E.—s

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we have no farm-grounds for dealing practically with the most important part of the subject. In view of the increasing number of boys applying for admission to the agricultural course, this state of affairs should not be allowed to continue. The afternoon and evening classes were attended by 1,204 individual students, classified as follows: Junior free pupils, 204 males, 79 females; senior free pupils, 98 males, 71 females; other than free pupils, 732; scholarship-holders, .1.7; returned soldiers, 3. The outstanding features of the afternoon and evening classes were the great demand for instruction in commercial subjects, the steady application and consistent work of the girls as compared with that of the boys taking commercial work, the earnestness and enthusiasm of the large body of students in the engineering classes, anil the decline in the number of the students in the classes for cookery, dressmaking, and needlework. The attendance at the trade classes —carpentry, plumbing, cabinetmaking, painters' work, blacksmithing, &o. —was, as was foreseen, seriously affected by the number of voluntary enlistments made by students of these classes. Towards the end of the year it was found necessary to combine some classes and abandon others. However, notwithstanding the adverse circumstances, the aggregate attendance for the year was only about 5 per cent, less than that of last year, which was the highest in the history of the College. Angus Marshall, Director. Extract from the Report of the Managers of the Oamaru Technical School. The work of the school has been carried on during the year in a satisfactory manner, and the attendance has been the best yet recorded. The commercial courses were well attended, and a number of pupils have gained positions in offices as a result of their training at the school. The dressmaking, millinery, and wool-classing classes received a good measure of support, and the continuation classes were better than usual. Thanks are due to those who contributed to the support of the classes, and to the Press for valued assistance. C. H. Church, Chairman. Extract from the Report of the Managers of the Milton Technical School. During the year classes were conducted in book-keeping (roll number 28), typewriting (18). beaten copper work (22), and painting (28). The number of students who enrolled was fortynine, of whom eleven were males, and the total number of class entries was ninety-six. Over 50 per cent, of the students took commercial subjects. The book-keeping and typewriting classes were held for two quarters, and the beaten copper and painting classes for three quarters. The attendance was not quite up to the high standard of last year. J. R. Laing, Secretary. Extract from the Report of the Professor in Charge, Home Science Department, Otago University. The number of students has again increased. This year there are forty-three students taking either the full degree or diploma course, as against thirty-two who were on the roll last year. There are also four students who are taking single courses, as against three who were doing so last year. The three students who gained their degree last year all secured posts at once. Miss Timewell was appointed to Napier Girls' High School, Miss Pigott to Blenheim, and Miss Rudall, under the Auckland Education Board, to the Whangarei district. Miss Tucker completed her diploma just before Christmas, and has been appointed to Woodford House School, Hawke's Bay. Several other appointments could have been made, but we had no trained students available except Mass Rosevear, who has been appointed to the Wanganui Girls' College, where Miss Cornish, another of our students, already teaches home science. During my two journeys across Canada to England 1 visited the McDonald College at Guelph, which works in connection with Toronto University. Both these colleges were founded and endowed by Sir William McDonald for the teaching of home science, and both have splendid buildings, grounds, and equipment. Toronto University is the only university in Canada where a home-science course is provided in the curriculum, though several universities in the States now provide one, notably Columbia University, New York, also Chicago, Michigan, and others. I went into the details of the various courses with great care, and found, as far as laundry-work and needlework are concerned, that our courses and theirs are almost identical, but in all the science subjects we are distinctly in advance of (he two colleges mentioned, the only exception being bacteriology. The syllabus of this course is now being revised and enlarged, and one afternoon a week through - the session is in future to be assigned to bacteriological work. Now that it is possible to devote a small laboratory in the new Medical School exclusively to the work of our students, Dr. Champtaloup will be able to bring this course also up to the standard required, and I am going to ask the Council to sanction the arrangements which I propose. So far all is satisfactory, but the very unsatisfactory side has yet to be mentioned. With our increasing numbers we are dreadfully handicapped in our work by lack of space and lack of equipment. The Council have, I feel sure, no idea of the difficulties involved. The only way in which I can arrange the classes at present is by overflowing into the Mining School (and here I should like to acknowledge Professor Park's kind courtesy in doing eveiything in his power to lend me rooms at the times I need them). But it is impossible to give proper needlework classes without sewing-machines, with no arrangements for heating irons for pressing, and with no proper tables upon which to