TECHNICAL CLASSES.

Press, Volume LXIII, Issue 12849, 6 July 1907, Page 10

TECHNICAL CLASSES.

BOARD OF MANAGERS

The Board of Managers of the Christchtirch Technical Classes met last evening at the Industrial Association's rooms. Present —Dr. (in tho chair), Messrs Cooper, Haves, Bellamy, Manhire, Gapes, Denham, Parsons, Buchanan, Hob he, Barlow. Murphy, Kichardeon. Allison, Rusbridge, Rowe, Mtilgan, Lumsden, Hart, and Howeli (director). CHAIRMAN'S STATEMENT. Tho Chairman reported that on June 21st a telegram wae received from the Minister, giving his consent to tn« recognition cf tho day classes. 'mis con«»nt had been lons —it would srem unnecessarily long—delayed, but no time had sinco b-.cn lost in bringing before tho notice of the public tho intentions of the- Board with rfgard to tho dny school. Ho ventured to think that tho cstabli.*hni: nt of tho day school was one of the most important t'vrnts that had taken place tor many ye-.irs in tho educational world of Chmtchuroh. All th<? resources of the Technical CoLicge—well appointed buildings, lino equipment, and highly qualified staff—would be at xhu service of tho pupils, and it was n ) rxnggeration to say that there would bo no other school in the colony sowoll adapted for the purpose wuioh it had in view, as the 'leehnirai Day School. Within tho last fortnight the Government liad approved a grant of £1.0 for electrical fittings and machinery for driving live machinery alicady on order for the woodwork shop. * Tho sum of £200 had nlso bren grante<l for fittings, and another £IJ)9 for apparatus for the science department. It was hoped that it would bo possible to hold tho day school on the first floor of tho now buildings on and after July loth, but it now c eniod doubtful whether tho painting and varnishing would be finished in time to a.llow all the necessary cleaning to 00 done by that date. Everything shou <l however, b? in order by July 22 nd! From the numlter of enqu'irirs that had been received, it seemed likrly that the staff already arranged for Voukl prove inadequate, nn<l that another appointment would h'iro to bo made to tho permanent staff. Mr Mulgan referred to the interest that was ix>ing taken in the schools both by parents an<l scholars, .md he had no doubt that in years to tome the institution would be among the vtry first of technical schools in the colony Iho Chairman's statement was received. OORREfiPOXDE.XOE. A letter was received from the Education Hoard, stating that they would allow the Board of Managers to have the use of a room in the South Belt School for technical classes. The lofcter was received. The iSeddon Memorial Committee wrote, stating that at its last meeting it had resolved that their funds should be handed to the Board of M-anagers for the purpose of erecting a memorial hall, in which was to be plnced a rremoriel tablet with an inscription, stating that tho haJl was in commemoration of the late. Mr Seddon. The total fund now amounted to £511 7s Id. The contributes to the memorial to tho greatest statesman tho colony had known were far short of what was anticipated. They hoped that the mai* portion, with tho Government subsidy, wculd bo devoted to the. purpose named f Mr Allison explained that the Committee had expected funds, which had been given to Timaru, and some funds were expected from the Besses o' the Barn performance at tho Exhibition, which tho Committee did not get. He moved that the letter bo referred to the Classes and Appointments Committee, which was agreed to.

COMMITTEES' REPORTS. The Classes and Appointments Committee reported : —Tll.lt it had decided to advertise for a clerk in charge of t"ho College ofiico, at a commencing salary of £120, and that from twenty-thre* applicants it had selected Mr A. H. Jones; that it had appointed Mr Hansard to he instructor in Gregg's shorthand. As the director proposed to take only science classes in tho new buildings, applications had been invited for instructor in practical mathematics. Some requests having been received for a courso for matriculation, the committee decided that arrangements should bo made for this after the vacation, if sufficient students offered, and has accordingly invited ■applications for an instructor in Latin, tho remaining subjects to be provided for by the p/esent staff. The committee reported that it has received and accepted the resignation of Mr Host, instructor in elementary bookkeeping, and has decided to place this class in charge of Mr Stewart, who has taken the intermediate and advanced bookkeeping.

Mr Rowo, in moving the ndoption of tho report, said that there were appientices who could not attend Canterbury College bec-auso they had not matriculated, and tho Ooinr'ittep thought that it would be a good thing if the Bonrd had an intermedirte class. This would give apprentices and boye leaving tho primary schools an opportunity to matriculate, and then cro to the College. The committee had decided to appoint Mr TV. C Colee, M.A., of the St. Albans school, as instructor in mithemitic« and Tyitin : Miss Rose had been elected to tnko charge of the needlework at the day school. The renort was adopted.

Tlif Bi'iVlinc Committee reeommendof[ that the btiilflin.es be injured for G-ifOO. nnd the report was adopted. Tho Finance Committee recommended:—Tint the accounts presente<l, •"Tiounttna to £173 6s Od. be passed for poyrre-nt; that in view of thestTtin? of the dny school, when the work •t tho College will be practically continuous thronehout the dny, tho committee recommends that a telephone bo placed at tho director's private lipine. The report was adopted. The Furnishing Committee reported : —That it had accepted the tender of MVsers William* and for the supply of students' and instructors' dr>«k*. according to sample, fnr £189 Is S,]. nnd th.it of Messrs Southworth ami Peters for tho fittings for <he ofrt< c and board room, ri«ing floors and pint forms, for £90 IS* fid. The. report was adopted. OPENING CERRMONY. The committee appointed to arrange for the opening ceremony recommended :—That as soon a* the classes are in working order in the new buildings, members of the contributing bodies be invited to visit and inspect the College; the puhlic opening ceremony should tnk« place about the beginning of tho third term, when the fittings are complete, and the first instalment of machinery hes arrived; tho Minister for Education should be invited to be present; a meeting should be first held in the workshop, to whirh members nrd public bodies should be asked, and the Minister and the Mayor b*» invite:! to rpfl.ik: rrfrrfhti'ents shv.iiH be prorid<«j j» contraction with these rrw»*»ti»i2s. if po*«ibl* by th? puri'j <"■? *he Cookery with the co-operation of Mrs Gardner. Mr Hart movel 'hat the president of the Trades and Lnbour Council b" niskod to speak, out the motion was lost. Tho report was adopted. DIRECTORS REPORT. The Directors report showed that there has boon- a steady grow in in the- number of scholar?. At the end of last term the number on the

xoll was 303, and the number of class entries 608. The. number now on tiio roll Ls 367. and tho number of class entries 832, or an increase of about or.e-iitth. There had been an increaso in all classes, except two, whore tho decrease was very small. He regretted ■to say, nowever, that,;, the average attendance was not altogether satisfactory. At this time. o. year many hgueee of business were "doing a great deal of overtime worx. and in tho interests of the students themselves, and ultimately in the interests cf the employers, it was important that those •■ho weie attending classes should not bo mado to work overtime. Owing to applications ioi instruction in g, a thim class was startod on We.inesdny evening last from 7.30 to 9.30. On July l*Jth tho clas.-ws would be resumed in the new buiuiings. Tho report was adopted.