8.—5

The school exhibition was held in December, and all the available class-rooms were filled with the work of students in fine and applied art; the attendance of the public was large, and great interest was shown in both the work and the new building, which was open to the public for the first time. Two students of the school, Miss I. G. Eise and Miss E. E. Ward, received their art class teacher's certificates from the Board of Education, London, this y r ear, but no works were submitted for the National Competition. The former lady, Miss Eise, who has been a student here for the last six or seven years, has just been appointed to take charge of the art classes at the New 'Plymouth Technical School. Miss Eise's work, which has been excellent alike in fine and applied art, will be much missed. Mr. Fristrom and Miss Copeland, who are responsible for most of the drawing and painting, have again done excellent work, and Miss Copeland is to be congratulated on the success her efforts have met with in interesting so many new students in the, study of design. E. W. Payton, Director. Statement of Receipts and Expenditure for the Year ending 31st December, 1914, in respect of Classes conducted by the Managers of the Elam, School of Art. Receipts. £ s. d. Expenditure. £ s. d. Capitation on classes .. .. .. 727 0 7 "Dr. balance at beginning of year .. .. 105 10 2 Buildings .. '.. .. .. 850 0 0 Salaries of teaching staff.. .. .. 891 13 4 Rent .. .. .. .. .. 40 0 0 Material for class use .. .. 17 *2_ 3 Furniture, fittings, and apparatus .. 22 11 0 Rent .. .. .. .. .. 8 0" 0 Material .. ~ .. .. 31 11 10 Lighting and heating .. .. .. 28 1 8 Subsidies on voluntary contributions .. 288 10 0 Insurance .. .. .. .. 6 5 4 Fees and other class paymonts .. .. 83 10 6 Office expenses (including salaries, staSales .. .. .. .. .. 18 3 tionery, &c.) .. .. .. .. 94 19 10 From education reserves .. .. 118 6 0 Advertising and printing.. .. .. 63 3 7 From trustees Elam bequest .. .. 242 4 3 Models.. .. .. .. .. 48 4 2 Dr. balanoe at end of year .. .. 2,285 12 2 Exhibition .. .. .. .. 35 1 7 Sundries .. .. .. .. 21 0 0 Buildings .. .. .. .. 3,282 4 7 Furniture, fittings, and apparatus .. 89 8 1 £4,690 14 7 £4,690 14 7 E. W. Payton, Secretary. TARANAKI. Extract from the Report of the Inspectors of Schools. Agriculture and Dairy-work. —The agricultural work in the schools has been continued through the year under the direction of Mr. J. G. Ellis, who, as opportunity offered, visited the schools in the district which included this important branch of education in their work, consulting with the teachers and generally supervising the instruction and operations, and the results have been fairly satisfactory. Many of the teachers manifest a very keen interest in the aims and objects of rural education, and the work done in some schools is of a very creditable order. A pleasing feature worthy of mention is that in some of the schools where not very much has been done hitherto, teachers and pupils alike exhibit a desire to accomplish more than they have yet attempted, and we hope that in the very near the number of schools taking agriculture will be considerably increased, and the results in all schools materially improved. In addition to the work in general agriculture several of the schools include dairy science in the course of instruction, and in these valuable lessons are given and satisfactory work accomplished, and in a district where the dairying industry is the principal avocation of the residents the useful lessons taught cannot fail to have a beneficial effect upon the community's products. During the month of May a three-weeks course of instruction for teachers was held in the Technical College, New Plymouth. At this Mr. Ellis conducted a class in dairy science. There were about a dozen teachers in daily attendance, and they displayed a considerable amount of enthusiasm and acquired some very useful information as well as valuable experience. Mr. E. C. Isaac, Technical Inspector, visited the class whilst at work and expressed his satisfaction and pleasure on account of its diligence, attention, and interest. Mr. Ellis has successfully sought to awaken outside interest in the work performed in the schools, and several persons have displayed their interest in a very practical fashion. Some valuable donations of manures, seeds, and plants have been readily and generously made, and in this connection thanks are due to Messrs. T. Borthwick and Sons (Mr. Lennon), of Waitara, Newton King (Mr. Shaw), Griffiths, Rowe, and Paterson, Nolan, and Carter, of New Plymouth, and Mr. Hicks, of Tikorangi. Rural Classes, Stratford. —There is ample evidence that the rural classes at the Stratford District High School are becoming more popular each year. Nevertheless, it is probable that many people do not even yet realize the excellence of this comprehensive theoretical and practical course. It is intended especially for those who, while not aiming at a university training, or willing to devote themselves for four or five years to those studies which, however interesting and profitable, are yet of no direct and practical use, wish nevertheless to continue their studies for two or more years after leaving the primary school, with a view to enabling them to go back to the land equipped with a thorough knowledge of their business, and able to avail themselves fully of all the aids to success afforded by the intelligent application of scientific, principles to their particular needs. While, however, this aim is kept steadily in view, it is recognized that without a sound basis of general knowledge all such special knowledge fails to have its full effect. The students therefore receive a thorough training in English and mathematics. In addition to these staple subjects, the course

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