RURAL EDUCATION.

Otago Witness, Issue 3005, 18 October 1911, Page 12

RURAL EDUCATION.

SHEEP-SHEARING CLASSES. PALMERSTON N., October 10. The Palmerston North Technical School inaugurated the first sheep-shearing classes in the North Island here yesterday, and they will bo continued for six days, and a further course will be held if necessary. They began with 13 students yesterday, but farmers seeing their practical character, the students number more than 20 to-day. There is a machinery expert, an expert shearer, and an expert wool-classer in charge. The sheep are sent in from a neighbouring station, and after its manager saw the quality of the work to-day he said they could have 1000 if they wanted them, and the same next year. The classes are held in the show ground sheds. The students are first taught the use of the oil engine which drives the plant, them erutching with the blade, and machine shearing, skirting, classing, baling, and pressing. To-day the A. and P. Committee and many farmers visited the sheds, and were greatly surprised at the thoroughness of the teaching, the singular aptitude of the boys, and the excellent condition of the shorn sheep. The boys, propose to go shearing this year. The wool-classer in charge of the tables, who now has a good position, was himself a graduate of the Palmerston North Technical School wool-classing classes, which have been successfully carried on for the past three years.