SCHOOL ACTIVITIES

Evening Post, Volume CXXVII, Issue 92, 20 April 1939, Page 5

SCHOOL ACTIVITIES

HUTT VALLEY TECHNICAL

REPORTS TO THE BOARD

The monthly meeting of the Hutt Valley Memorial Technical College Board of Managers was held last evening. Present were Mr. W. B. Nicholson (chairman), Mrs. M. Chappell, W.

V. Dyer, Jas. S. Conehouse, F. A, Toombs, F. C. Parr, N. Amies, E. S, Neill, and A. Grierson.

The principal, Mr. A. McFadyen, advised having drawn the attention of the Education Department to the lack of fire escapes in the workshop building.

The Education Department advised that the necessity for further accommodation was realised and that plans were being prepared.

The Petone Borough Council was thanked for placing certain grounds at the disposal of the college for recreation purposes.

The thanks of the board were expressed to Mr. A. Goodall for the gift of an athletic cup.

The appointment of a full-time teacher and two part-time 'teachers was approved.

The principal reported that 96 evening classes were now being conducted, and that the following new classes had been established:—Window display, business principles, secretarial law and practice, theory of structures, Diesel engineering, automotive engineering, science for studentship, . and extra classes in crafts, practical mathematics, and applied mechanics, mechanical drawing, electrical engineering, building construction and drawing, carpentry and joinery, metal-workshop, dressmaking. The staff of the evening classes now numbered 35 in addition to eleven members of the day staff.

Art classes for primary pupils had been recommenced on Thursday afternoons and Saturday morning.

Summarising the outside activities the principal reported that during the past season the cricket teams played ten matches, of which five were won and three drawn. In football 66 players were offering for Rugby and 46 for Association; 103 girls were playing basketball and 32 had elected to play hockey. Drill was held three times a week and combined marching twice a week.

There were 37 members of the band which, in spite of a shortage of instruments, was doing good service. The standard of the marching was of a high order. Separate classes for boys and girls in singing were held.

There was a life-saving class of which seven girls and six boys had received the intermediate certificates of the Royal Life-saving Society, four girls and five boys the bronze medallion, and two boys, W. Roy and F. Torrance, instructor's certificates, the latter examination being one not usually attempted by schoolboys. There were St. John Ambulance and junior Red Cross classes. In addition, there had recently been formed the following hobbies clubs:—Magazine, stamps, meccano, dramatic, model aeroplane, Morse, radio, fretwork, models, draughts, and gymnastic. The last-named club was held at the V.M.C.A., with instruction from Mr. Cato. It was also propsed to form girls' clubs.