E.—s

Commercial Classes : Mr. Cox, A.N.Z.A.A., has served the Board well, his appointment having done much to consolidate the commercial classes. There is no lack of students for commercial subjects, and much capital work has been done. Boys are now, one is pleased to find, turning their attention to the trades with much benefit to themselves and the community. Other classes call for little comment. They have all done good work, and the students have shown much interest in their studies. The number of students who entered for the examinations of the City and Guilds of London Institute and the Board of lid mat ion. London, and the results obtained, were tar in advance of any previous year, and a credit to both students and teachers. Twent v-loiir students passed the former and sixtyeight the latter examinations. Mr. E. C. Isaac, Organizing Inspector of the Education Department, visited the school in September last. We have to thank him for many valuable suggestions. The exhibition of school-work in December was well attended, and did much to make our work known in the town and district. To advertise our Engineering Section we sent exhibits to the Agricultural Shows at Palmerston North, Wanganui, and Hawera, where they secured very favourable Press notices and much attention from the public. In March the school swimming sports were held, and proved most enjoyable. In June last a fire occurred in the plumbing-room. The damage was quite covered by insurance. The number of individual students last year was 846. Marton. —The classes here were again small. Mr. Cox's book-keeping classes lapsed at the end of the second quarter. The wool-classing class received good support, and much good work was done. Turakina. A most successful class in home nursing was conducted by Nurse Creech. Hunterville. —Very good work was done in dressmaking and wool-classing. Taihape. —The Hon. G. Fowlds opened the school in February. The classes were well attended, and give promise of doing very good work. Successful dressmaking classes were also conducted at Utiku, Rata, and Mangaweka. BuWs. —Satisfactory classes were conducted in this centre, especially in building-construction and woodwork. The staffs at the various schools have all worked untiringly ; especially has this been the case in Wanganui. In technical work the key to success is the capable, enthusiastic teacher, and without exception in our large central school the instructors have worked well. Of the students, also. \ should like to record my appreciation. They have done well. Extract from the Report of the Director of the Northern District (Mr. Browxe). For 1909 I have to report a very successful year's work. Classes were field at Eltham. Manaia, Hawera. Patea, Waverley. Kaponga, Kapuni, Mangatoki. Matapu, Okaiawa, Alton Uurlevville, and Kakaramea. The total number of students for the year was 1,240, an increase of 432 on last year's figures, while the individual students numbered 735, an increase of 137. A pleasing feature in connection with the classes has been that in the smaller centres, where during 1908 dressmaking classes only were held, this year various others found a footing, and did good work. This was due partly to the great interest taken by the local directors in those centres, partly to the extension of the system of itinerant instructors. We have been very fortunate in commanding the services of good instructors throughout the year. A meed of praise is due to these for the spirit shown in carrvinu through their work, fair weather or fold. This district guaranteed the salary of a Commercial Instructor for six months. Mr. Ilawson. of Palmerston North, was appointed, and. except as regards finances, his classes were a decided success. During the year- the Misses Young resigned, and Miss Dandy, of Feilding, took charge of the dressmaking classes. Owing to one cause and another dressmaking has had a set-back during the year, but there is every prospect of an improvement in 1910. The millinery classes under Mrs. Anderson have met with great success in Hawera. During the third term these classes have been extended to the country districts with a fair amount of success. Too late a start was made this year, but with two first-rate instructors available, millinery classes should next year take a prominent place. The art classes under Mr. Richardson have had a very satisfactory year. He worked hard to make his classes successful, and has met with distinct encouragement. A show of work at Patea and another at Hawera evoked considerable interest. A very successful class for bee-keeping was held at Hawera. Already inquiries are being made as to the prospect of holding classes in the outlying districts during next year. The South Taranaki Beekeepers' Association deserves credit for the way in which it supported the classes. All the leading members enrolled. Our district did not get the services of the Board's expert in wool-classing until the third term, when strong classes were formed at Waverley and at Patea. The students uniformly spoke in high praise of the work taken. Donations have come in fairly freely. but we have as vet no regular amounts on which we can depend. There is occasionally, therefore. some difficulty in arranging the amounts to be allowed for salaries. This is not in the best interests of the classes, and an attempt is being made to place salaries on a better footing. At all the centres except Patea and Waverley all fees for the year have been collected. This is a big improvement on previous years, but we had hoped to show a clean sheet. Hawera is now provided with a Technical School suited to the needs of the district. Arrangements are almost completed by which a section at the rear of the building is secured to the school. This is to be used for a model apiary, poultry-runs, &c, and also for experimental work in agriculture. Those buildings in which District High School classes are regularly held are not looked alter as they might be : greater attention is to be paid to these in the future. A difficulty frequently referred to is the want of funds to allow of the employment of a responsible caretaker.

ti—E. 5.

41