteen centres in all. This year classes were held only at seven centres —viz., Gore, Mataura, Queenstown, Orepuki, Glenorchy, Pahia, and Wild Bush—owing principally to the fact that no students were found anxious to join a class in the other centres. With the exception of the classes held at Gore and Mataura, the work covered was principally that required for Standard V. and Standard VI. At Gore, dressmaking, book-keeping, and shorthand were the subjects taught, the roll numbers for the two terms being 50 and 28 respectively; while at Mataura dressmaking and singing were the only classes which met with sufficient support, the roll numbers for the two terms being 33 and 25 respectively. The work at Gore is also hindered by the want of suitable buildings. The school is too far removed from the centre, and great difficulty was experienced in finding convenient rooms elsewhere. Eventually a room in the Athenaeum was secured, which, though small, met the requirements for the time being. More commodious premises are in view for the coming year, during which it is hoped to enlist the co-operation of the Borough Council in securing a suitable central site on which permanent buildings may be erected worthy of the growing importance of the town. The classes at Mataura paid all claims and left a small credit balance wherewith to commence next year's operations. The Gore classes, however, were barely self-supporting. This is accounted for by the fact that, according to the Manual and Technical Instruction Act, all classes held in country centres having less than 2,000 inhabitants may, with the approval of the Minister, receive an addition of one-half to the statutory rate of capitation. Mataura is entitled to receive this extra capitation, and has benefited accordingly, but Gore, having outgrown the limit, has to be contented with the receipt of the statutory capitation only. It has consolation, however, in this, that its claim as a centre to special treatment in the matter of erecting and equipping suitable class-rooms, will receive most favourable consideration from the Education Department. An effort will be made in the coming year to establish technical classes in other of the larger centres, especially where district high schools are situated, if suitable teachers and a sufficient number of students are forthcoming. Manual Instruction in Schools. I have a most encouraging report to present in regard to the progress made in this branch of education during the year. Last year, although quite a number of schools in the district had done a little in the way of introducing hand and eye work into their programme of studies, only nine schools, with a total of 1,355 children in attendance at the classes, had carried on the work during the whole year so as to enable them to earn capitation. This year the number of schools entitled to receive capitation was increased to 39, with an attendance at the classes of 3,638 scholars ; and this number would have been much greater but for the fact that the necessary material —brushes for brushwork, knives for cardboard-work, &c. —to enable several of the classes to begin could not be procured in sufficient quantity in the colony, thus causing delay. The progress made has been " principally in the direction of introducing into the work of the preparatory classes, and into the lower standard classes, exercises based on kindergarten methods." In connection with the larger schools more advanced subjects have been carried on—viz., woodwork and cookery for the boys and girls respectively in the upper standards of the town schools, while cardboard-modelling and first aid have also found a place in the upper standards in a few of the other schools. That the work will grow and develop there is not the least doubt. Teachers are already beginning to realise the value of the introduction of handwork in their schools, as the children who have been thus trained in the preparatory classes are found to be quicker and more intelligent when they pass into the higher standards, for the reason that there has been developed within them the " regular and easy co-ordination of hand and eye and brain " that leads them to thoroughly comprehend the why and the wherefore of their daily tasks. It is not likely, however, that many teachers, however much they may desire to do so, will be able to introduce this work into the higher standards until the Department issues the new standard syllabus which has been promised. With the advent of the new syllabus, however, it is safe to say that handwork classes will be found in every school in Southland. As it is, next year will show a still further increase in the number of schools that have introduced hand and. eye training into their programme of work. During the year a large supply of permanent and non-permanent material was obtained, and has been distributed amongst the schools where classes are in operation. The cost of this material is fully met by capitation and other grants.

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