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the College and suiting his courses here to his needs in the trades. The plumbing classes have continued to do good work, the masters have shown a very keen interest in the work, paying many visits to the workshops and giving much helpful criticism, besides offering prizes for proficiency in various branches. Commercial and Continuation Classes. —These classes still attract large numbers, as is natural in a commercial centre. The work generally was satisfactory, as the records of students in Public Service Senior and other examinations show. In these classes I have to report that several instructors past and present have joined the Forces. Domestic Economy. —These classes, especially those in cookery and hygiene, have been very successful, and their work was much admired in the annual exhibition, in which also, by the way, all branches of the College work were well represented. Examinations. —At the Public Service Senior Examination three students completed the examination; one passed in five subjects, nine in four subjects, fourteen in three subjects, and twenty-three in two subjects. At the Science Examinations of the Board of Education, London, six students, and at the Technological Examination of the City and Guilds of London Institute twelve students, secured passes. At the examinations of the Pharmacy Board four students obtained passes in Section B. Students of the College were awarded six prizes in connection with the annual exhibition of the New Zealand Academy of Fine Arts. Full certificates were awarded to thirteen students at the local examinations for electric wiremen. W. S. La Trobb, Director. Extract from the Report of the Director of the Petone Technical School. The work carried on at the school during the year has surpassed the standard of that attained in former years. Wool-classing classes were held two nights a week, and a number of the students attended on both nights. This was a great advantage to the students, and could be plainly seen in the progress that they made. During the year a number of free pupils have been attending this class. They were chiefly senior free pupils, and they all did excellent work. The Agricultural Department presented us with some choice samples of wool. Through the courtesy of the manager the students were enabled to look through the woollen-mills, where they spent an enjoyable and profitable two hours. No shearing classes were held this year owing to Messrs. Dalgety and Co. calling in their plant which they had so generously lent to us in the past. Four students passed the first and five the final examination in wool-classing. The demand for classers from sheepfarmers has far exceeded the number we were able to supply, and it is time that the sheep-farmers should subsidize the school for the good work that it is undoubtedly doing for them. The class for electricity is advancing on sound practical lines and promises well. The younger students are taking a keen interest in their work, and the subject seems to be very popular among the young men. Three students passed examinations for electric wireman's license. Visits were paid to the power-house in connection with the sewerage system and to the Wellington powerhouse. The class for typewriting and shorthand has made a great deal of progress. In no previous year has the work reached such a high standard, due in no small measure to the energy and zeal displayed by the instructor, who has taken a keen interest in his work. A number of the students attending are sitting for the Public Service Senior Examination. Some of them have done an excellent year's work, and should do well. I do not desire to single out, any student for special praise, but there is a fair percentage in every class who come to the school to work. There are still a few who, though regular in attendance, have not yet acquired the ability to study consistently. The work in this class has been most difficult to carry out owing to the different degree of proficiency of individual pupils. Next year I propose to take in this class the following subjects : Mathematics, hygiene, English and precis, commercial geography. This, with accountancy, will make the groundwork of a good course for the Public Service Senior Examination. The domestic classes have not been attended so well as one could desire. So many of the girls are taking up commercial subjects that they do not feel inclined to take up the domestic course. Parents should see the absolute necessity of inducing their girls to take up these subjects. The classes are well taught, but they are not appreciated as they should be. People do not understand what excellent opportunities their children are given to equip them for their later work in life. lamat a loss to know the best way of increasing the attendance. If we could interest the mothers in some way the success of the classes would be assured. A demonstration of invalid cooking was given to the St. John Ambulance men's branch. This may do some good in popularizing the classes. If we could get kindred institutions, such as the women's branch of the St. John Ambulance, to take a similar interest I have no doubt that the attendance at the classes would improve. There is no reason that I can see why the St. John Ambulance classes should not be associated with the school. The benefits derived, I think, would be to the mutual advantage of the school and the society. The work done by the class for building-construction and carpentry has been of a very high standard. This class is doing better work each year, and I was pleased to note that some adults took a course in carpentry this year. It was a pleasure to note the interest they took in the class, and the work they did was exceptionally good. The prospects of this class were never brighter. Deeper interest might be aroused if an exhibition of the work done was made in some prominent place, for I am fully convinced that if the excellent work were shown to the people that they would take further advantage of the classes.