71

E.— 5

classes at that centre during the present year. As in former years, the programme in woodwork and cookery was made to correlate with the other class subjects, and most teachers now seem to realize the importance of this, as they are all anxious that their pupils should take advantage of the woodworkand cookery lessons : this is especially the case with respect to country schools Wherever it is possible, the pupils from country schools arc conveyed to woodwork and cookery classes thus giving them all the advantages of the town children in this respect. Swimming and life-saving has again received due attention in this district during the past year. and the subject was taught in all schools where it was practicable. In the upper standards of the town schools it is a rate thing to find a boy who cannot swim. The annual sports which took place last February brought out a good deal of competition, and some fine swimming records were put up. The Challenge Shield presented by the Board was won by the Marist Brothers' School. Timaru. As in most other districts of New Zealand, the interest in elementary agriculture as a school subject increases year by year. During the past year eighteen different schools were recognized as taking elementary agriculture, but many schools in the district have school gardens, which are not recognized, as the teachers cannot see their way to comply with the requirements. Mr. Cross was appointed by the Board to visit the schools ; he reported that the work done in all of the schools was of a high order : each school had its experimental plot where valuable experiments were conducted, and the aesthetic side had not been neglected, as all the gardens when visited were in a blaze with flowers. The Board has now appointed an agricultural instructor, and doubtless during the coming year there will be considerable development in this class of school work. During the year the Board carried on a special class in dressmaking at Hannaton. The class was well attended. Classes for teachers were conducted at Timaru in drawing and agriculture. Mr. William Greene had charge of the drawing, and Dr. rfilgendorf, from Lincoln College, the classes in agriculture. Both classes were well attended by teachers, the interest and enthusiasm being maintained up to the last. The Technical Inspector visited this district last July, and reported favourably on all the classes he had had an opportunity of seeing at work. In conclusion 1 have to thank the Central Department at Wellington for the fairness and promptitude with which all claims for capitation and applications for grants were met. I have also to thank teachers of handwork classes for their loyal support in carrying on the work during the past year. Ritchings Grant, Director. Extract from the Report of the Managers of the Timaru Associated Classes. The 1909 session began on the 19th April, and lasted for twenty-six weeks, making two terms of thirteen weeks each. The Managers have made several attempts to prolong the session, but experience lias proved that there, is very little use in starting the classes before " the Easter holidays," or keeping the school going after October. Students will not attend the school during the summer evenings, and diminished attendance means running the school at a loss. In July last the school suffered an irreparable loss by the death of the Chairman. Mr. John Jackson. Mr. Jackson was one of the founders of the Technical Association, and he had been a Manager of the school since its inception. For the last two years he had occupied the position of Chairman. Mr. Jackson was always ready to help on the cause of education, and he was a great factor in the development of technical education in Timaru. Early in the year 1908 the Government granted the sum of £2,500 for the purpose of making additions to the Technical School. These additions were completed, and the building was made ready for occupation by the end of February, 1909. At the invitation of the Managers, the Hon. George Fowlds, Minister of Education, visited Timaru on the 22nd of April, and performed the opening ceremony. The erection of the handsome building has done much to promote the growth of technical education in Timaru. More classes can now be taken than formerly, and not only that, the classes can be conducted with a gr. ater degree of comfort both to students and to teachers. Although the school has shown a considerable increase in the number of students during the year, there is still plenty of room for development, especially in what might be called the purely technical subjects. The attendance at art subjects is not what it should be in a place like Timaru ; but with the appointment of Mr. William Greene as art instructor, the Managers hope to see a big development in this department of the school. A pleasing feature of the year's work was the excellent class for farmers and others, conducted by .Mr. F. H. Harte, in wool-classing. This class of work requires developing in connection with the school, and the Managers expect when the agricultural instructor appointed by the Board arrives from Home that other classes will be conducted on similar lines. The following gives the list of classes and the number of students enrolled in each class during the year: Commercial arithmetic, 35; ambulance work, 26; book-keeping, 29; cookery, 25; drainage, 13; dressmaking, 21: English, 32; elocution, 10; electricity, 17; German, b'; building-construction, 9 ; home nursing (two classes), 20 and 12 ; carving, 8 ; photography, 9 ; plumbing. 22 ; senior English, 13 ; shorthand —Gregg's 7, Pitman's 15 ; typing, 23 ; Standard VI work, 12 ; wool-classing, 24; woodwork, 11; art classes, 15: total, 417 class entries. During the year the Managers paid visits of inspection at different times to the various classes under their control. The Technical Inspector, Mr. E. C. Isaac, paid the school an official visit last July. His report, which has already been published, was altogether a very favourable one. At the end of the session examinations were held in the different subjects, and certificates were issued to successful candidates. Mr. Mark Kershaw also conducted examinations to enable plumbers and drain-layers to obtain licenses from the Borough Council. A Sixth Standard examination was also held by the Inspectors, to enable students attending the Standard VI class to gain certificates of proficiency. By the strictest economy the finances of the association are kept in a sound condition. The statement of assets and liabilities shows a credit balance of £150. This must be considered highly satisfactory when the increased expenditure in connection with the opening of the new building is taken into account. It should be pointed out, however, that but for the voluntary contributions of the public and contributing bodies, the school