TECHINCAL REPORT.

Grey River Argus, 11 April 1911, Page 5

TECHINCAL REPORT.

I ihave the ' honor to present the following 1 , detailed report on the work done at the technical classes held durin igthe year .1910 at the Grey mouth Technical School. The following" classes have been in operation: — I. 'Carpentry. Instructor, Mr W. Gardner. No fee is charged for ad-, mission /to this class;, and it depends for its support wholly on the capitation learned and the sale of its work. It is realty a class established for the purpose of (giving 1 free instruction to boys over i 3 years of. aigre attending pur city schools. Such ar- • tides as ibook-sheives etc., made by the pupils, are mostly purchased by themselves. A fair average attendance was maintained, .and the class earned tin capitation and sale of work £8 16s 6d. The instructor's salary was £10 and the coslt of the material £1 10k'' fid. lin view of the fact that no fee ■whatever ds changed for admission, the srriallness of '<h<e deficit is evidence that the class is really a practical success. 2.— Wood-carving.— instructor, Mr W. Gardner. This class was established chiefly for the purpose of giving 1 caibiinet-makfers' apprentices an opportunity of learning this important part of their trade. With such an expert wood-carver in charge of the class it should have been better attended. Good progress was made and very fair work done. 3. Sfteam and the Steam-engine. — -A class in this subject is conducted by lM,r J. W. iHambleton. Excellent work was 'done by the class, and it is a pity more young" men did not take advantage of it. Its memfoershiip at preserit is practically confined to the apprentices of the Dispatch Foundry. The class has an excellent instructor, and it affords every facil- • ity for a (thorough insight into the theoretioal side of engineering work. The attendance was not as igood as it should be, and, but for the Dispatch (Foundry's subsidy of £8, the class would have ib'cen a ifinancial failure. 4. Mechanical drawing — This class was also conducted by Mr W. Hamble ton, and was attended iby practically the same pupils as ithe previous one. My remarks on 'No 3 are applicable to No 4. . 5. Physical, measuresmerits. — This was a class for teachers, conducted by Mr. A Talbot, IM.iA. This subject is taken up ,by a large number of schools in (New Zealand, and the know ledge acquired by teachers attending this class will be of ,gireat asistance to them in itheir school work. The attendance was small. •6. Plasticine Moulding. — This also was a class for teachers, conducted by Mr Gardner. It was very well attended, and the work done was very creditable both to ithe class and- its teacher. .... . ..... j . . 7. (Free-iarm Drawing.— This class was conducted by Miss Smith. Although open to all comers, it .was attended chiefly by teachers preparing for examination. Miss Smith is a. very painstaking* and capable teacher, and the class, though numerically small, was in every other respect very successful. . 8. Convent Cookery Class. — A spe cial class in this subject was conducted ,by the Sisters of Mercy. The attendance was excellent, and the work in every respect was satisfactory. 9. ißunangia Cookery Class. — Instructor, Miss Duncan. 10. Cobden Cookery , Class. Instructor, Miss 'Barnhill. 11. Grey District High. School 'Cookery Class. — Instructor, Miss Blair. ' The attendance at nine and ten was fair, and at 11, excellent. These classes are conducted by teachers from the above named 1 schools who have willingly and cheerfully taken on this extra work entailed without expectation, of reward or remuneration of any kind. The classes have been a decided success from every point ipf view, financial and otherwise, and I would recommend that a small bonus of £2 2s Od each be granted to the teachers in recognition of their services. General. — The fees changed for admission to the above classes are very low, 10s per iterm of 10 lessons being- the highest fee charged for any class. With the exception of the Car pen try class, the capitation earned and fees- charged have in every class exceeded the cost of maiterial and the instructor's salary. 'Of course the expenses, caretaking* and gas, have to (be taken into account, and in this con ruection I \would lag&in recommend that the Borough Council be written to asking them to grant us a subsidy towards Technical Education; or at least to give- us a refund of the amount- actually paid them for gas .used by the Technical classes. . The total .■ roll" > number ■ of pupils attending- "special? '- classes at the Technical School was 146, representing 120 pupils,* and ithe total average" attendance was 99. Taking into account the disadvantages under which the pupils labour, this average is very satisfactory. The walls of the .building are porous and admit the .rain, the concrete in them having •been made of sea-sand. In wet weather the moisture from the sides rioods and floor, and as' there is, no heating apparatus of any kind to the lange barn-like room.i .the reluctance of pupils to sat out two hours on codl, wet nights under ;. such uncomfortable conditions can be easily understood. The whole b,uilding needs re-plastering-, and this should be done as soon as possible, otherwise stoves, tools and apparatus will.be all iuin,ed with dampness. ; ' In addition to 4he numbers given as attending "special" classes, 66 children receive lessniiis aiomf m.bfg children 1 receive lessons in Cookery ait the Technical School, and put -of our less than '2;000; children in, the

District, no fewer than 800 are receiving instruction (in various technical subjects, such as Carton-work, Cardboard modelling, Paper-folding, Agriculture, Ambulance work, etc. On ithe whole, dt will, I think, be. evident that Gremouyth is well supplied with Tehnical classes, under more than ordinarily competent instructors.At present we are somewhat in advance of the actually ' existing demand. (Doubtless the desire for this class of instruction will .'grow; and in ithe .meantime it is satisfactory to reflect that the present needs of he community, are being more than met and that,- • even though the demand is not as yet very pronounced or extensive, at least the amplest possible opportunity is given. E. A. SCOTT, Inspector. The chairman moved' that the report be received arid referred to the committee appointed to gio into technical education.- He was pleased to learn that over 800 children • were receiving technical education. He thought thait the Borough Council, Harbour Board and County Council- should foe asked .for a grant. The teachers should receive the 'bonus recommended.-. iMr Flynn seconded and said it was a most satisf actory report and was most encouraging. Hon. Jas. Marshall stated that he was pleased to hear such a favourable report. .He thought the local bodies should be asked to make a grant. The motion was carried.