E.—s

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training during the yea has been the establishment at Westport of classes in ironwork, a complete equipment for the teaching of this subject having been provided by the Department. The Westport classes are the only ones of their kind in the Dominion, and their progress will be watched with interest. The five classes conducted by Mr. Tomkies, through not commencing work till June, were unable to complete the sixty hours prescribed for a full years' course in the subject, but covered two-thirds of thatperiod, earning proportionate capitation. During 1908 181 girls in upper standards received instruction in dressmaking. These classes not proving altogether successful, the Board decided to confine the teaching of dressmaking to technical classes only. Technical Instruction. —In attendance and work carried out there has been a marked advance in technical instruction during the past year. Greater facilities have been provided for conducting classes having a direct bearing upon industries of the district, and in almost all cases these facilities have been well availed of by students. Domestic and art classes have become increasingly popular, and classes for instruction of farmers have been carried out on a scale not pre\ iously attempted. The roll-numbers of classes in the district were as follows : —Nrlson : Cookery. 68 ; dressmaking, 103 ; painting, 22 : drawing. 21: modelling. 6: plumbing, 11; building-construction, 8; machine-construction. 23: woodwork, 21; carving, 6; telegraphy, 15; electricity, 18; wool-classing, 14: commercial, 85; mathematics, 10; arithmetic, 49 ; English, 89 ; French, 11; geography, 11; proficiency certificate classes, 18 : total entries, 619. W'aimka District: Dressmaking, 57 ; agriculture. 42 ; wool-classing. 25; carpentry, 61 : total entries, 185. Bay District: Agriculture, 25; wool-classing. 11: total entries, 36. Reef to.v District : Drawing, 15 ; carpentry, 5 : total entries, 20. Westport District. Dressmaking. 20 : painting, 21 ; engineering, evening class, 28 ; engineering, day class, 6 ; commercial, 24; chemistry, ti : mechanical drawing, 6; mechanics, 6; arithmetic. 23: mathematics, 17; building-construction. '.) : drawing, 5 ; Latin.": English, 48 ; shorthand and typing, 14 ; geography, 20 : total entries, 270. The numbers of individuals enrolled in technical and continuation classes throughout the district are as follows : Nelson, 378 ; W'aimea, 134; Bays, 39 ; Westport, 172 ; Reefton, 20 : total, 740. One hundred and two pupils were granted free places at technical classes in Nelson District during 1909, compared with 33 for 1908. The following is a summary of the work undertaken in the five subdistriets :— Nelson: A very large increase in the number of students attending during the past year has at times taxed the accommodation of the school, which during the coming session will probably be found insufficient for the demands being made upon it. The equipment has been materially added to, through assistance of departmental grants, enabling further special apparatus for science art. and trades classes to be procured. The main feature of the year's work has been the establishment of a number of classes directly bearing upon several avenues of employment in the district. Mechanical drawing, thanks to the libera! assist atfee from the Anchor Foundry, has been very successfully I aught, and a class in telegraphy and telephony has received good support from the local Telegraph officials. A class in practical electricity and magnetism was a.lso inaugurated, and should become a permanent one on the syllabus of the school. A course in building-construction, on the lines required foi the South Kensington Examination, was carried on throughout the year, but did not meet with the measure of support it deserved. However, the Master Builders' Association having taken up the question of technical education for employees. I hope to see a full class in this subject, and also in stairensing and handrailing, during 1910. As most of the journeymen attending plumbing classes have now secured their certificates, these classes were not so well patronized as during the previous year. Commercial classes have experienced a marked increase in attendance, and have carried out very satisfactory work in shorthand, typing, and elementary book-keeping. There is scope, however, for instruction in advanced book-keeping. During the year a considerable number of students at commercial work have found employment in offices in '.he city. Instruction in drawing, painting, and modelling has been conducted with slightly increased attendance, but the art work at Nelson is considerably below the standard of that at Wanganui. Palmerston, and Timaru. The room in which the subjects are taught is not at all suited to requirements, and until we are in possession of a properly designed art room, well equipped, and in charge of an art master such as the centres above mentioned possess, we cannot expect to attain to the standard of work produced by them. If an agreement with the College Governors could be arrived at. 1 have no doubt that a capable man could be s cured whose services would be available for both Coil ge and Technical School. The effect of obtaining experienced teachers for the various branches of work is strikingly shown in the great increase in attendance and the improvement in work of the dressmaking classes. Under the excellent management of Miss Pitts the roll-number of dressmaking pupils increased from 26 to 103 ; and the work done was of a most creditable kind. It is much to be regretted that Miss Pitts's services could not be retained, but the Board is to be congratulated in securing such a capable successor as Miss Hosie. 1 have again to draw attention to the fact that no financial assistance towards the classes has been received during the year from local bodies. Nelson is one of the few tow ns of any importance in the Dominion where technical education is conducted without financial support from the .Municipality. As work progresses, classes have to be arranged in smaller divisions according to the various stages of advancement of pupils, and to cater adequately for the public this implies the same expenditure with decreased revenue per class. Hence outside support is becoming more necessary. I trust that during the coming year the Nelson City Council will see its way to afford that financial assistance to technical education which is elsewhere recognized by municipalities as one of the just claims upon their funds. Waimea District. The increase in roll-numbers from 36 to 189 is an indication of the advance of work in this district. By arrangement with the authorities of Stoke Orphanage, the Board's instructor in woodworkjhas been able to conduct much-appreciated£classes in farm carpentty at that