E— 6

38

Extract from the Report of the Director of the " Elam " School of Art. The attendance of students during the year lias been more evenly distributed among the various classes than in any previous year, and this has naturally been an advantage to the staff of the school, and has enabled them to cope more satisfactorily with the work than was possible in some previous years, when some classes were almost too large and some very poorly attended. This year all classes have been well attended, and the attendance has been maintained up to the end of the year. An extraordinarily wet winter and the illness consequent thereon had the effect of reducing the attendance during that part of the year which is generally the best attended, but with this exception the attendance has been regular and the average good. 31,611 attendances were registered during the year. A great deal of excellent work has been done, and on two occasions the school made a very creditable display of its productions. At the International Exhibition at Christchurch, although the exhibit wan only a small one, gold, silver, and bronze medals, and certificates were awarded to several students of the school, and the annual report of the Inspectors of Technical Education to the Minister contained the following: " The specimens of the work of art students exhibited at the Christchurclr Exhibition provided a very interesting and instructive display. We would mention in particular the work of students of the ' Elam ' School of Art, the Wellington Technical Sohool, and the Canterbury College School of Art." The other display, also necessarily a small one, was at the Arts and Crafts Exhibition of the Auckland' Society of Arts, and received a good deal of attention from both public and Press. I shall be very glad when the school is able to hold an annual exhibition of its work in its own rooms, as there is not sufficient opportunity of letting the public know what is being done. There are about 350 students on the roll of the school at the present time, many of these coming long distances from the country to attend the classes. The classes in .modelling and wood-carving have been well attended, and excellent work has been done. These classes are becoming more popular every year, and I anticipate a considerable increase in the number of students in the coming year. Referring to these classes, the report of the Inspector of Technical Education on the school contains the following: " Specially good work is also done in carving and modelling." E. W. Patton, Director. Statement of Receipts and Expenditure for the Tear ending 81st December, 1907, in respect of Associated Classes conducted at Auckland, by the Managers of the "Elam " School of Art. Receipts. £ s. d. Expenditure. £ s. d. Balance at beginning of year .. .. 68 1 6 Salaries of instructors .. .. .. 747 11 8 Capitation on associated classes .. .. 401 13 0 Office expenses (including salaries, sta Rent .. .. .. .. .. 30 0 0 j tionery, &c.) .. .. .. .. 55 18 8 Furniture, fittings, apparatus .. .. 20 19 9 j Advertising and printing.. .. .. 17 17 6 Subsidies on voluntary contributions .. 200 00 ' Lighting and heating .. .. .. 20 2 7 Fees .. .. .. .. .. 38 3 0 Insurance and repairs .. .. .. 2 18 From the trustees for the " Elam" School , Material for olass use .. .. .. 5 3 1 of Art .. .. .. .. 250 19 11 | Life models .. .. .. .. 815 0 Sundries .. .. .. .. 4 6 10 Furniture, fittings, and apparatus .. 38 18 8 Balance at end of year .. .. .. 109 1 6 £1,009 17 2 [ £1,009 17 2 Sam. Jackson, Chairman 1 ... E. W. Patton, Secretary } of Mana gers.

TARANAKI. Extract from the Report of the Education Board. The Education Department provided funds for the erection of a Technical School on St. Michael's Square. The building is one of the finest of its kind in the Dominion, being well equipped for present needs, and in most respects up to date. A plumbing-room has now been added to the building, and affords every convenience for the teaching of this subject. The wood-work-room at Stratford was fitted up for a cookery-room, and it was found necessary to approach the Department for a grant for a new woodwork-room. On the application being granted, a large room for the teaching of this subject was erected at the back of the main building. Elementary handwork was taken at thirty-eight schools, and sewing under the Manual Regulations at ten. In addition to the above, manual work, as defined by clauses 22-27 of the Regulations for Manual and Technical Instruction, was recognised in sixty-two cases, the subjects embracing woodwork; cookery, botany, dairying, advanced needlework, elementary agriculture, sw-imming and lifesaving, elementary measurements, chemistry, and elementary physiology. Considerable progress has been made in technical education, especially agriculture. Extract from the Report of the Inspectors of Schools. Handwork. —lt is now universally recognised that, in our primary schools, we should aim at equipping the pupil not only in literary acquirements, but in such subjects as are likely to be of use to him after leaving school. He should be given the power to readily acquire any mechanical