TECHNICAL INSTRUCTION.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLII, Issue 13049, 14 December 1905, Page 6

TECHNICAL INSTRUCTION.

SUMMER SCHOOL AND OTHER MATTERS. Several matters in connection with the Department of Technical * Education and Manual Training were brought,under the notice of the/Auckland Education Board by the director (Mr. George George) at yesterday's meeting. '*, ■ Touching first on the summer school technical course from January 22 to February 2 for the benefit of teachers who had not had an opportunity of attending the special classes for teachers, Mr. George stated that there were 137 applicants entitled to receive instruction. This would necessitate two additional instructors, ' and on his suggestion Mr. Wallace, jun., and Miss Kenden were appointed extra instructors for the summer school course. The director reported that the public exhibition of work done by students attending the dressmaking and millinery classes, held' in the technical school buildings last week, had been very successful, the work done in dressmaking "being particularly good, and quite the best lie had seen at any technical school. „ The secretary of the Board (Mr. V. iv Rice) read a communication from the town clerk (Mr. Wilson) bearing on the site in ellesley-street for the technical school. This stated that the City Council was desirous in every way of meeting the Board m the matter of a "site, and agreed to lease a portion of lot 23 and the whole of lot 24 to the Board for the purpose mentioned. It was also suggested that with a view i.o obtaining additional sections to increase the area to thice-quarters of an acre, the Board should introduce a Bill to Parliament to give them the reversionary interest in allotments at present pledged by the Council for loan, purposes and power to resume the leases under the Public Works, Act in the event of the. land being required'for the erection of buildings in connection with the technical college. 'On the motion of Mr. L. J. Baguall it was decided to proceed on the lines suggested. In connection with the swimming classes for public school children, Mr. George pointed out that the engagement of the instructor terminated with the close of the present year, and asked what provision was to be made for the future. It was decided to call a meeting of the Swimming Committee appointed by the Board to discuss the question generally, and to leave it to the Executive Committee of the Board appointed to deal with educational matters during the vacation to take such steps as might be deemed desirable. The Thames Schools Committee wrote urging the .Board to allow Mr. Cockburn, art instructor, who has been instructing the teachers of that district for rather over three months, to complete 12 months in the centre. Mr. George stated that the results as far as the Thames was concerned had been somewhat disappointing in that the number of teachers attending the classes had dwindled down from 28 to eight or nine. He thought that all centres should bo given the services of the instructor for a reasonable period, and added that Mr. Cockburn might again return to tho Thames later on if necessary. The director suggested Hamilton as the next centre to have the services of the instructor, and this was endorsed by the Board. The application from the Thames for an extension of Mr. Cockburn's services for 12 months was declined.