E.—2.

[Appendix B.

Manual and Technical Instruction. A woodwork-room was erected at Motueka, and classes in cookery and woodwork will be instituted shortly. Manual-training classes, were conducted with success at Nelson, Reefton, Takaka, Wakefield, Denniston, and Westport. The question of efficient agricultural instruction is still causing the' Board a good deal of anxiety. The provision of only one instructor for the whole district makes the adoption of a definite course; a difficult proposition. The impossibility of securing the services of an assistant at the present time is realized, but it is hoped to effect improvement in this important branch during the coming year. It was expected to have the new Technical High School at Westport completed by the: end. of the year, but owing to difficulties in regard to securing material, &c, this was not accomplished. The building promises to be a very handsome one, and is situated, on a splendid site, the gift of the Westport Borough Council. There: is no doubt that the sofiool when opened- it is hoped, early in 1922--will be of the greatest benefit to the children of the: whole of the: Buller district. On the disestablishment of the District High School it is expected that the Technical High School will open with about 160 pupils. During 1921 the total roll number for the various classes was 346, and the' total hour attendances at the various classes was as follows : Evening engineering, 1,582 ; carpentry, 3,640 ; dressmaking, 868 ; invalid cookery, 104 ; art subjects, 2,480 ; book-keeping, 2,250 ; shorthand and typing, 2,370 ; English and arithmetic, 1,950 ; domestic science and metal-work for private schools, 4,224; teachers' training classes. 1,204. Technical classes wise also conelucted at Reefton anel Takaka. The Technical School at Nelson is controlled by a Board, of Managers. Medical Inspection—The. Board is pleased to recorel its appreciation of the; excellent work being carried on by the school medical staff under, very often, most irksome conditions. Tooth-brush drill has been instituted in a number of schools with very beneficial results. Physical Instruction. —By his enthusiasm and skill the physical instructor effected a great improvement in regard to physical instruction throughout the district. Finance.- --At the; end of the year the Board's General Account was in debit to the extent of £22!) lis. 3d. In my last report it was hoped that this account would show a credit balance at this stage, but the unexpected discontinuance: of the' special grant of £250 made this impossible. Every effort will be made to remedy this during the current year, but owing to the large percentage of small schools in this district, and the: corresponding low average: attendance, it is found increasingly difficult to keep expenditure within the administration grant. I have, &c, The Hon. tlie Minister of Education, Wellington. F. W. O. Smith, Chairman,

CANTERBURY. SIR,— Christchurch, 12th April, 1922. I have the honour to present the following report of the proceedings of the Education Board of the District of Canterbury for the year ending 31st December, 1921. The Board.- -During the year there has been no change in the personnel of the: Board, the members in office be;ing as follow : Christchurch Urban Area—Mr. E. H. Andrews, Mr. J. Jamieson, Mr. A. Peverill, Mr. C. S. Thompson ; Timaru Urban Area—Mr. J. Maze, Mr. J. G. Gow ; North-west Ward -Hon. J. Grimmond, Mr. H. J. Bignell; Middle Ward—Mr. W. A. Banks, Mr. W. P. Spencer; South Ward —Mr. T. Hughes, Mr. G. W. Armitage. At a special meeting, of the Board held on the 7th September Mr. Armitage was elected Chairman of the Board. The; following standing committees were also appointed, the Chairman being ex officio member of each committee : Buildings Mr. Bignell (chairman), Mr. 'Jamieson, Mr. Peverill, Mr. Spencer, Mr. Maze ; Appointments—Mr. Hughes (chairman), Mr. Banks, Mr. Gow, Mr. Andrews, Hon. Mr. Grimmond, Mr. Thompson ; Agriculture and. Manual, and Technical—Mr. Spencer (chairman), Mr. Maze, Mr. Banks, Mr. Bignell, JVlr. Hughe's, Hon. Mr. Grimmond ; Finance: Mr. Thompson (chairman), Mr. Bignell, Mr. Peverill, Mr. Jamieson, Mr. Maze', Mr. Spencer; Normal -Mr. Andrews (chairman), Mr. Hughes, Mr. Gow, Mr. Banks, Mr. Jamieson, Mr. Peverill, Mr. Thompson. Board's Representatives; High School Boards -Akaroa, Mr. A. 11. Westenra, Mr. L. J. Vangioni ; Ashburton, Mr. R. Bell, Mr. R. Kennedy ; Greymouth, Mr. W. R. Kettle; Hokitika, Hon. 11. L. Michel; Rangiora, Mr. W. A. Banks,"Mr. H. Boyd; Timaru, Mr. J. Maze ; Waimate, Mr. W. Lindsay, Mr. J. G. Shackle:ton. Boards of Managers of Technical Classes- Ashburton, Mr. G. W. Andrews, Mr. R. Galbraith ; Banks Peninsula, Mr. J. D, Bruce ; Christchurch, Mr. C. H. Opie, Mr. E. H. Andrews ; Fairlie, Mr. J. R. Lack ; Geraldine, Mr. T. Hughes, Dr. P. W. Hislop ; Greymouth, Mr. H. J. Bignell, Mr. F. H. Kilgour ; Kaiapoi, Mr. W. Doubledav ; Pleasant Point, Mr. J. Maze ; Temuka, Mr. G. W. Armitage ; Timaru, Mr. G. J. Sealcv, Mr. J. G. Gow ; Waimate, Mr. E. Hassall. Buildings- The total expenditure on buildings and sites has during 1921 been somewhat less than in the previous year. The main reason for this was the fact that the high cost of material anel labour had been such a drain on the Board's finances that it became necessary to confine maintenance operations to works of urgency. When the fund has recovered from the set-back or price's are; reduced to a point which will enable the Board to carry on with money available, it is hoped to give; attention to many works which it is recognized should receive consideration. Large works carried out during the year include Allenton (additions), Charwell Forks (new school), Ealing (additions), Heathcote; (aeldltions), Hilton (residence), Kapua (additions), Linwood (additions), Methven (additions), Rokeby (residence), Rotherham (residence), Waimataitai (teachers' room), Willowbridge (shifting .and additions). In addition to the above works, which, with two exceptions, were carried out by the Boarrl's own staffs of workmen, there are in course of erection a new school at Phillipstown, additions at Timaru South, and new technical schools at Greymouth and Timaru. A new residence was purchased at Blackball. New site's or extension of existing site's were' provided at Ashburton, Mount Grey Downs, Richmond, Springbank, Sumner, and Temuka.

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