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Superintendents Report for 1893.

(Read at the closing meeting of the Session, held 12th October).

The classes were opened on April 10, and carried on with the usual fortnight's recess in July till October 6.

The total number of students enrolled was 313 for the first quarter, and 219 for the second quarter. But for the unfortunate delay in the arrival of apparatus and of typewriting machines the number of pupils would undoubtedly have been larger. Now that the Association have secured ample accommodation for the practical classes, and furnished the class rooms with abundance of excellent apparatus, they hope that the young people of Dunedin and suburbs will freely avail themselves of the opportunity thus presented of continuing the work of the primary and high schools, and the better fitting themselves for their life work.

The following classes were held:—English—Class A, Mr R. G. Whetter, M.A.; Class B, Mr T. D. Pearce, M.A.; Latin, Mr E. A. Phillips, B.A.; French, Mr R. Donald, M.A., B.Sc.; Mathematics, Mr James Rennie, B.A.; Arithmetic, Mr J. A. Johnson, M. A.; Bookkeeping, Mr J. A. Johnson, M.A.; Chemistry, Mr J. R. Don, M.A., B.Sc.; Physics, Mr George A. Simmers, M.A., B.Sc.; Botany, Mr J. S. Tennant, B.A.,B.Sc.; Applied Mechanics and Engineering, Mr W. Cutten; Wood-carving, Miss Gether; Carpentry, Mr. Selby; Shorthand, Mr J. Crosby Smith; Typewriting, Mr. S. C. Cope; Cookery and Domestic Economy, Mrs. Miller.

The Botany Class was opened on February 13 under Mr Simmers. He was unfortunately unable (owing to an accident) to continue the work, and his place was taken by Mr J. S. Tennant. The work for 1898-94 has already begun, and Mr Tennant hopes to supplement the laboratory work with a considerable amount of field work.

Delay in the arrival of the s.s. Ionic with the Physics page 14 apparatus prevented Mr. Simmers opening that class till the session was well advanced. The class will continue their work till the prescribed field has been covered, when the examination will be held, and certificates granted to the successful candidates.

Three new classes have been opened this session—Botany, Physics, and Typewriting; and a class for Metal Work would have been opened, but the necessary room and apparatus could not be got ready in time. The work, however, is well advanced, and the Committee hope to see this class well attended next session. Additional typewriters and a large supply of keyboards for beginners have been ordered by the Committee, and will be ready to meet the expected increase of the would-be typists.

Reports of Miss Gether's Wood-carving Class and Mr Selby's Carpentry Class have not been presented. From the nature of the work of these classes, examination was not attempted, but highly satisfactory work has been done by both.

The certificates about to be presented have been awarded on the joint reports of the class teachers and assessors appointed by the Committee. The scholastic status and professional reputation of the teachers gives sufficient guarantee that the class work will be well done; but the assistance of an assessor is welcomed by the teacher, and the joint verdict should greatly enhance the value of the certificate. The Rev. R. Waddell, M.A., examinedin English; Rev. A. R. Fitchett, M.A., in Latin; Mr T. D. Pearce, M.A., in French; Miss M'Kean, Otago Girl's High School, in Mathematics; Mr Hunter, M.A., B.Sc., in Chemistry; Mr A. M'Lean, B.A., in Arithmetic; Mr W. H. Matthews, in Shorthand; Mr Duncan, Inspector of Machinery, in Engineering and Practical Mechanics; Mesdames Gordon Macdonald, Cohen, Wise, Solomon, and Miss Hay, in Cookery.

The Committee give their sincere thanks to those ladies and gentlemen for their valuable services.

Mr J. M. Allan, one of our senior students, has earned the Senior Diploma of the Association, having already gained six certificates during the past five sessions. This is the first year in which the diploma could be gained, and Mr Allan has thus secured the highest honour which the Association can confer.