TECHNICAL EDUCATION. MEETING OF THE BOARD.

Evening Post, Volume LXXVI, Issue 76, 26 September 1908, Page 5

TECHNICAL EDUCATION. MEETING OF THE BOARD.

A meeting of the Board of Control in connection with the Wellington Technical School was held yesterday, Mr. J. P. Luke in the chair. There were also present Messrs. D. Robertson and T. Ballinger. The chairman reported that there was nothing new in connection with the proposed site at Jaiii Tin Gully *or the new Technical School, further than the fact that the Prime Minister, had promised to include in a "washing up" Bill, should one be introduced, a clause to legalise the change of location, acquirement of site, etc., which would be necessary to carry out the board's wishes. There was., however, no surety that there would be any such Bill introduced, and if not, the exchange of site could not be made this year, for it was too late to mtiodacb a private or local Bill. As to the site itself, there had been generally favourable comment, though some had questioned whether a suitable foundation could be got there. In company with Mr. La*Trobe and Mr. Trevor (a practical builder), the speaker had made an examination of the site, and they were aIJ of opinion jthat the foundations could be put down safely and cheaply. > Intimation was made that a donation of ten guineas had been made to the board by "A Sympathiser" ; also one of seven guineas by Mr. W. H. Morton, city engineer. Members_ spoke in appreciative terms of the action of Mr. Morton, who had presented the board with money due to him for professional work that had eatailed a lot of exacting labour on him. On the suggestion of the secretary, it was resolved that the money (plus Government subsidy) be spent in purchasing technical books for the school library, including one on mechanical engineering. Tenders tor supplies were accepted as follow : — Stationery and bookbinding, Messrs. Ferguson and Hicks; plumbing material, Messrs. Ballinger Brothers; library books, Messrs. Whjtcombe and Tombs , colours and materials, Messrs. Smith and Smith ; timber, the Stewart Hardware Company ; printing, Messrs. Blundell Brothers. No tenders were received for electrical supplies. The secretary was instructed to make temporary arrangements in Art classes, pendmg the aj»polntment of a modeller and designer.

An attractive programme has been prepared for a sacred concert which is to be given in the Basilica, Hill-street, to-morrow night, commencing at 7 o'clock. Miss Putnam will preside at the organ. • Several vocalists will assist. The missionary shield presented by Mr. and Mrs. W. F. Eggers to the Wellington Provincial Christian Endeavour Union is being exhibited in the Bible Tract Depot's window. The shield, which is a very pretty design, was made by Mr. W. R. Bock, and is to be presented to the Junior Society with the highest collections for foreign missions, at the Town Hall Concert Chamber after the junior demonstration on Wednesday next. Mi. and Mrs. Eggers have also given a £5 annuity with the shield. At a meeting of the Wellington Centre gf the New Zealand Amateur AthleticAssociation held last evening a circulai letter to delegates on centres of clubs affiliated to the association was submitted. It provided for the removal of the headquarters of the association from Christchurch^ to Wellington, and the views ot delegates to the centre in every district on this proposal were solicited. The circular concluded : — "We, the undersigned, hereby agree to our nomination ifor seats on. tho Council of thej N.Z.A.A.A., and, if elected, agree— (l) To support the removal ot the headquarters of the N.Z.A.A.A. from Christchurch to Wellington. (2) To arrange f.or an annual conference at the place where the championship meeting is being held, with the delegates of affiliated centres. (3) To take immediate steps to endeavour to resuscitate amateur sport in those districts in which it is at present languishing. — W. F. Larkin, F. Ross, A. Davies, W. Coffey, E. A. Dawson, -A. Marryatt, W. H. Pollock." Sir Robert Stout and Mr. Ngata sat this morning to deal with a question of the Waitfutuma lA, a block of native land of 17,800 acres near Cape Palliser, South Wairarapa. There were 39 owners; whose interests varied from 71 acres to 1200 acres. The natives asked generally that the committee should be validated to deal with the block as desired. A title partition order was issued in 1895 and the land was incorporated in 1907. The land was described as rough and hilly and full of deer. One witness suggested that a deer park might be made of it. The children, however, did not care about it. They would like to be near the town' and the billiard room. Several witnesses expressed the desire that the area should be ix>ld or leased, as the only animals on the land belonged to the Government and did not pay rent. The Maoris wanted to purchase other land more suitable for their purposes. Other witnesses desired the partition of the land m order that the areas might be defined and those who wished miglfl work their own sections. The commis- { siou adjourned till 6th October.