■29

X.—l.

The number of public schools in which handwork was taught was ... .... .... .... .... 1,240 The number of pupils under instruction was ... .... 116,538 The percentage of total roll number under instruction was ... 76-5 The payments by way of capitation, grants, and subsidies in aid of classes amounted to .... .... .... U20,536 18s. Bd. The average cost per pupil was .... .... .... 3s. 6'3d. The number of specially equipped centres for cookery, laundrywork, woodwork, and ironwork is now about fifty. Increasing attention continues to be given to instruction in elementary agriculture. School gardens, experimental and observation plots, and, in many cases, suitable laboratory practice, form, special features of the instruction, which in several districts is supervized by special itinerant instructors. The increase for the year in the number of classes was sixty-one. Suitable instruction in dairy-work is in many cases included in the course of instruction in agriculture. The total average attendance at classes for agriculture and dairying was 9,184. It has been felt that the courses of instruction at many of the district high schools, most of which are located in rural districts, have not, for various reasons, been as intimately related to rural pursuits as they should be if the schools are properly to fulfil their functions. With the view of assisting the Education Boards, some of which have for sonic time past been endeavouring to arrange suitable courses of rural instruction in connection with the secondary departments of district high schools, provision has been made for a special capitation payment of t's 10s. per annum on account of each pupil taking an approved course of agricultural instruction. It is expected that with the aid of the additional funds so provided Education Boards will be enabled to make more satisfactory arrangements for efficient instruction than have hitherto been possible. There are indeed indications already that in several districts fairly full courses will shortly be arranged. In several cases special itinerant instructors have been or are about to be appointed. It may be pointed out that it has been found possible to arrange a course which, besides having a direct bearing on rural pursuits, provides also for the needs of pupils preparing for the Matriculation or Civil Service Junior Examinations. The progress of the proposed schemes will be watched with much interest. Practical instruction in various branches of elementary science was given to nearly fifty recognized classes. In this connection it may be noted that there are now over twenty well-equipped laboratories available for instruction in science in connection with primary and district high schools. In the case of several of the latter schools laboratory-work forms an important part of the course of agricultural instruction. In schools where laboratories are not yet available, courses in elementary physical measurements such as may conveniently be carried out in ordinary class-rooms are found to afford excellent opportunities for individual practical work. Such courses were taken by about 100 classes. The total average attendances at classes for elementary natural and experimental science was 5,181. As in previous years, several classes received assistance in the way of voluntary contributions in money and in kind from local bodies, agricultural associations, members of the farming community, and others. Such contributions carry a (lovernment subsidy of i'l for £1. The amount distributed by way of subsidies in 1909 was about £430. In 1901, the year in which the present scheme of manual instruction may be said to have been inaugurated, very few of the then existing district high schools were provided with any facilities for hand-and-eye or science training. At the present time over 50 per cent, of the district high schools have been provided with buildings and equipment for the teaching of one or more of the