8.—5

64

WESTLAND. Extract from the Report of the Education Board. (1.) Model and brush drawing: A teachers' class was in operation for seventeen weeks under the ■tuition of Mr. G. E. Bickerton ; 30 teachers attended. (2.) Elementary agriculture : School-gardens were maintained in connection with 5 schools. (3.) Physical measurements: In the Hokitika District High School the tuition in this subject was arranged to include four school classes. (4.) Handwork : School classes were recognized in 13 schools.

Statement of Receipts and Expenditure for the Year ending 31st December, 1911, in respect of Special Classes conducted at Hokitika.

NORTH CANTERBURY. EXTEAOT FROM THE REPORT OF THE EDUCATION BOARD. The report of the Director of Manual Training on the school classes held in Christchurch, and the reports from the several outlying centres on manual and technical classes generally, are appended. The lease of the building known as the School of Domestic Instruction (Christchurch), in which cookery and laundry-work classes have been carried on for some years, terminated in July, 1911. A new up-to-date centre has been established in Sydenham, in which classes from a number of the,city and suburban schools will now be accommodated. In his report Mr. Howell refers to the value of manual training and to the need of a closer co-ordination between this work and that of the primary schools. Holding as it does the opinion that the inclusion of manual work among the subjects of the publicschool syllabus is not only of great advantage, but that without it the primary education of pupils cannot be regarded as complete, the Board cordially invites the co-operation of head teachers in its endeavour to see that every boy and every girl within the reach of a manual-training centre receives instruction in some form of handicraft or domestic science. During the year in 96 schools classes in one or other of the several forms of handwork have been carried on, and 55 classes in swimming and life-saving have been continued. In elementary agriculture, covering practical instruction in schoolgarden work, the previous interest has been well sustained, no fewer than 111 schools having participated. As regards technical work, at the Christchurch Technical College there has been a still further increase in the number of pupils attending both day and evening classes, in the former the number having reached 341 and in the latter 1,301. With so large a roll number, and with a time-table providing for so many and such diverse subjects, the accommodation hitherto available has been taxed to the utmost. The erection of a domestic-science wing and additional workshops, however, has placed matters on a more favourable footing, and when the laboratory now in course of erection is completed the work of the College will be carried -Out under the most favourable circumstances. The Board desires to congratulate the Board of Managers on their enterprise in establishing a Girls' Training Hostel, and to express the belief that this institution will be of great value to girl students desirous of acquiring a thorough knowledge of domestic training. Technical classes have been continued at all other established centres. At Ashburton a new technical school, now in course of erection, will increase the facilities hitherto existing, and the appointment of a director, of which at the date of this report the Board is advised, will still further stimulate the interest in the work. The new technical school at Kaiapoi is now in use, the classes being under the direct supervision of an associated Board of Managers. It is a matter for regret that at Akaroa there has been no extension of manual and technical work, and that classes in operation have not been so well attended as usual. At other centres the work has been continued on previous lines. In August last the Rangiora High School Board and the local Board of Managers jointly submitted a proposal that the Education Board should transfer its powers as controlling authority to the Rangiora High School Board, the chief reasons advanced being that under the arrangement then existing there was considerable overlapping in the work, and that the contemplated change would do away with a considerable dissipation of teaching - energy. The Education Board offered no objection so far as technical classes were concerned, subject to adequate provision being made for school classes, and the proposal was thereupon approved by the Department and carried into effect.

Receipts. lalance at beginning of year Japitation on special classes ipecial grant for training of teachers £ s. d. 37 6 1 6 15 9 100 0 0 Expenditure. £ s. d. Salaries of instructors .. .. .. 17 17 0 Office expenses (including salaries, stationery, &c) .. .. .. .. 10 13 6 Lighting, heating, and cleaning .. .. 1 11 6 Rent .. .. .. .. .. 456 Material for class use .. .. .. 14 7 8 Travelling-expenses of teachers .. .. 34 6 0 Balance at end of year .. .. .. 61 0 8 £144 1 10 £144 1 10 Chas. Kirk, Secretary.