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of instruction. The result is that the classes for builders are doing good work. Much more could in this way, I believe, be done to the advantage of our own industries. Wanganui has undoubtedly a promising future. It will need, however, to make the most of its advantages by developing the industries for which it is most suited by situation and natural endowment. There is need of skill in all industries, and we think the Technical College could do something to supply that skill. We believe it would be wise to consider the advisability of inviting employers to sit on committees that would guide the instruction or make improvements in the courses that affect their industry. Our largest classes are undoubtedly the commercial classes, and we should be glad to see the Chamber of Commerce sending representatives to examine the work done, and to suggest in what way the classes may better meet the requirements of the business community. If the experiment is successful, and we have no doubt it would be, an extension of the principle to other courses could be made. Technical High School. —The general or secondary course was, as in previous years, the best attended. Despite changes in the staff, the results of the examinations were decidedly above the average for secondary classes. This is largely attributed to the thirty-hour week for which the College is open. In the commercial course the classes were well attended, and in the Board's book-keeping examinations practically all the students were successful, while two in the senior class passed the University diploma examinations. The attendance at the engineering course was smaller than in previous years. In the senior class some of the practical work in constructing engines evoked much praise. Students were prepared for and passed the City and Guilds Examinations in mechanical engineering, electrical engineering, and surveying. The agricultural course was fairly well attended, and the instruction is so practical that it is bound to increase the size of the class as the character of the work becomes known. The attendance at the domestic course was still small, and could not support a separate staff. Many of the lessons were given in conjunction with the general course. With the staff of the art, applied art, domestic, commercial, and general courses to draw upon, no course in this College is more promising, and we hope that next year the numbers will largely increase. The sports facilities have been vastly improved through the use of Cook's Gardens being granted free of charge by the Borough Council to the day pupils. This has allowed us to provide a game for every boy and every girl for two hours once a week, attendance thereat being compulsory. There has been a noticeable improvement in the boys' cricket; in the Saturday competitions our team finished well up on the list. Even with our own playing-grounds and Cook's Gardens we have not enough grounds for football and hockey, but it is hoped that the Rugby Union will help us in getting more grounds. The Cadets have now reached a very high state of efficienc}'. At Palmerston North they were placed first in the physical drill, third in the squad drill, and second on the aggregate; and, as teams were entered for the whole of the west coast from Wellington right through to Taihape it will be understootl that the results proved our boys' work to be something above the ordinary. The establishment of a boys' hostel in connection with the Technical High School marks an important stage in its evolution. The success attending it has been most encouraging, as twenty boys will be in residence at the beginning of next term. It has been felt in the past that a hostel was needed, but no beginning was made because of the financial difficulty of providing the accommodation. This difficulty has been overcome by starting on a small scale, and when it is proved that the demand for a hostel exists there should be no trouble in providing the accommodation. Students were prepared for Army Entrance, Matriculation, Junior and Senior Board Scholarships, Public Service Senior and Entrance Examinations, the Book-keeping Examinations conducted by the Education Board, Pitman's Shorthand examination, and those for the book-keepers' diploma of the New Zealand Society of Accountants, and the examination of the City and Guilds of London. One student won a cadctship at Duntroon Military College. The school magazine, which was first issued in 1913, has again been published, and, although it is smaller than we should like, it has been possible only because of a substantial donation from the Education Board towards its cost. I hope we shall now be able to publish it annually, and that past pupils of the school will keep in touch with us through the magazine. Letters of interest from old boys and girls can be read by their former class-mates in no place more appropriate than the Index, and I hope that this year some of our comrades at the front will be kind enough to send contributions. An attempt has been made to organize the old boys and girls so that they need not sever their connection with the College when they leave its class-rooms. We have had to be content with a small measure of success. An Old Boys' Cricket Club was formed and playGd in the junior-grade competition throughout the season. Many of the old girls have made use of the College tennis-courts, and we hope next year from these beginnings to be able to organize an old-students' association. Our financial position as disclosed by the statements for the year is not at all good. With voluntary contributions of £454 16s. the earnings for the year exceed the expenses by only £161 14s. 2d., and even this figure depends upon our capitation claims being paid in full. After five years in our present building we are still indebted to the Education Board for £228 15s. 3d. We are therefore unable to extend and improve our school as it is in the interests of the district to do through lack of funds. We are very grateful to the Borough Council, the County Councils, the Builders' Association, and those others who have contributed to our funds. At present the improvement and extension of technical education is seriously hampered through want of funds; this is especially unfortunate, as it is just this type of education which will prevent or modify that depression which will surely follow the end of the present war. In some ways the war has been a blessing in disguise. Stern reality has caused us to recognize the efficiency of the Germans, and most people attribute much of this to their system of technical education. It has led to the development of all the community's activities, both industrial and non-industrial, while British schools have largely developed the non-industrial to the neglect of the industrial.