75

E.—s

owing to the insufficiency of tlie staff. This seems rather a pity, as much of tho value of the work is lost by being discontinued in the upper standards. Last year 15 schools with no female teacher received financial assistance from the Department under the Manual and Technical Act by the appointment of outside instructors in needlework. In addition to the above, 97 classes for manual instruction wore .recognized by the Department. These include the classes held in connection with the special agricultural courses at Temuka and Pleasant Point. Nineteen classes were held in woodwork and 17 classes in cookery at Timaru, Temuka, Waimate, Pleasant Point, and Fairlie. In woodwork the syllabus of instruction was much the same as in previous years, and correlated as far as possible with the work of the standard classes. The district high school pupils taking the agricultural course of work were given lessons that had a decided trend to practical farm carpentry, the exercises comprising gates, troughs, &c, and the joints most useful in framed wooden buildings. The interest taken in the work by all grades of pupils is very gratifying, and the large number of excellently finished models comploted at the end of the year is good evidence of careful and accurate observation on their part. In cookery advantage was taken of the Department's amended regulations, 1911, to carry out a course of instruction in cookery, domestic economy, and domestic hygiene. This course was successfully carried out at Timaru, Temuka, and Waimate, and of necessity gave a great deal of extra work and trouble to the instructors, as they were required to give sixty hours' instruction during the year instead of forty as heretofore. Swimming and life-saving has again received due attention at all the large schools where public baths are available. It is now a rare thing to find a boy or a girl in the upper standards who cannot swim, and in the lower standards also a great deal of instruction is given. The country schools still labour under great disadvantage from the fact that no public baths are available in which to give instruction. It is hard to find any means of overcoming this difficulty. The annual sports, which took place last February, brought out a good deal of competition, and some fine records for boys were put up. The challenge shield presented by the Board was won by the Marist Brothers' School, Timaru. Valuable book prizes were given to successful competitors. Thirty classes were recognized in elementary agriculture, a considerable increase over previous years. The interest taken in the subject grows year by year, and one has only to inspect the displays made by the schools at the different shows of the horticultural societies in the district to appreciate the good work that is being done. There are still some schools in the district that might take up agriculture with advantage to themselves. The Department makes a liberal allowance for the purchase of tools, and the Board provides seeds, &c, out of the moneys granted for capitation. The Department also gives a pound-for-pound subsidy on all moneys raised for school-gardens, to enable such work as digging, ploughing, or fencing to be done. Agricultural courses of instruction wei;e also carried out at Temuka and Pleasant Point. From a financial point of view the school classes have been self-supporting, as when all capitation claims have been paid over by tho Department there will be a small credit balance on the year's work. This is gratifying, because there has been no stint in the supply of material and apparatus, and at the same time there has been no waste. In conclusion, I have to state that all teachers in manual and technical subjects have been enthusiastic in their work. They are ever ready to adopt the latest methods. I have to thank all the teachers for their loyal co-operation in carrying out the work. I desire also to place on record the promptness and fairness with which all claims were met by the Central Department. Richings Grant, Director.

Statement of Receipts and Expenditure in respect of School, Special, and Associated Classes for the Year ending 31st December, 1911.

Receipts. £ s. d. Expenditure. £ s. d. Debit balance .. .. .. .. 1,131 4 9 School classes -- Furniture, fittings, and apparatus .. 65 17 7 Maintenance and salaries .. .. 1,396 5 5 Special and associated classes— Capitation— Timaru .. .. .. .. 235 9 3 Waimate .. .. . . .. 61 19 0 Fairlie .. .. .. .. 24 7 6 Pleasant Point .. ... .. 9 4 6 Teachers' classes .. .. .. 14 0 3 Winchester .. .. .. 12 10 0 Material— Timaru .. .. .. .. 18 4 10 Waimate .. .. .. .. 8 0 0 Fairlie .. .. .. .. 3 5 9 Teachers' classes .. .. .. 13 7 3 Subsidies on voluntary contributions - Timaru .. .. .. .. 86 11 0 Pleasant Point .. .. .. 6 2 6 Capitation on free places—Timaru .. 131 12 0 Fees, speoial classes .. .. .. 19 17 0 Furniture, fittings, and apparatusTimaru .. .. .. .. 9 10 0 Teachers' classes .. .. .. 14 19 7 Winchester .. .. .. .. 5 14 0 Training of teaohers .. . . .. 63 18 9 Paid to Superannuation Fund .. .. 15 6 4 Administration .. .. .., 155 0 0 School classes Capitation .. . • ■• .. 1,153 13 5 Furniture, fiuiugs, and apparatus .. 65 17 7 Voluntary contributions, bequests, and subsidies .. •• •• •• 265 9 0 Associated and special classes — Capitation — Timaru . • • ■ ■ • ■ • 235 9 3 Waimate .. ■• • ■• 61 19 0 Fairlie 24 7 6 Pleasant Point .. ■. ' 9 4 6 Teachers' olasses . . 14 0 3 Winchester .. . • • ■ 12 10 0 Material — Timaru .. • • • ■ • • 18 4 10 Waimate .. • • 8 0 0 Fairlie .. • ■ 3 5 9 Teachers'classes •■ •• •■ 13 7 3 Subsidies on voluntary contributions— Timaru .. • • • • ■ ■ 86 11 0 Pleasant Point .. • • • • 6 2 6 [Japitation, free places—Timaru .. .. 131 12 0 Pees, special classes .. • • • • 13 0 0 Furniture, fittings, and apparatus— Timaru .. ■ • • ■ ■ • 9 10 0 Teachers' classes .. .. • • 265 13 4 Winchester .. .. .. • • 5 14 0 Special grant training of teachers .. 150 0 0 Receipts from High SchoolSalaries, woodwork and cooking instructors .. • • •- •• 75 0 0 Grant for material .. .. • • 6 0 0 Cookery sales • • • • • ■ 29 7 9 Woodwork sales .. • ■ ■ ■ 9 2 6 Paid on account of superannuation .. 15 6 4 Balance .. •• •• •• 813 19 6 ' £3,502 7 3 £3,502 7 3 A. Bell, Secretary.