E.—s

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efficiency of specialized groups of muscles, and of the brain and sense organs in connection with them, imperiously to mutilate our education ; and it is the more serious in the case of the many children whose faculties for work, discipline, and constructive mental effort can best, or only, be developed in this way." . What is greatly needed is a closer co-ordination between the work of the manual-training .centre and the work of the school; but this can only be done by sympathetic revision of the schemes of work now in use, and by a spread of the knowledge of the aims and methods of manual training. If manual training is of importance to the pupils in our schools it is surely urgent that those who are going to be teachers should know something about its principles and practice, and that these should be included in their regular course of training. Classes for teachers in cookery and woodwork have been held on Saturday mornings alternating with the class in agriculture ; the attendance at the cookery class has been quite satisfactory, but at woodwork disappointing. Country classes have been held for dressmaking at Cheviot, and for wool-classing at Cheviot, Spye, Waiau, and Hawarden. These classes have been altogether successful, and have been much appreciated by the students. John H. Howell, Director of Manual Training. Extract from the Report on Special, Classes at Kaiapoi. During the past year the attendance at the classes showed a slight fall in comparison with the previous year. This perhaps may be explained by one or two classes being discontinued owing to lack of support. The dressmaking classes have been extremely popular during this season, and the students turned out some excellent work. The woodwork class was enthusiastically appreciated by those pupils who attended, but lam sorry to say that the class was not a large one. With regard to woodcarving, the season opened with a large class, and continued through two terms. The millinery class received only fair support during the first two terms, but the attendance improved during the last term. The cookery class, for some unaccountable reason, does not attract as many pupils as one would expect. It was held for one term with a good attendance, but as very few pupils were forthcoming for the second term the Committee decided to close it. The class for book-keeping was conducted for one term, and was fairly well attended. Generally speaking the classes were attended fairly satisfactorily, and the work turned out by the pupils on the whole has been excellent. As time goes on technical instruction seems to be more and more appreciated, and during the coming session the Committee have decided, in response to numerous requests and applications, to endeavour to add several subjects to the curriculum. Extract from the Report on Special Classes at Leeston and Doyleston. The class for woodwork was small, but was well attended. The class was closed for the winter months on account of the small number on the roll. The class for ironwork was well attended, and some good work was done. The dressmaking classes have been large, and are improving each year ; the instructress, Miss L. M. Rennie, is well pleased with the results. The cookery class for school-children has been well attended, and the pupils have benefited by the instruction given. Extract prom the Report on Special Classes at Lincoln. During the year classes were held for cookery and woodwork. The cookery classes have been attended with excellent results, and the students have greatly benefited by Miss Renuie's instruction. In the case of the woodwork class good work was done by the few pupils who attended. Extract from the Report on Special Classes at Amberley. Owing to lack of interest it was found desirable to discontinue the cookery class. Classes in millinery and dressmaking were established, which for two terms were well attended; a falling off, however, took place in the third term, which, so far as the dressmaking class is concerned, seemed to be accounted for by the change from the chart system of former years. Donations, and subsidy thereon, from the Kowai Road Board and the Amberley Town Board made it possible to carry on the classes as usual. Thirty-three students were admitted during the year. Extract prom the Report on Special Classes at Southbridge and Darfield. At Southbridge during 1911 only dressmaking classes were carried on for three terms. Good work was done, but the attendance fell off considerably. At the end of the year the Committee thought it better to discontinue the classes for the present, pending fresh arrangements. A class for agricultural chemistry was again held at Darfield, the interest in which was maintained throughout the session, a number of the students continuing their studies for several evenings after the close of the course in spite of the fact that the instructor was unable to be present.