E.—2.

[Appendix A.

be rebuilt, the old buildings being completely worn out and obsolete. Considerable difficulty was again experienced during the year in obtaining adequate supplies of material and labour. The Board's workshop has proved a, great convenience in the. matter of turning out the whole of the joinery and furniture, otherwise we should have had considerable delays in obtaining same from outside sources. Teaclters Residences. —Conveniences such as wash-tubs, coppers, and boilers have at last been recognized by the Department, although no actual grants have yet been made. General Repair Work. —Notwithstanding the shortage of labour, a considerable amount, of painting and general repair work was carried out. Manual and Technical Instruction. —During the year technical instruction has been carried out at New Plymouth, Stratford, Hawera, and Eltham. A technical high school has been established at Hawera, and a site provided and grant made for new buildings, which, it is hoped will be ready for occupation next year. Stratford has also a good site provided, and grant made for a new technical high school, which would have been well started but for the difficulty of procuring cement and other building materials. Compulsory evening classes are carried on in the above centres, and are doing fairly good work. Physical Instruction.— Judging by the reports of the physical instructors, the physical work at schools generally is improving. The value of the work is apparently being realized by teachers, who are making greater efforts than ever to achieve, the object aimed at better health, better carriage of the body, and greater alertness of mind and body. Classes for teachers were held during the Latter end of 1919, and, with the exception of those in the Taumarunui district, practically all Taranaki teachers received instruction. Physical education has now become a grading subject; that is to say, the, work of the teacher is now considered in connection with grading-marks. The drawback in this district seems to be that, as no instructors are stationed in Taranaki permanently, instructors' visits to schools are too infrequent, in some eases a school never having had a visit, ft is hoped thai this will be remedied in the near future. Manual. Manual training in woodwork and cookery has been carried out in New Plymouth, Waitara, Inglewood, Stratford, Eltham, and Hawera, and woodwork only at Kaponga, Pihama, Manaia, and Mangatoki. Agricultural Instruction. Very good work has been done throughout the whole district in primary schools, and the way this instruction has reacted on the school grounds and environment is proof of the value, of this subject and the soundness of the instruction given. Agriculture and dairy science has also been carried out in New Plymouth Technical College, Hawera Technical High School, and Stratford District High School. At Stratford the boys carry out observational work in connection with the Model Dairy Farm. Cow-judging has been enthusiastically carried out at New Plymouth and Stratford, and the usual good display of produce from schools was exhibited at the New Plymouth Winter Show. District High Schools. —■ [See E. 6, Report on Secondary Education.] The Bayly Memorial Scholarship for 191!) was won by a pupil of the Stratford District High School. Owing to the war, no competitions for this prize were held during the three preceding years. Instruction Classes for Teachers.-- Saturday classes were conducted at New Plymouth and Stratford for the instruction of teachers in the following subjects : Geometrical, freehand and blackboard drawing, home science, hygiene, and agriculture. A very successful winter school was also arranged, where those teachers who are unable to attend Saturday classes were given continuous instruction for a fortnight in the above, subjects. Teachers who were unable to attend either of the above classes were catered for by special correspondence classes. Attendance. The following is an abstract showing the number of schools, teachers, and pupils attending schools in the district beginning with the year 1879 and every period of ten years and at; the end of 1919 :—

School Committees.- The Board recognizes and appreciates the loyal support received from the Technical and Primary School Committees, and realizes that without this support so marked an advancement in education in this district could not have taken place. The Board is of opinion that the, increased capitation paid to Committees is well merited. Visiting Schools. As previously, members of the Board visited most of the schools in the district, and were pleased to find that in almost all cases considerable improvement in school grounds and surroundings were noticeable. The Board recognizes and records with appreciation the excellent work of its School Committees generally, many having, by their untiring efforts, raised sums of money which have materially helped towards the improvement of their school grounds in some cases improvements being so noticeable as to become a model for others. I have, &c, The lion, the Minister of Education, Wellington. Robert Masters, Chairman.

IV

Year ending Schools. Head or Sole Teaohers. Assistarrts. Junior Teachers and Probationers. Total. December Roll Number. Quarter Returns Average. .879 .. ;889 .. .899 .. .909 .. .918 .. .919 .. 27 39 63 90 151 153 26 39 63 86 151 147 6 9 18 60 134 141 7 21 32 30 49 50 39 69 113 176 334 338 1,302 2,565 4,039 5,836 10,315 10,313 979 1,895 3,091 5,131 8,985 9,271