E.—s

The Board has observed with pleasure that wider recognition of the work and possibilities of the Technical School has been accorded during the past year by various public bodies. Dr. Falconer, the Hospital House Surgeon, has recommended to his Board that our classes in physiology and cookery be recognized as giving sufficient instruction in these subjects for probationers seeking to qualify as hospital nurses. The Drainage Board has resolved that in future apprentices attending the plumbing classes at the Technical School will be given concessions in length of service and in examinations. Professor Park, the Director of the Otago School of Mines, has arranged with his Council that all mining students should take the necessary mechanical drawing at the Technical School. The Board would urge upon the Employers' Association, the Trades and Labour Council, the various trades-unions, and such local bodies as the Harbour Board and the suburban Municipal Councils, that they should take a direct interest in the work of the school by subscribing to its maintenance, and thus securing pro rota representation on its Board. The Board would also suggest that employers should examine the courses of study laid down in such trade subjects as painters' work, cabinetmaking, carpentry, plumbing, engineering, and electrical science, and that they should recommend their workmen and apprentices to take advantage of the same. Any recommendations they may feel disposed to make with regard to the syllabus in these subjects will be welcomed and carefully considered. In consideration- of the importance attaching to the classes for mechanical engineering, the Board think that provision should be made before next year for the appointment of a permanent instructor in this subject who would give his whole time to the work. As soon also as it can be done, the same provision should be made for a permanent instructor in building-construction. When the new buildings now erected on the present site were completed it was thought that the space provided would serve the needs of the school for many years to come : already, however, the demands of these trade classes and the growing need for more complete practical instruction in domestic economy point to the necessity for further extension of the premises. This matter will require the serious consideration of the new Board, in order to keep up the high level of efficiency which the school has already attained. Three of the University professors continue to offer free places to the best student of the year in physics, chemistry, and English. The Board would suggest that this principle might be extended with great advantage in the case of other classes for which the Technical School prepares its students. A copy of statement of receipts and expenditure accompanying this report gives the credit balance at end of year as £21 7s. Id. on the 31st December, but since that date the capitation and allowances for the second term have been received, and form a substantial balance Geo. M. Thomson, Chairman. Extract prom the Report of the Director op the Dunedin Technical School. Including 8 held in country districts, the total number of separate classes regularly conducted throughout the year was 93, an increase of 7on last year's number. Of the 85 Dunedin classes, 13 were for continuation subjects, 28 for commercial subjects, and 43 for technical subjects. These figures are significant, for this is the first year in the history of the school that the strictly technical classes have formed a majority of the whole. The number of individual students attending the Dunedin School at any time during the year was 856, a reduction of 138 on last year's attendance. The number of these classes in the various subjects of instruction, and the attendance thereat, were as follows, the attendances for the first term being shown in parentheses : English, senior, two classes, (56), 38 ; English, intermediate, two classes, (56), 60 ; English, junior, four classes, (129), 100 ; French, junior, (11), 10 ; Latin, senior, (11), 9 ; Latin, junior, (15), 17 ; elocution, two classes, (14), 11 ; mathematics, senior, (11), 9 ; mathematics, junior, (10), 12 ; commercial arithmetic, junior, two classes, (76), 69 ; commercial arithmetic, intermediate, three classes (84) 63; commercial arithmetic, senior, two classes, (60), 51 ; typewriting, five classes, (100), 87 ; shorthand, eight classes, (124), 111 ; commercial correspondence, three classes, (90), 77; commercial law, (9), 9; book-keeping, senior and junior, four classes, (114), 96; penmanship and correspondence, (31), 31 ; commercial geography, (29), 26 ; elementary science, , (3l), 31 ; electrical science, (33), 19 ; physics, heat, and electricity, (7), 9 ; chemistry, (23), 16 ; painters' work, two classes, (22), 16 ; plumbing, theory and practical, (49), 43 ; practical mathematics, senior and junior, (56), 43 ; mechanical engineering, senior and junior, (51), 38 ; mechanical engineering, advanced, (12), 14 ; engineering, workshop, four classes, (57), 41 ; carpentry, (10), 9 ; cabinetmaking, (11), 8 ; wood-carving, three classes, (47), 44 ; dressmaking, eight classes, (110), 132 ; needlework, two classes, (51), 54 ; tailors' cutting, (4), 4 ; cookery andgdomestic economy, 10 classes, (142), 129 ; horticulture, (0), 17 ; physiology, two classes, (51), 49. Referring now to subjects of instruction, I have to point out that the classes in the continuation subjects have, for working purposes, recently been limited in size, and this has been found conducive to efficient and effective teaching. In commercial subjects students now more often attend a course of instruction rather than isolated or individual branches as formerly. In book-keeping, typewriting, and commercial correspondence the high standard set continues to be maintained. In the final examination for certificates in shorthand the stringent conditions of the Pitman examination were adopted, and, although as a result fewer certificates were awarded, those hereafter issued will undoubtedly have an enhanced value. Law is the only subject of the commercial course that languishes and is carried on at a loss ; yet a knowledge of the subject seems essential to successful office-work. The so-called technical classes were not only well attended, but were, generally speaking, successful to a greater extent than in former years; and in this department also students are becoming more given to a course than to individual subjects. But the tendency to omit the study of the essentials forming, as it were, the basis continues. For example, half of the students that enrolled for electrical science must have themselves realized as the work advanced that their knowledge of mathematics or elementary physics was deficient, and thus upon them at least much valuable teaching was lost; and this notwithstanding the fact that preparatory classes are held for special instruction in these branches. In senior plumbing, again, those attending the practical class were frequently absent from theory. The

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