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Technical Instruction. (E.-s.—Tables J4 to J14.) Due attention continues to be given by controlling authorities and Managers respectively to the development along lines best suited to local requirements of the schools and classes under their control. Their efforts in this direction are, it is gratifying to note, meeting with in most cases a satisfactory response on the part of those in whose interests opportunities for instruction are provided. Considerable interest continues to be taken in the schools and classes by local bodies, industrial and trade organizations, and agricultural and pastoral associations, as well as by individual members of the community. Voluntary contributions from these sources totalled nearly £8,000 for the year, as compared with about £6,000 for the previous year. These contributions, carrying as they do a Government subsidy of £1 for £1, form a very welcome addition to the funds of the controlling bodies. The Government has, as in previous years, given favourable consideration to applications for grants for new buildings or additions where these have been shown to be necessary, and for necessary equipment. During the year grants totalling £16,293 were distributed in aid of buildings and equipment. The amount for the previous year was £10,508. ■ New or additional buildings have been erected or are in course of erection in connexion with the Elam School of Art, Auckland; New Plymouth Technical College ; Canterbury College School of Engineering ; Christchurch Technical College ; Timaru, Tenxuka, and Waimate Technical Schools ; and Dunedin and Invercargill Technical Colleges ; while necessary equipment has been provided for classes at Hamilton, New Plymouth, Wanganui, Hawera, Manaia, Hunterville, Napier, Blenheim, Westport, Christchurch School of Art and Technical College, and Invercargill. About sixty buildings, for the most part well and fully equipped, are now available for purposes of technical instruction. In the smaller and more remote centres, where special buildings have not yet been provided, classes are held in suitable rented buildings or in the local schools. During the year classes were held at nineteen such centres in the Wanganui District, at fifteen in the Otago District, at twelve in the Hawke's Bay District, and at six in the Auckland, North Canterbury, and the Southland Districts. Technical Glasses other than Glasses at Day Technical Schools.

Classes were held at 132 centres. The status of the classes, their number, and the number of individual students in attendance were as follows :—

As in previous years, " special " classes — i.e., classes conducted by an Education Board or by the governing body of a* secondary school—were the most numerous, and the most widely distributed. Most of the classes in the smaller centres come under this heading " Associated " classes— i.e., classes conducted by Managers representing bodies contributory to the funds of the classes—though held at comparatively small number of centres, include most of the largest and best-equipped technical schools in the Dominion. In a few cases only do the Managers of associated classes conduct classes in more than one centre. " College " classes are conducted by the governing bodies of the University colleges, four in number. The most important are those constituting the School of Engineering in connexion with Canterbury College, Christchurch. The number (15,206) of individual students in attendance is greater by 1,679 than the number for the previous year, due mainly to an increase in the number of free pupils admitted to classes.

Statu .Status. IS. Number of Classes. Number of Students. " Special " classes " Associated " classes " College " classes Totals 1912. 1913. 867 903 529 540 156 183 1,552 1,626 1912. 1913. 7.357 8,523 5,568 5,951 602 732 13,527 15,206 15,206