Row to Become a Scientific Engineer.

Southland Times, Issue 14788, 3 November 1900, Page 3

Row to Become a Scientific Engineer.

— ♦ - We lately made mention of a manual issued by an American School of Correspondence — a technical school for mechanics, giving exclusive attention to steam and electrical engineering and the construction and operation of machinery. The manual is a very complete syllabus of what the efficient engineer must learn, and showing how it may be done by correspondence. The School is founded in Boston, all the instructors being specialists in those departments of knowledge that form the basis of scientific engineering. The School was established some years ago and obtained a State charter in 1897- The syllabus certainly presents a very thorough and comprehensive scheme, and is itself an indicai tion of the culture and education of those who drew it up. Boston is the Athens of America, where scientific and other learning is at the top. The scheme aims at thoroughness and complete mastery of the subject. The separate courses of instruction apply to stationary, locomotive, marine, electrical and mechanical engineering respective!}', and deal exhaustively with the theoretical and scientific basis in each. Each course is fully laid down in the syllabus. But anterior to the study of any of the courses proper, a preliminary course is prescribed as absolutely indispensable, whatever branch of engineering may be selected. The student must know or learn as much arithmetic as about what a sixth standard boy knows. He must learn a little algebra ; something of mensuration, mechanics, heat, chemistry and metallurgy. In each of these the instructors seize upon the things, and as much about them, as will be essential, instead of leaving pupils to wade through the various textbooks. Without this preliminary course, where * the knowledge is not already possessed, they absolutely decline to instruct anyone in the higher studies, as the higher instruction is impossible without this basis to start from. But this preliminary education they undertake in the same way as the more scientific and advanced. A subject, or set of subjects, in printed form, is sent to each pupil, confining itself exactly to what is necessary, and making that as plain as it can be made, and with complete illustrations where required. A corresponding set of questions is appended, to be answered and returned when the subject or part is mastered. The pupil receives back his answers criticised or corrected, while he is studying the next set, and so forth. That all this is possible by correspondence there can be no doubt, and the distance makes little difference, if any at all, as the student can always be going on pending the return of his answers. The value of being able to obtain knowledge of a high order in a ycning country like this seems obvious. We have no one here, nor any combination of men, able and willing to undertake the imparting of the necessary training. The number who would take advantage is necessarily so small, that it will be some time before we can have any institution capable of furnishing the complete and necessary training. The examiners and members of the Advisory Board are all men eminent in one or more departments of engineering ; in most instances the authors of standard works on their respective subjects. The course of instruction costs about £9, and may be extended over one or two years at the option of the student. Diplomas are not granted until the course is thoroughly completed, but wheu once issued are a passport to the holder throughout the engineering world, being recognised and accepted as authoritative in the highest engineering schools and establishments in Scotland, England, Ireland and the Continent. Young men who are engaged in foundries

and workshops, and who desire to excel ii their work, or those still younger who ma;; be contemplating adopting any branch o engineering as a profession, will find thii institution a great aid to their progress Highly skilled mechanical engineers an bound to be in increasing demand in thii country for many years to come, practically for all time. The development of tin dredging industry alone ensures that for t long time efficient men will be in request, while other industries as the}' grow, and public works of all sorts that arc sure to be undertaken, open very promising careers tc our future highly-trained engineers ami mechanics, and that in larger numbers than the colony is likely to furnish for many a clay to come. Mr Joseph Hensloy, of Esk street, represents the Boston School here, and will be able to furnish all information and particulars to anyone contemplating the study of engineering as a profession, and using the method here pointed out as an auxiliary.