Ev— s

The students have given up a good deal of time and labour to work for the various war funds. An art union was held during the year, and as a result £90 was handed over to the Belgian and Patriotic Funds. A number of largo posters were executed for the Citizens' Defence Corps, and the students have also assisted in the various street collections for the war funds. Some twentyfive students of the school have joined the colours during the year. Thanks are due to Messrs. J. W. Gibb and Hammond and Co. for special prizes, and also to Mr. W. H. Montgomery and Mr. William Recce for valuable prizes for a recruiting poster and a study of a sleeping child, and to the executors of the late Mr. William Sey for prizes in connection with the painters' classes; also the Canterbury Branch of the Institute of Architects for prizes and for acting in connection with the examinations; also to Mr. S. Hurst-Seager for a valuable collection of framed photographic enlargements of architectural examples, and for acting as honorary lecturer in architectural history. In conclusion, I have to thank the Board for the support given me in my efforts to further the benefits and growth of the school. R. Herdman-Smith, A.M., F.S.A.M., &c, Director.

SOUTH CANTERBURY. Extract from the Report of the Director of Technical Education. Special classes for teachers were coiitlucted in Tiniaru from May to October. The subjects taken were agriculture, theoretical and practical; drawing, modelling, design, and colour work; hygiene; physiology and ambulance-worii. The agricultural class was well attended, the average attendance for the session being forty. The course of instruction included a scheme of work suitable for carrying out in connection with the school-garden movement. The theoretical work included a course of instruction required for the D and G certificates. Special instruction was given in pruning, spraying, grafting, budding, &c. The practical instruction was taken at the Main School gardens and at the Park, where the curator kindly gave some useful demonstrations. In view of the prominence that drawing and colour-work now occupy in the new syllabus, the classes in drawing, &c, were exceptionally well supported. The teachers and pupil-teachers who attended all worked enthusiastically, and seemed to be anxious to take advantage of the opportunities offered. At the request of the Teachers' Institute a course of lectures explaining the drawing syllabus was arranged for.. Three comprehensive lectures dealing with the requirements of the syllabus in drawing, design, and colour-work were given. The lectures, which were profusely illustrated with designs and charts, were attended by about a hundred teachers, all of whom were deeply interested, and no doubt the instruction given will have a beneficial effect on the school-work of the district. Pupil-teachers also received special instruction in drawing and physiology and ambulance-work. A class for dressmaking was most successfully carried on at Hannaton for two terms. For the first time in its history technical and continuation classes were carried on at Geraldiiie : those were confined to ambulance, book-keeping, and dressmaking. All of these classes were a success, principally through the energy and enthusiasm displayed by the Director, who succeetled in arousing a great amount of interest throughout the district. The classes are now on a good footing financially, and technical education should show development in Geraldine in the near future. During the year the sum of £51 17s. was collected as voluntary contributions. During the year technical and continuation classes were carried on under Managers at Fairiie, Pleasant Point, Temuka, Waimate, and Timaru, and notwithstanding all the adverse circumstances of the year the interest in the work seemed to be as keen as over. The courses of instruction at each centre were all on the same lines as in previous years; most interest centred round the commercial and domestic courses of instruction, and the instruction given in connection with agriculture, sheep-shearing, wool-classing, &c. The technical schools in the district seem to be doing good work and increasing in popularity year by year; their finances are also in a solid condition, thus proving that they are meeting the needs of the localities they serve, as they depend for their existence on the voluntary subscriptions received. The instructor in agriculture, on behalf of the Farmers' Union, delivered several lectures throughout the district on the principles'of agriculture and horticulture. In conclusion, 1 have to state that all operations carried out under the Regulations for Technical Instruction during the past year have been carried out harmoniously : there was no hitch. The teachers have been ever ready to adopt the latest methods and co-operate loyally iv carrying out the work. I have also to state that all applications and claims have been met by the central Department with promptness and fairness. Ritciiings Grant, Director. Extract from the Report of the Managers of the Timaru Technical School. The year just concluded celebrates the fifteenth year of the association's existence. The session started on the 15th March, and the evening classes had all finished by the end of November, but some of the day classes were carried on till the middle of December. Altogether 347 individual students joined the school during the year. This is the smallest number we have had for some years. No doubt this fact is largely due to the disturbing influence of the present national struggle, some of the classes having suffered considerably on this account. These 347 students were taught in thirty-four recognized classes by twenty different instructors, as

44