TECHNICAL COLLEGE

Evening Post, Volume CXXVI, Issue 127, 25 November 1938, Page 7

TECHNICAL COLLEGE

VISITORS' EVENING

INTERESTING TOUR

PARENTS SEE BOYS' WORK

Visitors last evening had the opportunity of seeing the extent of the training available at the Technical College, and the big building was filled with an eddying crowd of parents and other members of families who were evidently impressed by tlie scale on which opportunity is placed within reach of all youth today. Many of the appointments and furnishings were ihe work of the pupils, and the quality of the work was the subject of comment. The director (Mr. R. G. Ridling) and the heads of the many departments were on hand to direct visitors, and the cafeteria dealt with a large humber of people who needed; refreshment after cruising the wide range of activities. j The library, now in charge of a full-, time attendant, is a rapidly-growing department, open to anybody for refer-1 ence purposes. It has already a large \ number of works which are constantly being added to. Science, mechanics, economics, salesmanship, mercantile law. public administration, and many other subjects are catered for in periodicals and standard works. The substantial tables and furniture were made in the college workshops, and on normal occasions the big room is well adapted for quiet study. The electric laboratory contained many interesting things. Here an aluminium egg waltzed on a glass pan, rotating in opposite directions alternately as the current below was changed. The two main types of street lighting, sodium and mercury, were explained by examples and polariscopes.' Relays for the protection of transmission lines were demonstrated in early and later, models, which showed how temporary faults through overload do not break the current permanently. The progress made in filaments for lamps was shown, and the latest metal threads of marvellous fineness, yet capable of remaining at a white heat indefinitely, were . seen under the microscope. OTHER ACTIVITIES. In another bay were seen the machines,for, testing the resistance and breaking strain of metals, under tension or impact, while another machine tested for hardness. One laboratory was devoted to heat engines, and showed a motor-car engine and a Diesel engine under test for horse-power, petrol engines, a miniature hydro-elec-tric scheme, with Pelton wheel and dynamo, worked by the city water supply. A gas engine, worked from the town supply, section models of motor-car, steam, and other engines, completed an instructive spot. Commercial classes were seen at work. Here are taught bookkeeping, shorthand, and, amongst other subjects, economic history. From these classes many-pupils secure positions without sitting for examinations, though numbers have passed the requisite examinations for Government and other positions. The carpentry work exhibited was of a ljigli standard, embracing cabinet work, sash and door work, stair making,. and. : furriiture. The engineering work shown was also of high quality. A model flat' attracted a great deal of attention. As one visitor remarked, it was somewhat unkind to show.what was possible in the way of comiort and compactness in view of the sort of houses many people had to live in in Wellington. The flat's living-room was of the ideal dimensions, long and roomy, and nowhere was the flat cluttered up by unnecessary furnishings or fittings, though every want was provided for. The bathroom was particularly inviting, as was the kitchenette. Built-in cupboards were plentiful. The kitchen for the college was a place of interest for the women, and it and its storeroom showed the big public it has to cater for daily. To have examined all the features of the college would have taken several hours, but those who visited it last night were greatly impressed by the practical nature of the instruction given, and by the excellence of the work done. Commercial art and decoration and the allied trades, with many examples of the work of students in other directions showing ability which merits encouragement, provided a section of activity which received considerable attention from the visitors. Another department which was well investigated was that devoted to wireless, where radio "fans" were on the lodk-out for tips to circumvent-their own troubles. .

The display of work will be open to visitors again this evening.