63

E.—s.

teachers desirous of improving their certificates; he also held a special session during the midwinter holidays for the benefit of Mr. Wedde's correspondence class. Certificate classes were held for those able to come to Blenheim on Saturdays. The subjects undertaken were English, arithmetic, geography, history, school method, theory and practice of vocal music, hygiene for the D certificate. Correspondence class : The book-work subjects were as for the Saturday class. The practical requirements were met by the summer school, a special session at midwinter and at the end of the year (hygiene, dairy science, vocal music, drawing). Classes for nurses : Classes were conducted at Blenheim (roll, 5) and at Picton (8). The subject was " Invalid cookery," as required by the nurses at the two hospitals. By the arrangement entered into with the Nelson Board the two Boards shared the services of Mr. Bruce. The latter had been able to visit Marlborough for inly three months of the year. It was found that the Nelson authorities required the whole time of Mr. Bruce; and the appointment of a science master at Marlborough High School has enabled this Board to provide locally for continuous instruction of the teachers. The former arrangement was therefore terminated. Mr. Bruce gave valuable service in connexion with gardening, agriculture, chemistry, and dairywork. Statement of Receipts and Expenditure for the Year ending 31st December, 1912, in respect of Special Classes conducted by the Marlborough Education Board. Receipts. £ s. d. Expenditure. £ s. d. Training of teaohers .. .. .. 180 0 0 Balance at beginning of year .. .. 201 14 8 Capitation on classes .. .. .. 35 18 5 Salaries of instructors .. .. .. 167 7 8 Material .. .. .. .. 5 13 7 Office expenses (including salaries, stationery, Balanoe at end of year .. .. .. 229 16 5 &o.) .. .. .. .. .. 22 3 2 Material for class use .. .. .. 35 5 0 Travelling-allowances to teachers .. .. 9 0 0 Furniture, fittings, and apparatus .. .. 15 17 11 £451 8 5 £451 8 5 E. Hylton, Secretary.

NELSON. Extract from the Report of the Education Board. As usual there are a large number of handwork and manual-training classes conducted in the primary schools. Agriculture and dairy-work are carried out under the supervision of a special instructor, and woodwork, cookery, and ironwork are also taught by a special staff. Instruction in cookery has been extended to Motueka. The technical schools at Nelson and Westport have been well supported in the matter of attendance, but the Board much regrets that more assured provision is not made for the finances of these institutions. The liberality of the local bodies in the matter of donations for the manual-training school at Reefton and for the Westport Technical School is gratefully acknowledged, but to the present but little assistance has been afforded by local bodies and the general public to the Nelson Technical School. The method of payment of capitation grants requires to be much improved, the delay in settling claims forcing the issue of temporary advances from the General Account. Towards the close of the year the Director (Mr. A. A. Hintz) resigned, and the Board temporarily appointed Mr. F. C. J. Cockburn to undertake the Director's duties in conjunction with his own position as an art master at Nelson. There is every reason to believe that the arrangement made will prove most satisfactory. Extract from the Report of the Inspectors of Schools. Various branches of elementary handwork were taken in forty-eight schools, as compared with thirty-seven last year. Fifty-one schools have received instruction in manual training. A special centre for cookery was established at Motueka, and classes for instruction were instituted for Motueka District High School, Riwaka, Brooklyn, Lower Moutere, and Whakarewa. The number of classes taking the various branches" of work was as follows : Ironwork, 7; woodwork, 11; cookery, 21; elementary agriculture, 36; physiology and first aid, 18, swimming, 17; physical measurements, 8; elementary chemistry, 2; dairy-work, 11. These numbers show an increase of ten classes over those in operation during the previous year. Good work continues to be done at the special centres —in ironwork at Westport; woodwork at Nelson, Wakefield, and Reefton; and cookery at Nelson, Westport, Reefton, Wakefield, and Motueka. In some of the handwork subjects the tendency is still to regard them as independent subjects. While this continues their full benefit on the general school-work will be minimized. Our experience in this matter has been similar to that of some other districts—namely, that the conditions laid down for taking up these subjects in a school —chiefly the specific time that has to be devoted to them —made them come to be regarded as distinct in themselves. Until they are looked upon mainly as methods of instruction, useful as aids in the teaching of many of the primary subjects, their true value will not be appreciated. Extract from the Report of the Director of Technical Instruction. In regard to the manual-training classes, permanent instructors conducted classes in the following subjects : Woodwork at Nelson, Wakefield, and Reefton; cookery at Nelson, Westport, Reefton, Motueka, and Wakefield; ironwork at Westport. The staff of special instructors was increased during the year by the appointment of an assistant cookery instructress at Nelson,