TECHNICAL SCHOOLS DISPLAY.

Colonist, Volume LIII, Issue 12975, 14 December 1910, Page 2 (Supplement)

TECHNICAL SCHOOLS DISPLAY.

One of the most interesting displays on! the ground is that made, by the pupils of the Nelson Education Board's technical classes of Nelson and surrounding districts and Westport. No more suitable opportunity could have been taken of bringing under the notice 6i the general public the value of the instruction given at these classes. In no walk of, life is a general know--ledge of use of wood, and metal working' tools of more service than on . the farm, while ample evidence is given that those pupils who are taking instruction for the specific purpose of advancing in their chosen trade or profession, are happily situated by being in charge of instructors who can, take them to the most advanced stages in theory or practice. ', I The exhibit that strikes the eye first i ;is a 6. horse-power double cylinder petrol engine, entirely constructed by the pupilsof the Westpprt-day, trades classes (infitructbr Mr. A. G. Tomkies).

It is 18 months only since the school was opened, and the first nine months were spe.nt in equipping the school. Some of the lads who have been working on the engine have been twelve months only under tuition, and the result shown in the working drawings and completed engine is more than creditable to pupils and instructor alike. The engine was shown working and was a centre of attraction throughout the day. Close at hand were also shown, a number of cranks, pulleys, and some shafting, turned by tho boys when left to their own devices to apply the instruction given, and these would do credit to first-class workshops. A number of examples of schoolboys' work done in the manual metal working classes give further proof of the practical value of the instruction given. It may be mentioned that most of the boys at the trades class are engaged making engines and dynamos of their own. The wood working olasses at Westport (Mr. Drummond Fraser, instructor) are represented by a dog leg stair made to scale, doors, sashes for wooden buildings, etc, all very creditable work. '

The Nelson wood-working classes (Mr. A. G. Thompson, instructor) make a fin.b display* a large number of lads showing practical work of high ouality. <In the apprentice class James Hockey, with Messrs. Robertson Bros., shows a staircase complete, half -size, of what is technically known as quarter spaceof winders. -. The workmanship is really good, and the: design executed without fault. William Heat, with Mr. H.- Baigenfc, exhibits a straight flight of stairs, also 'showing excellent workmanship. ■" Taking tho day trades/class, Terence Gfee, of Stoke Orphanage is to the fore with a model showing the framing of a house and the. various, methods of roofing and gable end./ This is a prominent exhibit and reflects great credit on the con | structor. Gordon Coleman, of Richmond, and Noel Wadsworth, of Wai iti exhibit double hung' sashes for brick buildings made to scale and- well executed iri every detail. r. Useful occa. sional tables are ' shown: by Gordon Coleman, Hoy. Palmer, Norman tiiisty and Clement Eden, while standing book-shelves- by Joseph Baigent, 'Hen ton Peart, and Clement ■ Eden, ;Wakefield, call .for- special mention. Gordon Coleman and Noel' Wadsworth show hanging shelves and Peter Thomson^ Port, a well constructed art design table. Seatpn-Peart is highly.commended for a dobir constructed by himself without any supervision.' Robert Reilly; a Takaka lad, shows a well executed example for the difficult work of preparing an, inside string fbr a well staircase.. Every ;boy in the class his made a "bull-nosed step, for stairway and it requires inspection of same to see how much work,' is entailed in con structing what may appear to be a simple piece of work. Among theiriaiu ual training, olasses (all school' boys) Sevier Stewart, Geo. Hart, C .Bell, P. McConchie, and Eric Black are foremost, tlie. boys showing excellent examples of inlaid work and the construction of .many useful articles' for domestic use etc. .The building construction class exhibits drawings; and ■the. plumbing class (Mr Lewis, instructor) examples of high-class pilumbing work. ; ' ': '■■. '•.'■'•

The mechanical drawing class (lit structor, Mr. P. Thomson) exhibit working drawings etc., and "th^ iii-; structor shows a couj>le of interestiii'j; models. One of these is of the port engine of the s.&. Waimea "from drawings lent by the Anchor Steam: Ship Company.- The class has to prepare the drawings as the model is in cbursa of construction the full piictical' value of the instruction thus being obtained, The other model is that of an horizontal engine with expansion valve. ■-.-■■■■■■