E.—s.

36

divided into courses suitable for various trades and professions. In addition to these courses classes have been carried on for sixteen public-school classes in cookery, dressmaking, and woodwork, two teachers' classes in science and art, and cookery and woodwork classes for the Hukarere and Marist Brothers' schools. With regard to the compulsory classes, it is very regrettable that there are still a number of pupils who endeavour to evade attendance by attending in such an irregular manner that it is of no benefit to them at all, whilst others who do attend seem to have made up their minds to waste their time as completely as possible. It should be remembered that the Education Act in providing for compulsory attendance places the classes in any branch of work within the free reach of all who desire to improve themselves, and in the event of the compulsory classes being for any reason abandoned a large number (about one-third of the total enrolment) of deserving pupils would either have to pay fees or be debarred from attending the classes. The total number of individual students attending the classes was 316, of which number 100 were attending under the regulations for compulsory attendance. The highest weekly average of attendance was 481, and the lowest 420; and as the majority of pupils were attending at least twice a week, it shows that about fifty pupils were absent at least once in every week. This lack of appreciation of the benefits to be derived from attendance speaks for itself, and is not as it should be. The results of the annual examinations are again very instructive. At least fifty pupils failed to sit for the examinations, the number actually attending being 159. The percentage of failures was slightly higher than for the previous year. The number of classes held was thirty-two. Pupils in the practical classes have attended very well, and very good work indeed has been done, and I am sure the benefit of this will be felt in after-life; but as far as office-work is concerned, I am convinced that there is a, very large number of pupils attempting office-work who are absolutely unfitted for it both in ability and temperament. On the whole very good work has been done, and there has been a'considerable improvement on previous years. In a very large number of cases I have only words of praise for the marked progress made. Groat praise is also due to tho staff for exemplary work done under trying circumstances, without which it would have been impossible to obtain the results that have been obtained. In conclusion, I have to thank the Board of Managers, the Press for notices, &c, and lastly my boys and girls, who have always been ever ready and willing to do all that they could in any way to assist in carrying on the work of the school. \\! Fossey Director

NELSON. Extract from the Report of the Education Board. It is most gratifying to report a marked advance in the technical classes conducted in the district. The classes at Westport were reorganized and the schools placed under the direction of Mr. A. G. Tomkies, who is also the engineering instructor. The number of enrolments was nearly 100 per cent, more than the previous year, and all the classes arranged for were well attended. The day Engineering School is a, most successful branch of the work, and has more than justified its existence. The Nelson Technical School is under the direction of Mr. Cockburn, and the number of students attending the school was an increase on that of the previous year. The general work of these schools is dealt with in the reports of the directors. The Board desires to thank the local bodies at Reefton and Westport for their generous donations towards the support of the technical schools at these centres. The Nelson School is unfortunate in this respect, as neither the City Council nor County Council makes any provision towards the support of the school. Extract from the Report of the Director of the Nelson Technical School. Although the session commenced with a smaller number of paying students, there was an increase in the number of free-place students, and also' an increased number of transfers from the Boys' and Girls' Colleges. In respect to the matter of transfers, one cannot help but feel that many of those students had been ill advised in entering upon a secondary course when they were not .prepared to continue with their studies at these institutions for at least a period of two years. In some cases they had only attended for one, two, or perhaps three terms before taking up employment as shop-boys, telegraph messengers, &c. The short time thus spent at the secondary school proves of little or no benefit to them. The following is a brief summary of the work of the school : The total number of students who received instruction during the year was 454. Of these 175 were free-place pupils, ninety-four junior and eighty-one senior free pupils. The total number of hour-attendances registered during the year was 60,434. The majority of students took up definite courses of work. A very considerable number of students exceeded the maximum number of hours required for capitation purposes, in some cases by more than double. The class for theory and practice of telegraphy has suffered during the past twelve months from the irregular attendance of many of the students, due in a large measure to the very irregular hours of work at the post-office. In spite of these drawbacks excellent work has been accomplished, several students gaining successes in the departmental examination, and I think the Post and Telegraph Department might well, by a grant, recognize the useful work being done. The plumbers' class, a small one, was still further reduced by members leaving for the front. In connection with the engineering class an experiment was made of obtaining a number of sets of castings for a small petrol-engine. Eight sets altogether were obtained, and are to be paid for