Ei—lb.

Science and Object Lessons. —The work in these subjects was satisfactory : fifteen schools had taken the St. John's course in ambulance, several took up agriculture, and the rest physiology, it least one hour a week should be devoted to science, and we should like to see a more extended range of practical illustration. Recitation. —We were favourably impressed with the success attained under this head. Too rapid an utterance is still tolerated in a few schools. To the teachers in them the caution may not be needless that slow, clear enunciation, even if too slow, is preferable to a garbling of the words that gives no time for the thought to penetrate the brain. Again, a mispronunciation that is bad in reading is unpardonable in the recitation of a poem that has presumably been conned many times. A good book of extracts from poems would supply a want; many poems that cannot be classified as great contain good thoughts aptly expressed. Handwork. —Sixteen of the schools taking up branches of handwork were classified as ranging from satisfactory to excellent, and four as fair. Although nine schools have during the year been added to the list of those giving instruction in manual work, the teachers generally have not shown remarkable enterprise in this direction. Many have been awaiting such reduction of the subjects of the syllabus as would enable them to make fresh departures. In at least all schools above Grade 6 the junior classes should take up some branch of handwork. In the higher classes (S. 3-7) one hour a week is now sufficient to earn capitation. The subjects undertaken in the schools by the permanent staff include modelling in plasticine, bricklaying, paper-folding, and free-arm drawing. Outside instructors have carried on classes in cookery at Toitoi Valley, and dressmaking at Westport. Sewing has been recognised as a technical subject in ten schools where there are sole male teachers, thus enabling sewing-mistresses to be employed. The claims made for capitation in connection with school classes amount to £236 13s. 5d., to which a few small sums have yet to be added. If brushwork be taken up the initial cost of apparatus must in future be met by capitation from other classes. A second grant of £125 enabled the Board to continue the instruction to teachers' classes, and under this head much good work has been done in free-arm drawing, model-drawing, brushwork, dressmaking, ambulance, and woodwork. In June new regulations were issued, granting in respect of continuation and technical classes a higher rate of capitation, provided that pupils working under certain conditions be taught free — i.e., be granted what are called Junior Technical Scholarships. We believe that these very liberal grants will result in attracting the services of highly qualified instructors. Sums of £500 and £1,000 respectively have been granted towards building technical schools at Reefton and Nelson. It is hoped that these schools will soon be in operation. The building at Reefton is now complete. Singing. —This is still neglected in sixty-five of our schools, but it is now taught more frequently than hitherto, for the number is twenty less than was recorded last year. Under the new syllabus the teaching of this subject becomes compulsory. We may suggest to the teachers of our smaller schools that singing by ear is better than none at all. As a slight interlude when passing from one lesson to another, there are few exercises so inspiriting as a song. A caution not untimely is conveyed by the framers of the new code when they say that the songs chosen should not exceed the range of the children's voices. Needlework. —In many cases this was examined by the Inspectors, whose judgment was considered by no means lenient. We found much advantage from carrying round samples from the better schools. Some teachers were inclined to think us hard, and such feeling is detrimental to progress, but on seeing what had been done in other schools similarly situated they usually brightened up, took heart of grace, and appeared determined to attempt improvement. Under the new syllabus simple garments are prescribed for each class. We are of opinion that this will bear severely on the female teachers who, when in charge of large classes, will probably require to work after hours in setting out the work and fixing the garments. As this is an extra subject for them, there appears no valid reason for making it exacting. Drill. —Classes for instruction of teachers have during the past year been held at Nelson, Westport, and Motueka, and the benefit accruing therefrom appears from the fact that the number of schools giving instruction in drill and physical training has been increased by thirty. Cadet corps have given an impetus to this study; we have corps in training at Nelson, Westport, Reefton, Denniston, Richmond, and Motueka. In accordance with the provisions of the Physical Drill Act of 1901 the Board has set apart the last half-hour of Wednesday for such practice. Under the newsyllabus, which contains a lengthy course of work, more importance is rightly attached to physical instruction. We recommend those that have not yet begun these lessons to make selections from the exercises therein set forth. The general tendency of the new syllabus is to develop the reasoning faculty and scientific observation rather than to impart an extensive knowledge of facts. Greater freedom of classification is granted, and the pass examination, except in certain cases, is practically dispensed with. The teacher's inclination is studied by allowing him some choice of subjects, but we very much regret that the minimum number is still far too high, no appreciable reduction on present requirements being allowed to a small school, where all classes must be taught by the one teacher, a species of school probably rare in countries whose codes have afforded the criterion. Scholarships. —-The examination for scholarships was conducted in accordance with the regulations lately adopted by the Board. The fact that the regulations were somewhat late in appearing may account for the apparently less interest taken in the competition. We give a risume of the salient points of the new scheme. The Board's scholarships are open only to candidates from places where they are out of reach of secondary education. The College Governors' scholarships, on the other hand, are intended to give the best of those at the district high schools an opportunity to prosecute further their secondary studies at Nelson College, and possibly there do university work. The Commissioners' free tuition scholarships are open to girls throughout the district from public and private schools alike, and whether within reach of secondary schools

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