TECHNICAL CLASSES ASSOCIATION.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 10601, 22 February 1896, Page 3

TECHNICAL CLASSES ASSOCIATION.

The annual meeting of >c Dunedin Technical Classes Association t> leld in the Town Hall last evening. Mr A.; - S president, occupied tho chair, and there fl'er, about 20 members present. An apology }*a« received for the absence of Mr Scobie Mackenzie. ANNUAL IIEP(Wr.

Tho following report was presented by the committee:—

I Your, committee have to report bs follows on I the work carried on during the seventh session of I the association's existence. Eleven meetings have ! been held, at the first of which, on February 25 ! (in accordance witli rule 7 of the constitution), Mr A. Burt was re-elected president, Mr G. Id. Thomson, hon. secretary and superintendent; and MrW. Cutten,hon.treasurer. Atthesamemeeting tlie following resolution was unanimously agreed to :—" In receiving Mr W. S. Fitzgerald's resignation—consequent on his appintment as inspector of schools uuder the Otago Education Board—tha committee desire to place on record their great I appreciation of che services he has rendered to the Technical Classes Association since its foundation in 188S—especially as a member of the Appointments Committee, the excellent work done by which has largely contributed to the success of the classes. The committee feel that they suffer a great loss by Mr Fitzgerald's resignation, and they wish bim overy success in bis i.ew vocation.' The superintendent's report, reid at the closing meeting of tbe session, on October 15, sbows that the classes continue to increase in popular appreciation. Sixteen classes were hold during the, year, and no less than 457 students were enrolled, of' Whom eight obtained either total or partial re-

your committee considers satisfactory. In view also of certain prospective legislation it has been thought undesirable to enlerat present into any definite scheme* such as would commit, the association for.a term of years to. a large annual expenditure for rent. Meanwhile the question is one which has' given your committee much anxiety, aa the success of the association's work will be greatly interfered with if suitable premises cannot be secured. It is this consideration also which lias prevented .your committee from extending the work of these classes in the direction of establishing a workshop and laboratory for electrical engineering as Teferred to in last year's report. Hie balance sheet shows the total receipts for the year, including a balance from last year of £!Ml9s, to amount.to .£lOl3 8s Id, and'the expenditure to £549 18s ld, leaving a balance in haod of £463 10s. This large unexpended balance is, of course, accounted for by the fact already stated that the association is not able to start tlie many needful undertakings projected until it has promises with some security of tenure.

Tbe thanks "of the association are due to Rev. Dr Rentoul, of Ormond College, Melbourne,' for delivering a lecture in Old Knox Churoh, hy which a substantial addition to the funds was secured ; to tbe Deacons' Court of the church for tbe use of the building; to the Otago Education Board, for the use of. the class rooms of the Norman School duriug tbe session, and for the very generous assistance it has always granted to tbe aasoointion's work; to the Education department, in Wellington, for the ready response with which it has met the applications for aid and advice made by' your committee ; and lastly, to those ladies and gentlemen who gave their services in the last annual examination of the students.

The following was the atatemeut of receipts and expenditure for the year ending 31st January