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is domestic-science mistress for science and cookery to Christchurch High School (salary, £1.60). Miss C. R. Stevenson (diploma) has been appointed to the Ashburton High School, and Miss Isabel Watt is assistant at Timaru. Miss Strack is at present undertaking temporary work at Hawera District High School. Miss Sandilands (diploma) has been appointed as cookery, needlework,, dressmaking, and science teacher at Gisborne, the appointment to last as long as the war lasts. One other appointment has been made for next, year, although the student has not yet, completed her course. , Thus all our students arc doing good and satisfactory work. Two students have decided to give up teaching, and have returned home, where they are needed. The Education Department has decided to recognize the home-science diploma, as well as the home-science degree, as qualifying for one-year studentships at training colleges, with allowances at tho rate of C4O a year, together with the fees of the University College classes attended by the student with the approval of the principal, with the further addition at the rate of £25 a year in the case of any student living away from home. This wdll enable some of our students to get satisfactory teaching experience and instruction in methods of teaching before seeking posts. The accounts of tho home-science department show a very satisfactory credit balance. The estimated balance for the }'car ending 31st March amounts to £1,079. , , W. L. Bots-Smitii, Dean.

SOUTHLAND. Extract from the Report of the Director of Technical Instruction. Classes' for 'instruction in wool-sorting were carried on successfully at four country centres— viz.. Nightcaps, Orawia, Clifden, and Mataura Island. In two other districts a, commencement was made, but owing to sufficient support not, being forthcoming the classes had to be discontinued. Though the roll numbers, owing to the drain upon the country's manhood, were not as large as iii previous years, yet the attendance of students was very satisfactory, and evidence was not lacking that the members of the various classes highly appreciated the value of the instruction imparted. "At Riverton a large and successful class in cookery was carried on under the capable direction of one of the Board's manual-training staff. Of the other centres where evening classes at one time were held Greenhills alone was able to continue this year; but even here, in spite of all the enthusiasm of the instructress, it was possible to carry on only one class, that in drawing. Year by year it has been found increasingly difficult to maintain interest in evening classes in country centres, though no doubt the falling-off in this respect, this year may largely be ascribed to the' troublous times we have been passing through. Tn conclusion, I have to acknowledge the fairness with which the Education Department has met all claims sent in, and to the Inspectors and the Secretary a word of thanks is due for the kindly assistance extended to me at all times. R. Brownlie, Director of Technical Instruction. Extract from the. Report of the Director of the Southland Technical College. The Builders' Association and the Farmers' Union were represented for the first time on the Board, and all bodies that had previously contributed-renewed their contributions. The Technical High School was opened in 1912, and the roll number for thaj:- year was 139. The number for 1915' was 199, including 114 new students. Free places were held by 185 students, as follows: Junior free places, 156; senior free places, 27; junior scholars, 2. The proportion of boys to girls is somewhat lower than it was last year,,wdicn 95 boys and 83 girls were in attendance, as against 98 boys and 101 girls this year, but on account of enlistments of men for the war, boys have had exceptional opportunities of entering into employment. The same factor has influenced the rate of withdrawal of students during the year, and it has been impossible' to find boys in sufficient numbers to supply the requirements of banks and mercantile houses. The demand of the trades for boys to be apprenticed has been more variable, but considerable numbers of those taking the trade course have entered apprenticeships in the woodworking and engineering trades. Girls have been withdrawn steadily to fill positions in offices, and it is pleasing to note that a proportion of those taking the domestic-science course have obtained employment with milliners and dressmakers, though most of them on leaving school are found particularly useful in their homes. It is indeed noteworthy wdiat a large proportion of our students follow up vocations for which they have received special training. In the past four years 292 students who had enrolled during the years 1912, 1913, and 1914 have left school. It has been possible to follow the career of 256 of them for some time after leaving, and it, is found that not, less than 181, representing 70 per cent., have entered vocations for which they have received special training in our classes. No doubt most of them would have undertaken the same work even if they had not attended the school, for the colonial youth who has reached the age of fourteen years or thereabouts is usually a good judge of the general class of work for whioh he is fitted. For boys and girls who require to start work about the age of sixteen years the vocational school of this type serves a useful purpose, since a course of one or two years enables them and their parents to judge with greater accuracy whether the career tentatively chosen is the most suitable. Tt is regretted that under the Education Act, 1914, free admission may not be granted to boys and girls who have failed to qualify for at least a Standard VT competency certificate, since it means in many cases that those wdio mature later than the average or have had an interrupted course of education in the primary schools are thus debarred from receiving further instruction in tho'dav school. For the town boy or girl this is not as serious as it is for those resident in the country, since the former have now opportunities of attending evening classes. Tt is not

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