River Gauge

Manawatu Times, Volume 61, Issue 292, 10 December 1936, Page 8

River Gauge

Midnight: 2ft. (Manawatu cricket competition): Technical School team (B. Millar, captain). Bedingiield Cup, best prepared speech: Fatti Hobbs. Morgan Volume, for outstanding scholastic work: Philip C. Alve. Rotary Club’s prize for best essay on “League of Nations”: Fatti Hobbs. Director’s Annual Report. Extracts from the annual report o! the director (Mr. G. G. Haucox) were as follow:

Numbers: Altogether 1573 students were enrolled, 900 being free, 311 paying and 102 manual. The weekly hour enrolments wero tho highest yet recorded. The evening school was the strongest it had been for five years. At March 1, the full-time equivalent roll of the Technical High School, excluding manual students, was 507. That the school continues to attract students from a wide area is shown by the fact that 118 pupils travelled by train and 30 by bus. According to tho annual returns of the Education Department, the school, in point of part-time students, ranks fifth in tho Dominion. Courses: In the Technical High School, full-time preparatory trades, rural industrial, arts and crafts, commercial, domestic and special courses were provided, while in the part-time day and evening classes the subjects covered a very wide range from Std.. 0 proficiency to university degree standard. A now course commenced in the third term was that of aeronautical engineering. It has already aroused much interest and in the future should prove a valuable addition to our curriculum. Tho high standard required for the examination for ground engineers will necessitate the students having a good foundation of general engineering theory and practice before they commence to specialise. We aro indebted to the Hon. Minister of Defence for making a Bristol-Fighter available to the school for instructional purposes. Another new class which should become increasingly important was musical appreciation and instrumental practice. A course of lectures on musical appreciation was much enjoyed by pupils of the Technical High School.

Examinations: The success of our students in the various public examinations indicates that the quality of the work is being well maintained. Equipment: During the year a considerable sum has been spent in providing up-to-date machinery for the new engineering shop. A balopticou and a wireless set with loudspeaker and gramophone attachments have been installed. Wo havo continued the effort to modernise the general equipment of the school.

Buildings: The workshops building has been completed by the addition of a mechanical engineering shop, which is one of tho best of its kind in the Dominion. From moneys raised by the staff and students through gala days, daffodil days and other efforts, and with the assistance of a subsidy, we were able to add a kitchenette to the assembly hall. This has already proved a great boon. Additional accommodation for tuition and administration purposes is urgently required. Employment: The school has continued to be used as a bureau for placing young people in positions. Throughout the year the demand for boys and girls who have had two years or more with us has been greater than the supply.

Staff: The staff has consisted of IS full-timo and 41 part-time teachers, the full-time equivalent being 27.2. Special efforts: As a result of the good team work of tho staff and students and of the co-operation of the parents and the general public, our gala day realised £74 13s lOd gross arid £62 Is 9d net; the annual concert, £3O 11s gross and £25 Is 3d net; and the daffodil day £6l 14s 9d gross and £SS Is 4d net, which last was a record. During the nine years the daffodil day effort has been made the total net amount raised has been £462 16s 6d.

Sports: Owing to the excellent facilities at our grounds and to the assistance of tho staff, tho outdoor life ol the school has been well provided for. Tho rivalry in games and other activities between the four clubs —Arawa, Ngapuhi, Rangitane and Tainui —has been keen. Teams have taken part in cricket, tennis, swimming, life-saving, rugby, soccer and basketball competitions, while enjoyable inter-school games have been played. Our first XI won the third grade cricket competition. We also won the challenge shield for the games played against the Masterton Technical High School.

Thanks: I wish to thank the members of the staff for -.their; loyal -so-.

operation in ail activities for tho welfare of the school and for sound advice in matters affecting their special departments. I also wish to express the gratitude of the school to the Hon* Minister of Education and the officers of his department for their sympathetic consideration of our many requirements; to tho parents for their interest and generosity; to the Palmerston North City Council, the Kairanga County Council and the Old Students* Association for their donations; to Mrs* M. H. Bedingfield for the donation of a cup; to the Morgan family for the presentation of a prize volume; to tho ladies’ and old students’ committees; to the Press; to the Board of Governors for their generous support; and to al/ others who have helped us.