HAWERA TECHNICAL SCHOOL.

Hawera & Normanby Star, Volume LVII, 24 May 1910, Page 5

HAWERA TECHNICAL SCHOOL.

COMMITTEE MEETING.

A meeting of Hawera Technical School Committee was held on Monday ; present — Messrs Dixon (chairman), JtJrunette, Strack, CJimie and Boase.

The Chairman explained that the ordinary meeting had been adjourned on account of the death of King Edward. He thought the committee could go further, and moved —

"That we express our sorrow at the death of King Edward VII., an

illustrious sovereign and a friend of

all his subjects ; w e also express our

sympathy with tho Queen and the

Koyal family, and our loyalty to

King George."

Mr .brunette seconded the motion, and the usual procedure was observed in its adoption.

DIRECTOR'S REPORT. The Director (Mr R. Browne) reported as under for April month: —

Enrolments in the various classes are as follows: — Wool-classing, 12; book-keeping, 25 free place, 27 paying; cookery, 10; Bee-keeping, 16; literature, 8; art classes, 41; shorthand ' (Pitman), 16; typing and shorthand, 23; commercial HJnglish, 27; commercial arithmetic, 27; Standard 6 sudjects, 3; dressmaking, 9. Total, 244.

Sickness interfered with the attendance during the past month. It IS v satisfactory to note that we have now 244 names on the roll, against 296 tor the whole of last year.

I am pleased to be able .to report that since last meeting, both bee-keeping and wool-classing have made a satisfactory start. There is now plenty of wool on hand, and a good deal has been donated to the school to form the nucleus of a "fleece fund." It may be possible + o arrange with other centres having finer quality fleeces, so that, by means of exchanges, a greater variety of wools may be available for future classes. The plumbing room gives good accommodation for wool-classing. The class in bee-keeping is now lti strong, and more are intending to join.

Bookkeeping has been divided into two sections, and there is now sufficient accommodation for both, as the numbers have dropped a little. Typing is better provided for, as several suitable machines are on offer at satisfactory prides .

Dressmaking and dresscutting.-jp-There is a better demand for these classes. We have an admirable instructor, and she is well qualified to take students through a complete course in fchis ,work. I hope that this year we shall have several students going up for the S.K. examination in these. I suggest that the firms having dressmaking esto.blislimcn.-fcs be canvassed for Students, such students to take the complete course, and to be encouraged to sit for examination.

Art classes continue to be well attended . It is pleasing to note that the majority of the students have enrolled in all four classes provided. There is a notable advance in the quality of the work done by the students.

Standard 6 Subjects. — This class is very small, and the attendance has fallen away owing to one cause and another. Haye v closed down in the meantime, while the students are making a canvass for more pupils.

School and Teachers' Classes. — Besides the technical classes, the school is used for D.H.S. classes in practical work, e.g., cookery, woodwork, building construction, agriculture and dairying. On Saturdays, teachers' classes '<\ drawing, vocal music and handwork are also held.

Bee-keeping. — This is a splendid class. It is perhaps worth noting that a beemaster with 75 hives is coming to this district.

Finance. — It should he possible to ■secure yearly donations to the technical classes. In other centres this is done, and now that the Hawera classes are a pronounced success so far as numbers of students is concerned, it is perhaps opportune to approach the Borough Council and Tradesmen's Association for regular, even if small, donations to the classes. The matter of fencing the school section requires attention.

Classes suggested, but not yet formed.—Millinery, photography, woodwork, architecture and building construction,, wood-carving, vocal music, plumbing, geology, soils and soil analysis, botany and plant breeding. As the second ' term begins on June 6th, it is fully time that arrangements were made re starting some or all of these' classes. Some discussion took place as to the starting of classes in architecture, machine draAving, . and other new subjects mentioned. , The Chairman suggested 4 that a meeting be advertised of the students who would attend such cases. Mr Strack thought the committee should work up those classes they now had, and not try to run other classes that would only 'have an attendance ot three or four pupils. Mr Brunette pointed out the practical side of machine drawing. On Mr Brunette's motion, it was decided to start, new classes if there was sufficient support. The Chairman said the exchanging of fleeces was a good idea. The starting of these classes should create a little more sympathy among farmers. He thought it would be a fair thing to ask the County Council and other bodies to assist "by giving a little donation. The amount - paid by students Hss^ was small. They could point out that this was done in other districts. Mr Brunette thought the Councils would now support the school. Mr Strack suggested that the question of approaching the Councils he held over for a month.

The Chairman referred to a section at +be rear of the school being leased from the borough at £10 a year, and nothing was said about the rates, but they were row informed that the committee should pay the rates. He was just wondering whether the committee should ask for a rebate if they had the rates to pay. The lease was not yet completed. If the committee paid the rntes they should ask the Council for an annun'l donation of £20. The other W-il bodies could also be asked to contribute ; the successful work done at; the school could be pointed out, also the fact that the majority of schools wf" - e assisted in that way.

It was decided to ask for donations f-'nm the County Council, Borough: Council, A. and P. Society, and the Caledonian Society^ it being pointed out that the constitution of the latter society provided for the furtherance of education.

The matter of securing a statement of what local bodies contribute and

the amounts in Wanganui Board's district was left to the Secretary. GENERAL. Yvanganui Board notified that the committee's suggestion that certificates should be awarded to successful pupils at the end of the year would receive consideration. The Chairman reported that the subcommittee set up had met the Winter Show directors, who wished the technical committee to act as stewards in connection with the education section, which was agreed on. The committee had also approved of the schedule and submitted extra classes. The Chairman brought up the matter of the fencing of the section adjoining the school. This should be gone on with at once, though they had not sufficient money in hand. It would cost £20, but he thought the finance would be all right by the end of the year, as they should get more donations. — Chairman and director to report as to cost of fencing at next meeting. The director intimated that donations to the amount of £34 17s had been promised 1 and partly paid.