E.—s

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Kairanga County Council, £30 ; Working-men's Club, £24 ; Farmers' Union Defence Executive, £20 ; Gas Company, £5 ss. ; besides smaller amounts contributed by private persons. The public generally and the Press are most willing at all times to assist the school. F. D. Oi-iF, Director. Statement of Receipts and Expenditure for the Year ending 31st December, 1914, in respect of Classes conducted at the Palmerston North Technical School by the Palmerston North High School Board. Receipts. £ s. d. Expenditure. £ s. d. Capitation on classes .. .. .. 612 1 9 Dr. balanoe at beginning of year .. .. 317 711 Capitation, free places .. ..' .. 492 16 6 Salaries of teaching staff .. .. 1,346 11 8 Furniture, fittings, apparatus .. .. 176 11 0 Material for olass uso .. .. .. 122 2 0 Material ■ .. .. .. .. 107 15 11 Prizes .. ' .. .. .. .. 3 13 0 Subsidies on voluntary contributions .. 138 2 9 Bepairs and sundries .. .. .. 48 13 8 Pees and other class payments .. .. 387 0 9 Caretaker .. .. .. .. 52 0 0 Sales of material.. .. .. .. 13 13 7 Lighting and hoating .. .. .. 78 1 I Voluntary contributions .. .. .. 113 19 0 Insurance .. .. .. .. 10 9 9 Sundry receipts .. .. .. 3 0 0 Office expenses (including salaries) .. 21 1 8 Befund, expenses exhibits Auckland Exhibi- Advertising and printing.. .. .. 25 19 7 tion .. .. .. .. .. 916 0 Interest on overdraft .. .. .. 10 17 0 Prom Wanganui Education Board cookery Furniture, fittings, and apparatus .. 151 16 1 olasses .. .. .. .. 20 19 0 High School Board classes .... 94 18 6 . « Dr. balance at end of year .. .. 17 18 8 £2,188 13 5 £2,18813 5 William Hunter, Secretary.

WELLINGTON. Extract from the Report of the Education Board. The report both of the Inspectors and of the instructors in agriculture record an advance in that subject over the work of previous years, for not only was there a considerable increase in the number of. schools undertaking the primary course, but also the treatment of the subject both out and in doors showed improvement. The handbook issued from the Board office ami outlining a three-years course has proved generally helpful in setting forth, a definite course suited to the circumstances of the district, and leading up to the district high school course. The Ekctahuna District High School undeitook the full rural course. The instructor's report says : " The work for 1914 has been most satisfactory. 'There has been an increased interest and application on the part of the teachers. On the whole the garden-plots are good, and are used intelligently, and as an outcome of the garden-work, school-grounds have been improved with hedges, ornamental trees, and shrubs. The indoor work continues to improve. Nearly every school is supplied with sufficient apparatus to add life, and interest to the nature-study work. As much help as possible was given to newly established classes or where the agriculture or nature-study work was rather weak." Garden-plots were established, and a good deal of work was done at. other schools where the circumstances did not permit of the full requirements for earning capitation being met. Regarding the domestic science course, the reports record good attendance, .increased efficiency of staff, increased interest of parents and of pupils. Appliances for the laundry course are now provided at each of the city centres. Extract from the Report of the Inspectors of Schools. Classes for elementary science recognized by the Education Department were conducted at threefifths of the schools. Elementary science is, however, taught at most of the remaining schools, where through lack of space or other means of carrying on the necessary individual work it is impossible to earn capitation. Elementary agriculture, combined with nature-study, continues to be the chief science subject of country schools, and in these schools ninety-eight primary classes are conducted. In most of these classes the three-year course recently issued by the Board is in use. Mr. Gumming, agricultural instructor, says in his report, " This course gives a definite line of work suitable for all, prevents undue repetition, and simplifies the supervision of the classes and the issue of apparatus." The equipment for efementary agricuitural work is, on the whole, sufficient, and to most of the schools suitable gardens are attached. The garden-plots in general are well kept and intelligently used, while there is an appreciable improvement in the indoor work. All classes taking this subject were visited and assisted during the year by the agricultural instructors. In the city schools and in some of the larger suburban, and country schools, classes in physical measurements, chemistry and physics, physiology and first aid, and elementary domestic science have been successfully conducted. !u the work of these classes individual work is carried on so far as the circumstances of the schools permit. With respect to domestic science Miss Kilroe reports as follows : " On the whole the work has been very satisfactory. The attendance has been good, and in many oases the girls have taken the greatest interest in their lessons. They are beginning to grasp the fact that domestic economy includes other important things besides practical cookery. There has been an appreciable advance in the quality of the teaching given, and without exception the teachers have shown loyal co-operation and cheerful acceptance of any suggestions made for improving their methods. The attendance at and interest in the laundry-work classes have been encouraging, and most of the pupils would gladly have had a longer course. We have been fortunate enough, too, to secure the parents' interest in this new subject to a much greater extent than we had anticipated, and this augurs well for its future,"