E.—s

18

Correspondence Classes. —Instruction was offered in English, arithmetic, mathematics, history, geography, methods of teaching, elementary hygiene, elementary agriculture, and dairy science. Two progress examinations were conducted by the Board during the year, and some excellent papers were submitted. The total number of classes held during the year and of the teachers who received instructions are as under: Correspondence class, 36; Saturday training classes (three drawing, three science), 17; Gisborne science class, 24; Dannevirke vocal music class. 26; Hastings " C " agriculture, 10; Hastings summer school, 18. Evening Technical Classes. —Evening classes were conducted during the year at Gisborne centre. Classes in wool-classing were held for returned soldiers, and a class in invalid cookery for the hospital nurses. These were the only two technical classes held during the year. A number of continuation classes were held. The subjects taken, with the average attendance, were as follows: English (three classes), 46; arithmetic (three classes), 44; mathematics (one class), 10; Latin (one class), 5; book-keeping (two classes), .38; typewriting (one class), 21; shorthand (one class), 24; wool-classing (two classes), 15; invalid cookery (one class), 8 : total, 211. Ernest G. Loten, Director. Extract from: the Report of the Waipawa Technical School Board. During the year four classes were carried on with success. Of these,- two were classes in woodworking and cabinetmaking, one a class in shorthand, and one a class in invalid cookery. The woodworking students, both men and women, showed a keen interest in their work throughout the the year and attended well. Free places were found for six returned soldiers. The fact that our instructor manages to combine a maximum of practical with a minimum of theoretic work, would seem to be an important factor in holding the interest of students. Some very good work was turned out by individual members of the men's class, which was held during four twelve-week terms. The women's class, though less strong in numbers, carried on during three terms and produced some very creditable specimens of work. The shorthand class—a small one —was in capable hands. This class consists of students of two grades—first-year students learning the elementary sections of the work, and second-year students striving for speed. Wherever attendance is good students are found to be making steady progress. The class in invalid cookery, for nurses from the Waipawa Hospital at Waipukurau, had a chequered career. The railway strike caused a break for some weeks, yet despite this the programme of. work was carried out with success. We are indebted to the Hawke's Bay Education Board for its courtesy in allowing us to make, use of the services of its domestic-science instructress to carry on the work of this class. Three local bodies —the Waipawa Borough. Council, the Waipawa County Council, and the Patangata County Council —were voluntary contributors to the funds of the association during the year. Gilbert McKay, Chairman. WELLINGTON DISTRICT. Extract from the Report of the Director of the Wellington Technical School. The opening of the session was marked by one of the most important changes in the history of the institution. Mr. La Trobe, who for fourteen years guided the fortunes of the school from the days of small things until it came to rank as one of the largest educational institutions in the country, accepted the important post in the Education Department of Superintendent of Technical Instruction for the Dominion. Mr. La Trobe's period of office was marked by great developments, in particular by the establishment of the Technical High School, which is now the largest and most important department of the institution. Its foundation and growth, in spite of the extraordinary disadvantages under which it has laboured, is a great testimony alike to the courage and patience of the Director and the staff, and to the demand for such a school to meet presentday needs. Before he resigned Mt. La Trobe had the satisfaction of knowing that the long-continued struggle to secure a worthy site for the new school was at least brought to a successful issue by the grant from the Government of 4 acres on Mount Cook. Mr. La Trobe was succeeded by the undersigned, who was Director of Christchurch Technical School ; in the interregnum, which was unduly prolonged through the serious illness of the new Director, the position of ActingDirector was ably filled by Mr. Bolton, head of the commercial department. It is very regrettable that the year has passed without any actual work being done on the site. The delay has been due partly to the changes in administration, partly to the need for special legislation, but mainly to the long discussion between the Board, the architects, and the Department over the general lay-out of the new buildings. It is believed that the time and thought given to the matter will be thoroughly justified, and will result in a school of which Wellington may well be proud. The Board has decided to close the special day classes in shorthand and typewriting which had been carried on for many years as a separate part of the institution. In future all girls wishing instruction in these subjects during the day will be required to take the Technical High School course which includes sound training in English and in home science. In order that facilities may be provided for instruction in engineering science, the Board has .suspended the classes in needlework and dressmaking until the new buildings are available, the. large room in use for these subjects being adapted as a laboratory for mechanics, physics, electricity and magnetism, electric light and power. The average attendances at the various classes arc in many cases disappointing, but it is hoped that the arrangement of fees on an annual basis, which the Board has decided to adopt for next year, will result in the encouragement of students to take longer courses, and thus do better work than is possible for those who enrol only for a short period. Classes for returned soldiers have been conducted on behalf of the Repatriation Department in motor engineering, commercial training, and in preparation for the Public Service Entrance Examination. Twenty-four soldiers attended the motor class with excellent results. Most of these qualified and are now following the trade, while others are continuing their training tins session. Nineteen attended for commercial training ; some of these are already in business, and some are preparing for the University book-keepers' certificate. The Public Service Examination classes had a large entry, but a considerable proportion found that the classes on four evenings at the end of their