E.—2,

32

the people of this country demand, substantial additions must be made to existing accommodation. Not only is the College too small for those in attendance, but many students from the outlying education districts are sent to other training-college centres. An exchange of land arranged with the City Council adjacent to the Terrace Gaol site, and the approaching completion of the grading, prepare the way for an establishment for the College more in keeping with present requirements. The Board notes with satisfaction the advance of music to its place in the curriculum, indicated by the appointment of a full-time lecturer. It places on record not only its own obligation, but also that of the whole community, to Mr. Robert Parker for the excellence of the service he has rendered as its musical instructor and lecturer over the long period of thirty-six years. The position of full-time lecturer was filled by the appointment of Mr. E. A. F. Jenner, A.R.A.M., L.R.A.M. The Board placed on record its appreciation of the good work of the Acting-Principal and staff, which was carried on in conditions of much difficulty. Instruction of Teachers. —There were 110 Saturday classes, but two refresher courses were undertaken in the Training College—(a) 23rd to 27th January, 1928, dealing with the chief subjects of the curriculum ; (b) first term holidays (7th to 12th May), dealing with physical instruction and nature-study and agriculture. Manual. — Handwork was undertaken at all schools. Needlework was taught by special instructresses in thirty-nine schools in charge of male teachers. Cookery and woodwork were undertaken at centres by the pupils of sixty-six schools. The number under instruction was 2,433 girls and 2,568 boys ; total, 5,001. The most urgent works are the erection of the new cookery centre, Mount Cook, and better accommodation for woodwork classes to meet the growing needs of Petone. The Supervisor of Manual Instruction has carried out a series of experiments made with a view to determine whether a course in light woodwork can be successfully undertaken. The Board has agreed to find the tools and other equipment for twenty-two small schools, so as to try it out in actual school conditions. Two such classes —Hastwell and Newman—were already at work during the year. Martinborough is provided and Featherston about to be provided with a manual centre attached to the district high school. Extensive renewals of equipment were authorized both for woodwork and cookery centres. Buildings.—The difficulty of accommodation, owing to expansion and transfer of population to the Hutt Valley, to Miramar, and to Karori, continued. Although forty class-rooms and live manual and science rooms were erected, nine were for fire replacements, and in several instances the authorities were received much behind requirement. The shortage is not yet overtaken. Further, as the country has been able to a.fford an excellent system of road and hydro-electric construction, my Board is strongly of opinion that the people of this country would favour an equally enterprising policy of providing, to keep pace with advancing need, the buildings required for the best product of our country — its children —instead of requiring the Board to use in the areas of expansion all kinds of unsuitable makeshift buildings. These buildings are often used for other than school purposes and the proper proprietary spirit —" This is our school " —cannot possibly be created. Then, there are a number of old buildings which, having well served their day, might well have been removed years ago. Year after year, Principal after Principal has reported on the inefficiency of training-college accommodation, and these reports until the present year have gone practically unheeded ; but the Board is pleased to note that an advance is shortly to be made. Substantial expenditure is also required on the sanitary systems of many of our schools, so that the gospel of cleanliness of thought may here be more perfectly inculcated. While thus expressing the considered opinion of the Board, it recognizes the help rendered by your officers and their constant courteous desire to help so far as the vote permits. The following is a brief summary of the work of the year which, for the reasons stated, was an extremely difficult one, taxing greatly both the buildings staff and the teachers concerned : New buildings—Pirinoa (two rooms) ; Picton (four rooms), to replace schools destroyed by fire ; Ngaio (five rooms) ; Miramar Central (seven rooms) ; Mornington (three rooms) ; Opiki (one room) ; Wharanui (one room) ; two manual and technical centres at Martinborough (three rooms) ; Mount Cook (two rooms) ; and also a school at Hokio for your Department. Additions—Eketahuna District High School (three rooms), (fire replacement) ; Karori (2 rooms, and remodelling and heating) ; Trentham (one room) ; Lyall Bay (one room, and remodelling two rooms, and heating) ; Shannon (one room, remodelling two rooms, and removing old room) ; Waiwhetu (three rooms). School Committees. —School Committees, supported by home and school associations, in various districts have done excellent service in supplementing by local contribution for various worthy purposes the moneys available from its funds. For the purposes for which subsidy is granted there were received no less than 206 applications, for a total sum of no less than £2,258 10s. 9d. The corresponding figures for the preceding year were 146 applications, for a total sum of £2,150 os. 9d.

p Number of Amount of " 1 Applications. Contribution. £ s. d. Ground improvements .. .. .. .. .. 33 901 7 3 First-aid outfits .. .. .. .. .. .. j 5 Gramophones and records .. .. .. .. .. 29 152 8 0 Pianos .. .. .. . . .. . . . . 16 417 7 6 Library .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 66 383 16 ¥4 Miscellaneous .. .. .. .. .. .. 57 397 6T 2 Totals .. .. .. .. .. .. 206 2,258 10 9 i