E.—s

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be accompanied by the form teacher, and therefore the class can be divided into two sections, and the ordinary school lesson repeated without any further disturbance of the time-table than occurs at present. This gives the school-teacher a small class for four periods in the week, whilst the same manual-training instructor can be responsible for the whole of the work done in the school. Though it is an undoubted convenience at times to be able to accommodate from thirty to forty boys under two instructors, yet it is very desirable that as far as possible each class should contain not more than twenty-six, and be under the control of one teacher. By dividing the school classes in the manner indicated, arrangements have been made for a much greater use of the West Christchurch Centre this year, and thus some lightening of the work at the- Normal Centre can be effected. 1 regret to say that the appeal to the School Committees for contributions towards prizes did not meet with as general a response as last year, and in consequence- the prizes awarded to the non-contributing schools were an inadequate recognition of the perseverance and good work shown by the pupils. I have again to thank the Committees of the Richmond, Papanui, and Elmwood Schools for their generous donations, and can only express the hope that this year their good example will be emulated by the Committees of the other schools. An exhibition of the work done in both cookery and woodwork classes was held at the Technical College in December, and was inspected and admired by a large number of visitors. Such an exhibition would be more stimulating to the pupils if a time was set apart when all the pupils who have been receiving instruction in these subjects could attend and see the work that has been done by the best of their schoolfellows. They would then realise what good work is possible. I hope that in future arrangements can be made for such a visit to take place. The Inspector-General, in his valuable report on educational institutions, has pointed 'put the great importance attached to manual training in America, its extension to all grades, and its co-relation with the rest of the work; and, as a result, he states that " school life becomes more interesting to the pupil, thoroughness and culture are not sacrificed, and ' social efficiency ' is secured much more certainly for most pupils than by time-honoured subjects and methods that have no practical outlook upon life." I can only express the hope that this is an indication that the time is not far distant when manual subjects will be compulsory for all schools for which such training is available. The educational value of this work has been too generally overlooked because its utility is so apparent. Under a wise teacher manual training not only enlarges the mental outlook, but gives new moral conceptions. Professor James, of Harvard, has said that in order to promote a good moral tone in a school he would " enormously increase " the amount of time given to manual work—a remarkable testimony from one of the foremost of living psychologists to the intrinsic value of subjects still sometimes regarded as undesirable intruders in our primary-school curriculum. John W. Howell, Director. Extract from the Report of the Director of the Christchurch Technical College. This institution has, for the first time in its history, been working under thoroughly satisfactory conditions, and I feel sure that the Department, the contributing bodies, and the general public will be alike assured that it is meeting a great and growing need. lam bound to say that, if the College were not successful, it would show either that the people of this district were not yet alive to the importance of technical education, or else that the management was bad and the staff incompetent. Through the far-seeing policy of the Education Board we are provided with a good site in a most convenient neighbourhood. The Department has given us not sumptuous buildings, it is true, but simple in arrangement and admirably adapted for their purpose. It has further supplied us with the furniture and apparatus that the demands of our classes have rendered necessary. The opportunities thus given us have been largely appreciated and, on the whole, well used. Much has yet to be done to make the work of the College known, and each one of us who is concerned in it hopes to do better work yet, but we have at least made a good start in this the first complete year of its existence. I am glad to be able to state that the support received from public bodies has been well maintained, and it is to this and to the live interest which their members have shown in our work that our success is so largely due, for it would otherwise happen that our efforts would be cramped by want of the means just necessary for their success. The contributions received have been as follows : City Council, £300 ; Selwyn County Council, £25 ; Sumner Borough Council, £10 ; New Brighton Borough Council, £5 ss. ; Trades and Labour Council, £10 ; Woolston Borough Council, £12 10s. ; Riccarton Road Board, £10 ; Schools Committees' Association, £2 2s. ; Canterbury Employers' Association, £10; Chamber of Commerce, £10: Canterbury Agricultural and Pastoral Association, £20; trades-unions, £15 25.; Christchurch Drainage Board, £10 ; Industrial Association, £10 : Making a total of £449 19s. During the year two additions have been made to our buildings—the Seddon Memorial Hall and the workshop for fitting and turning, the former being erected at a cost of about £1,450 and the latter about £400. The Seddon Hall is a most valuable adjunct to the day-school—indeed, the efficiency of our work would be se-riouslv impaired without it—and it will next session be much appreciated as a reading-room by the students of our evening school. Now that we have a habitation for it, the Board hopes that a real advance will be made with the library of technical handbooks, which is slowly being established and is greatly needed in Christchurch. Good use has already been made of our fitting and turning workshop, even"in the half-session during which it has been available, and in spite of the fact that we have been seriously hampered by the extraordinary dilatoriness of the Home firms in supplying equipment. . There has been a very gratifying increase in the numbers of our students, ihe largest total ot entries that we have ever had before was in the third term of 1907, and a comparison, therefore, with this period will he instructive. In the purely trades classes last year the average number of entries for the three terms was 127. while- for the last term of 1907 it was 319. an increase' of •'! I per cent. In