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" The Curriculum. —Geography and nature-study have now been introduced into the work of the schools. During the year a course in oral language was developed, and several of the courses of study were modified as a result of the work of last year. Work in the Native arts is somewhat handicapped because of the difficulty of getting supplies of raw material, which are rapidly becoming depleted in the Southern Group. The woodwork classes are to be more fully organized and developed, for at present many of the schools are handicapped as regards equipment or through some other handicap, such as want of a building or space for a workshop. The Director of Agriculture holds an afternoon class in agriculture for Native teachers, students, and the senior pupils. All schools maintain garden and agriculture plots, and in a practical manner the growing of certain crops and the care of certain plants are demonstrated. In many of the schools the funds with which to buy sports equipment, &c., are built up from the sale of produce from such plots. Inter-school matches in football, basketball, and cricket have been played by the Rarotongan schools. " The Pomare Medals have once again their recommended recipients among the pupils of the seven schools supervised by European head teachers. We express our appreciation to the Hon. Minister, Sir Maui Pomare, for such generous incentives for the promotion of scholarship and leadership among the senior pupils in the schools. " Improvement of Teachers. —Throughout the year classes for Native teachers and students have been held regularly. In the first six months of the year an hour per day during school hours, and two afternoons per week, were given to classes in arithmetic, English, health, nature-study, and agriculture. During the latter half of the year the same time was given to the teaching of the above subjects in their respective classes. This tuition has meant the giving-up of much time outside of school hours not only by the European teachers, but also by the Native teachers and students, many of whom, in Rarotonga, travelled two afternoons per week to Avarua, a distance of from six to twenty miles daily. Similar classes for teachers were held by the European head teachers in the outer islands of the Southern Group. " Students in Training. —During the year thirteen students were receiving added tuition and training in class-room procedure at the Avarua Normal School. Some of these have been placed in the schools of the Southern Group. Those remaining have to complete a course of two years' training before they eventually take charge of classes permanently. The scheme is sound and practical, and already this year students have been called on to fill, temporarily, positions of teachers on leave. They have undertaken their responsibility most satisfactorily and efficiently. '' Dental Treatment. —Throughout the year the Dental Officer gave treatment to the children of Avarua and Takitumu schools, and since November the children of the Mangaian schools have been receiving attention. It is hoped that all the children in the schools on Rarotonga can be catered for this year. " Text-books and Reading-material. —The problem of obtaining suitable text-books and readingmaterial is still a very real one. All schools are now supplied with reading-books and a limited quantity of other reading-material. Still, these do not provide that informational matter desirable in the various subjects. A school journal, Te Tuatua Apii, is being published and distributed bi-monthly, and the Native teachers and children are finding it a valuable addition to their limited reading-material. While the majority of articles are written in simple English, some are written in Maori. This journal should provide not only a source of reading and reference for the children, but also for those who have left school, and for the parents, and should help to give an added understanding of the outside world." Public Wobks. The following are the principal works carried out by this Department during the year : — Roads and Bridges. —The prison gang has been kept fully employed repairing the main road, sufficient men being available to work the tramway and lorries. A new lorry was procured during the year. The wooden bridges have required considerable attention. Several of these bridges are unsafe for the heavy traffic during the fruit season, and they should be replaced by reinforced-concrete structures. The small wooden bridge, St. Joseph's Road, has been replaced by a concrete culvert. The corner of this road and the main road itself have also been widened and made much safer for traffic. Two triple culverts of reinforced concrete were laid to drain the swamp at the southern end of Aorangi, as recommended by Mr. J. B. Thompson, Under-Secretary for Lands, during his visit here. The Natives concerned promised to cut the drain, but so far they have not made any effort to keep their promise. Tapere Roads. —The Avatiu people have been busily engaged making two side cuttings in the Avatiu Valley Road. This will form a new road on a higher level, as the old road on the lower ground was frequently washed out by floods. In all cases of Tapere roadwork the Administration supplies food, which is rationed to the workers by the head Natives in charge. The Administration also erects bridges and culverts where necessary. Foreshore. —The jarrah posts erected eighteen years ago along the foreshore are being replaced with reinforced-concrete posts. The road is also being widened and levelled as opportunity permits. Drains. —The Marairenga drain from the sea through Makea's and the Experimental Nursery to the Ngatipa Road has been cleaned and deepened to the original depth, and also the drain from the Marairenga drain to the valley at foot of Ngatipa hill. Water-supplies - The water-supply mains, especially at Ngatangiia, Arorangi, and Avarua, give considerable trouble after every heavy rain. Much repair work has been carried out on the Avarua main, and in a few months' time this main for 700 ft. at the intake will be removed from the creek-bed and placed on higher ground, except in three places where crossing the creek cannot be avoided ; the intake is also being removed to about 300 ft. farther up the stream to a more protected pool. This will increase the pressure and give a better supply to residences situated on the higher levels. When the

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