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junior plumbing class, on the'other hand, was well supported, the attendance at practical mathematics and general experimental science of the subject always being most encouraging. The equipment of the engineering workshop enabled us to lay down a more definite and complete course in mechanical engineering, and at the same time created considerable interest in the subject. It has already been found necessary to ask for additional machinery. Further, to give training in the complete course provision is being made for a pattern-making department, which it is hoped will be in operation next year. Another new class that apparently supplied a want and was attended by a small|band of enthusiastic students was that for cabinetmaking. Mr. Marlow, who examined the class, reports, " The pupils seem to have had a thorough grounding in the essentials of the trade ; the exhibitions of lap dovetailing, mitre dovetailing, knuckle hinges, and rub jointing being excellent, and reflecting credit on the pupils and their instructor. The exhibits of the pupil placed first are such that any tradesmanjmight be proud of." According to the examiners' reports, the division of the painter's work, with a teacher to each branch, has also been productive of good results. Mr. A. Gillies, one of the examiners, writes, " I cannot present my report without expressing pleasure at the quality of the work. The pupils are more advanced this year, and the work is really a credit to the class and the master. In order to draw attention to the value of the work, I wouldjjust like to point out that of the seven submitting work for inspection no fewer than four were* journeymen. If these men think it an advantage to attend the class, surely it must be much more so to lads serving their apprenticeship. The wisdom of appointing separate teachers for the signwriting and for the graining and marbling classes has, in my opinion, justified itself." Mr. Osborne, who examined the signwriting, reports, " I can with a certain amount of pleasure testify to the general proficiency attained by the students. From a practical wage-earning point of view the work shows good promise, and the executive, as also the teacher, in the above, section are to be complimented on the proficiency which is evident at the close of this year's session. The tuition has been of a thoroughly practical nature, as evidenced by painstaking effort in the work of even the less advanced students." The other technical classes have been so frequently reviewed and their results summarized that there is no necessity to enter into a detailed criticism of their working during the year. A matter, however, that should not be overlooked is the fact that the classes in agriculture, agricultural chemistry, and botany had to be abandoned because practically no students applied for instruction in these subjects. A most pleasing and striking feature of the work was the regularity of attendance maintained throughout the entire session. In previous years the average attendance has during the second term invariably fallen about 20 per cent., but this year the decrease, was less than 3 per cent., a fact indicative of sustained enthusiasm and interest in their own progress by the students themselves. Another tribute to the success of our efforts is the quite unsolicitedjrecognition that has been accorded to the instruction given in several branches taught in our school. The following instances are worthy of note. During the session the Dunedin Drainage Board, on its own initiative, arranged with me for a conference whereat its representatives expressed strong approval of the school syllabus for instruction in plumbing. The ultimate result of the conference was an agreement between the Drainage Board and the Board of Management of the school whereby the value of the, school training in plumbing is officially recognized, the school examinations are substituted for those of the Drainage Board, and concessions in time are granted apprentices completing the full technical course. Next, after having seen our students at work, Professor Park, Director of the School of Mines, arranged with his Council that mining students at the University shall take part of their course in mechanical drawing, machine-construction, and practical mechanics at the Dunedin Technical School. Again, Dr. Falconer, resident medical officer at the Dunedin Hospital, in his published report for 1908, when referring to the establishment at the Dunedin Technical School of the physiology class for nurses states, " I have hopes that this class will be the forerunner of that school becoming recognized as a preliminary training school for nurses, teaching the subjects of physiology, cooking, domestic economy, and hygiene. This would prevent the nurses being unduly taxed with studies during their hospital career here, and allow them more time for the study of medical and surgical nursing." Free Places.—hi 1908 there were 347 holders of free places in attendance, this year only 247, a decrease of 108, which corresponds almost exactly to the reduction in the number of proficiency certificates issued to scholars of the city and suburban schools at the end of 1908. Quite a number of the applications for free places were from the holders of competency certificates, and had consequently to be refused. Making the attainment of the proficiency certificate more difficult, and so rendering a larger number of young people ineligible for free places at a technical school, seems to me to be prejudicially affecting those most in need of a continuation education. This is in striking contrast to the principle embodied in Mr. Sidey's Bill, whereby he seeks to make provision for at least a two-years compulsory continuation education. To girls holding only a Sixth Standard competency certificate, and wishing to take up the study of purely domestic subjects in a technical school, some concession should be granted. Day Classes. —At the beginning of the year provision was made for afternoon classes, comprising a technical course, a commercial course, and a domestic course. Owing to the opening of these classes being delayed until April, sufficient students were not forthcoming to justify the carrying-on of the technical course. The commercial course was, however, attended throughout the year by thirty-seven students, and the full domestic course by thirty-five. Although the arrangements were for the most part temporary, very satisfactory work was done. In order to amplify the above-mentioned courses and increase their efficiency, arrangements are now being made for a full day staff to begin work in February. The technical course will embrace elementary chemistry, mechanics, and physics (including measurements), woodwork and ironwork, elementary and practical mathematics, drawing, graphical arithmetic and mensuration, and general English, the object being to form a groundwork suitable for the various woodworking trades, building trades, and branches of engineering. The commercial course (to be held in the afternoons only) will include shorthand, typewriting, book-keeping, penmanship, and commercial correspondence, precis-wnting, commercial arithmetic, and commercial English. In the domestic course provision has already been made for needlework, dressmaking, general housewifely,