SOUTH GANTERBURY TECHNICAL SCHOOL.

Timaru Herald, Volume XLIII, Issue 3744, 1 October 1886, Page 3

SOUTH GANTERBURY TECHNICAL SCHOOL.

9 The annual distribution of prizes m connection with Iho South Canterbury Technical School, took place m llio Inill of the Mechanics' Institute last evening. The occasion was a rod-leltcr dny — or night — vitli the pupils, who rolled up m strong force, far it was then that they were to receive the rewards for the success of llicir labors m improving their minds by means of technical instruction, and when aho the public wero to see tho work they had done. The drawings— geometrical and otherwise — by t!io pupils were exhibited on the wnlls of the room, and were very favourably commented on by the visitors. Some of the drawings showed sign 3of great skill. After all (he drawings had been inspected Ibo proceedings of the evening were commenced by Mr E. Q. Kerr, J.P., inking the chair. On the platform were also the Key. P. W. Fairclougl), His Worship the Mayor (Mr John Jnckson), and Messrs Kimber, JBrnce, Flante, and A. L. Hiilkctt-Dawson, M.A. There was a largo attendance of tho public, among whom wero several ladies, and the greatest interest was tnkon m the proceedings. Mr Kerr said, m opening the moeting, that the attendance at the scho.il was very gratifying, and showed the evident interest the pupils took m their work. After stilting the circumstances underjwhich tho fchool hail been started, he went on to speak of the great advantages to be derived by technical and other knowledge, more csp-cially to thosu boys who were engaged during the da}', nnd had not thus much chance to study except at evening classes. The public could do a lot of good by assisting such an institution as this, seeing the great g.»od it was doing. ' Tho secretary (Mr J. 11. WiWon, M.A.) ! then read the report as follows : — "Mr Wake, teacher of (lie class held on Jfondny evenings for instruction m arithmetic, writing, bojk-kccping, algebra, and Latin, reports that fourteen students have attended his classes. H" s.iys that book keeping ia the j subject for which thi'i'e is the greatest jcmntiil. Most of tho pupils liavo now a very fnir knowledge of single ontry, and one of them has taken doublo entry. In arithmetic great diligence has boon displayed, and good progress made, cspo ially by ihoeo who hive supplemented their tuition at tho school by practice at home. .In Latin, owing to the shortness of time that could bo devoted to the subject, a great part of the gritmm.ir could not bo learnt this se sion, though one student has succeeded m covering a good deal of ground. " ifr Harvey m charge of (!ie dmscj held on Wednesday evenings for instruction m fruehantl drawing, projection and building construction, says m his report tho classes have beeu fairly well attended during the session. Tho work during the evening h.is bi-en divided into three lessons generally, both m the advanced class as well as m tho elementary class, and each student has lessons to work out :it home during the w?ek following, and to bring on tho nextcliss night to be examined am!, if necessary, corrected. I consider the students have made fair progress m freehand drawing, which can bo seen on comparing (lie work done m tho early part of tho session with that done m tho latter part. The lessons m projection have been chosen when convenient for tho purpose of calling forth tho principled or foundation on which the lesson on building construction is worked out on tho sumo evening, the one showing the theory and tho other the practical application to somo trade, so that the evenings work has been interesting as a study and profitable na well as usoful m some one or other of the trades m which tho students may bo ongngi d. In the lessons on building construction I have by full explanation endeavoured to lay tho foundation of a sound practical knowledge m preference to making simply superficial or showy drawings, the ono being merely ttio work of tho well taught school boy, whilo the other requires the fullest exercise of tbo workman's bo:t thinking faculties, m order that ho may bo able to show on his working drawings what should be done and how to do it, an.l leave out all extravagant, impossibilities that, so often lend to fatal accidents." His Worship was then called on to distribute tho prizes, and m doing so said it afforded him much pleasure, seeing that the school was of such benefit to tho young people. He stated for the encouragement of the pupils that ho had picked up nearly nil his knowledge from attending night school^, ond often m his daily work he had recognised the great benefit of the knowledgo thus acquired. Tho work exhibited, ho considered, was vory creditable, and foreshadowed well for the future of those who did it. His Worship then distributed tho prizes to tho successful pupils, who on stepping forward were greeted with rounds of applause, and were each given n few words of praiso by His Worship, who at tho samo time urged and encouraged the unsuccessful ones to ronewotl efforts. Tho distribution over, Mr Kimber rose, and on behalf of his fellow pupils, thanked all, and especially tho teachers, for tho assistance that had been accorded them. i Mr Bower spoke at some length on the subject of tho apprenticeship of our youths, and mentioned that the advantages English youths had were not iv a measure by those obtainable m tliis colony. 110 particularly asked pnrciitj if they saw their children had any craving or longing lo study any subject, or to follow any certain pursuit, to encourage them and givo them every assistance m their power. In conclusion he said he hoped that the knowledge the pupils had derived at tho school would tend to their future advaucement m life. Mr Plante strongly recommended the pupils to study drawing as it was a subject which educated tho mind and eye, and could not well be done without. Mr Bruco also spoke m the samo strain «s Sir Plante, and impressed on the pupils the necessity if they undertook a thing of doing it well. Mr Bourne encouraged (lie boys to persevere m their work and surmount all obstacles no matter how difficult. Mr Smith followed with n few words of encouragement. Tho Her. P. W. Faireloiigh urged the pupils on to higher objects m life, and to persovere m tho work tbey undertake. Mr A. L. Halkett-Dawson returned thanks on behalf of tbo Council to His Worship the Mayor, tho chairman, and others for their assistance, and also to tho Press for the very liberal manner m which they hid kopt tlio thing before the public. Ho uho encouraged the pupils to higher aims, and said that the best motto they could adopt was " self-sacrifice." Ho then called for n vote of thanks to those gentleman nnd others named for their efforts to secure tho welfare of tho school. On being put to Iho meeting, the voto was carried by acclamation. The meciiDg then terminated with the usual compliment to the chairman. The prize list is as follows :— Advanced Class — John Waterhouse, for general progress, 1 ; Thomas H, Harvey, X. Elementary

Civs— Jan:C3 Pearson fa' ueral progress and - excellence), 1 ; Hum- Wheeler (genera! pro-!»re.-K ami industry l , :!; C. Vogelcr (gener.U excelleneoof woiii),:?. Latin— Salek. Bookkeeping— T. ILiwey, 1 ; F. Hooper, 2. Arilhmetic— Morgan, lj G. Kimber, 2. Algebra — -Mr Harvey, 1.