Technical Classes Association.

Oamaru Mail, Volume XXXI, Issue 8834, 14 July 1905, Page 1

Technical Classes Association.

THE QUARTER'S OPERATIONS.

In view of the fact that the £~st quarter of the Technical Classes Association, in which the general public are largely interested, closes on the 22nd inst. —there will then be a week's recess,—a representative of the Mail has been making a round of the various classes, with a view

of learning how they are progressing. And a most interesting round it proved! Speaking generally, it may be remarked that a great success has been scored pretty | well all along the line, and the work of the Association must be recognised to have filled a long-felt want and to have proved, up to the present, of signal benefit to the town.

The first call was to the rooms in the A.M.P. Buildings, where are held the dressmaking, drawing, shorthand, and typewriting classes. The number of pupils attending the respective courses is 90, 14, 50, and 33. These figures speak for themselves, for, if the instructors are to be believed, every pupil is a tryer. Dressmaking and drawing share one room, and shorthand and typewriting another, and two better lighted or more commodious classrooms, for the purpose, it would be difficult to discover in Oamaru. The Association has provided all the necessary furniture and appliances in a most generous spirit. For instance, there are no less than six typewriters, four Remingtons and two Smith-Premiers, working continuously

from 5 to 9 p.m. on two days a week, each pupil having the exclusive use of a machine for one hour. Our representative was also privileged to see some of the work of the drawing class, the bulk of the practical result being designs for dadoes, etc. It should be remarked, before leaving the A.M.P. section, that more pupils can be taken for all the several classes referred to. Cooking, while not a very big class, numerically, is a most r.mportant and fascinating one. and is carried on in a room in the Middle School by Mies Mary King, teacher there. This lady holds a very good certificate and is, in every respect, admirably qualified to give instruction in the culinary art. The Department, following their usual custom in this matter, have ' fitted up the "kitchen" with great elaborateness, everything needful being supplied and not a few '•implements" which, we think, might fairly be classed as luxuries. While the greater part of the course is in utility lines, such as practical illustration of boiling, roasting, etc., etc., the instruction does not stop short there, and the pupil, if she wish, may be initiated into tho manufacture of all sorts of advanced and complicated dishes, such as rich pastry, epicurean entrees, rare sauces, and soon. The pupils bring their own raw materials and take home the finished article, which seems an eminently sensible arrangement. The most scrupulous cleanliness and eare are exercised in cooking, and it is not strange, in the cir-

cumstances, to learn that Die course is greatly appreciated, and promises in the future' to achieve most important results. The "English classes need little notice, further than to emphasise the good work which is being done in this direction. The subject is a very large one. and the most important in the Association's curriculum. The last class visited was also, probably, the most interesting to an outsider —the plumbing. The Secretary of the Association, Mr Scoon, deserves a great deal of credit for the way he has worked to push the plumbing along. Mr Mark Kershaw, instructor, is an inspector of the Health Department, has about the best diplomas in New Zealand, and is the right man in the right place. What he docs not know about, the science and practice of plumbing is not worth learning. It is whispered rather loudly that he taught TJr Finch I all he knows about the Oamaru drainage service, but that may bo a canard. Mr Kershaw spont nine successive years studying in the Old Country, for the special purpose of fitting himself for the position he now holds, and there seems no room for doubt that he is fit, The class is at present being attended by 15 plumbers and two builders, though there are still plumbers in Oamaru outside the pale. The instruction is particularly valuable, as it is educating the young men in the theory and practice of plumbing, and the reflection, at present existing, that there are few, if any, certificated plumbers in Oamaru—which is tantamount to saying that the maiority do not know their business thoroughly—should soon be a thing of the past. ' It will take Mr Kershaw, he reckons, about two years to complete the course of instruction, but the pupils will then be qualified to sit for the London City and Guilds' examination, than which there is no better in the world. As the greater contains the less, so, this certificate once obtained, the passing of the local examinations will be a very small matter. But the most interesting feature of the plumbing class in Tyne street, to the visitor, is, of course, the practical work, of which there is an abundance to be inspected. Just now lead working is the principal feature, and there are some very good examples of chimney flashing, lead : guttering, boxing, lead pipe bending, wiping, etc. It seems nothing short of marvellous what has been done by mere youths (some of the class), .who had never had the tools in their hands before. The plumbing, needless to say, is a most expensive class to run, because of the cost of the lead and other materials used, yet it has thoroughly justified its existence so far. The general public are welcome to inspect the class any Thursday evening from 7 to 110 p.m.. and will find plenty to interest thorn. It is said—but. it must be another calumnv, we think—that some of the Committee 'have not yet found their way to the room. We refuse to believe it, Wood-carving is always interesting, and Mr Earl can make it fascinating, so that in this important branch of the Association's operations good and useful work is I being accomplished. As notified in the Mail, it has been decided to start book-keeping, Latin, and mathematical classes next quarter, and there is already every indication that all three will materialise. The book-keeping is an especially good departure, the other two belonging, perhaps, to the order of "frills " Still, the Association s object is to cater for all. Those desirous of joining any of these classes should without delay enrol themselves with the - Secretary. It should not be necessary to point out.to those who aspire to a knowledge of the higher mathematics—conic sections, permutations and combinations, the binomial theorem, solid geometry, etc., etc.—and the immortal Latin language, that these fields of research are not to be lightly entered upon, nor are they to be assimilated in a few short months. Still, both are eminentlv worth while, if one has the_ inclination"'and the time—above all, the time. In conclusion, it must be conceded, we think, judging by results, that the Oamaru Technical "Classes Association has fulfilled all and more than could reasonably be expected of it in the brief time since its inception, and, if present indications go for anything,-it will be of lasting benefit to the town and district,