TECHNICAL CLASSES

Timaru Herald, Volume LXXXIII, Issue 12906, 20 February 1906, Page 3

TECHNICAL CLASSES

A meeting of Managers of the Technical Glasses Association was .held at the Technical school last ■evening. Present—Messrs J. Uraigie (chairman), J. Jackson, Gow, Johnson, Valentine and the secretary (Mr Crawshaw). A ktier was read from the Educational Department, stating that for the coming year .the number of managers will be eleven, the representation being allotted as luLcfv.s : —Subscribers to the funds of the Association four; Education Board and Timaiu Borough Council, two each; Levels County Council, Timaru A. and P. Association, and Builders Association, one each. The' Oamaru Association wrote inquiring whether Timaru could jqja with them iir securiug the services of a competent instruct';r in eleetiical engineering.—lt w,-:. decided to reply in the affirmative, and the secretary was instructed to comnnuiuate with the Department and the Chrisichurch School of Engineering, asking for assistance in obtaining a suitable man. The Technical Association askeu fur cooperation in the employment of an instructor in dressmaking, «nd t:.e Board of Kuueation wrote on the same subject, inquiring what work the Association would give a teacher if one were eagr.gad by that Board for the public schools of the district.— It appeared to the managers that if the Board employ-id a teacher for the schools, and Teaiuka and Waimate also oiain'.cd her services, there would be at lac-ist <>r.e night av.-iliable for a Thiuru class.—The secretary was requested to inquire v. i-ciba-a competent local teacher is available, hi case a satisfactory arrangement should dm bs possible with the Board of Education.

A gc-od de;il of discussion took place over the woodwrok class. As the instructor engaged by the Board of Education foi' the schools has only one night a week to spare for Timaru, it -was decided to arrange a class for building construction for that night, and to ask Mr Schmidt to continue the woodwork class.

The managers determined to establish a free continuation class in English and arithmetic, for boys who have left school, the only conditions being that the pupils muvt have passed the Sixth Standard, and miM-t work at least 20 hours at each of the subjects above named. There is to be no age limit, and pupils taking these subjects are to be given free places for other subjects also.

The secretary brought up the question of the desirability of engaging a good all round man as director and organiser for all classes, to take some instruction work also. It was doubted whether Tiinaru could afford such an officer; but Mr Crawshaw expressed with some confidence his opinion that the possession of a capable director and organiser would make the whole of the classes boom. THE ANNUAL REPORT. Tne annual meeting of the Association will be held at the school next Tiiurtdav evening, when the following report will he ! presented by the managers:— j "Your managers have much pleasure in I presenting the fifth annual report of die: Timaru Technical Classes Association. " During the year, 258 were enrolled as against 310 last year. This falling off is partly accounted for by the fact that this : year the conditions enabling pupils to attend classes free, were much more difh'cult thaa previously. During the coming ses-' sion the conditions will be such that a very large increase in the number of • free places' may be expected. "There were 19 classes placed on the syllabus. With the exception of the classes in senior book-keeping, painting, and drawing from life, all the classes were successfully carried on, while classes m drawins from life, and electrical engineering w«re established during the second term. i " At the request of the pupils, the plumbing and shorthand classes were continued for a third term. The following shows the numbers attending the various classes in each term:—Plumbing (M. Kershaw). 18, 14, 12 j woodwork (A) (A. C. Schmidt). 21, 12; woodwork (B) (A. C. Schmidt)', £>, lo; archt. draw. (T. C. Mullions). 25. 5; cookery (A) (E. L. Wilson), 12, 12; cookery (B) (E. L. Wilson), 9, 10; dressmaking (N. Grandi), 17, 13; woodcarving (B. Hall), 8, 8; drawing (B. Hall), 11, 7; sen. shorthand (H. Amas), 13, 9, 8; jun. shorthand: (H. Amos), 22, 22, 10; book-keeping (H. Amos), 22, 10; commercial cor. (H. Amos), 17. 9; typewriting |T. Bowie), 20, 16; English (J. A. Valentine), 10, 10; arithmetic (C. Collins). 18, 15; electrical engin. (A. Roberts), 15; drawing from life (H. Spensley), 5. " Exhibition—ln order that the public might have an opportunity of seeing what was being done in the school, samples of •the work of the various classes were exhibited at the close of the session. Although the exhibition was too crowded to permit of -a satisfactorv examination of the exhibits, still, the managers believe that many were astonished at the qualitv and variety of the work shown.

" Building.—During the vear the manager applied to the Education Department for a grant to enable the grounds surrounding- the school to be made more convenient and sightly. A grant, of £IOO was received, and this has heen expended in asphalting the paths, erecting the retaining walls, and the handsome front fence. On the new class commencing work it was found that the workshop was much too small, and as the carpenter*' shop was also overcrowded, the Department was approached with a view- to having ibese w^ d ' v The resultin g grant of £2OO has enabled the managers to place another storey over the workshops. The Association has now convenient, commodious, asd well equipped shops for plumbers and carpenters: and also a small lecture room for theory classes. The managers desire to place on record the prompt attention of the Central Department to all applications and claims made during the year. " Finance.—The Association is to be congratulated on the improved state "of tlys finances. The following are the chief items on the balance sheet :—Receipts : Lr. balance. 28th February. 1905—8.X.Z.. £8 3si 2d. P.0.X.8., £3 7s sd—£ll 16s 7d. Capitation on classes (1904). £l5O 8s 4d : (19C5). £BB 5s 9d—£23B Ms Id; capitation on technical scholarships, 1905, .£l6 lis 9d : buildings (fence and asphalt), £100: furniture fittings and apparatus, £66 3s: subsidies on V. contributions (1904). £42 9s 6d._ (1905), £6O 7s—£lo2 16s 6d : fees. ■ £157 15s; voluntary contributions £64 18s: sales (cookery), £1 18s; proceeds of exhibitions, £7; P. 0.5.8. interest, 2s Id: total, £747 15s. Expenditure: Salaries of

instructors. £258 Ms-; office salaries (in- ! eluding jaaitor. stationery). £6O Is lid:' . advertising and printing, £lO 16s 6*l; 5 - lighting and heating. £l3 19s 6d; insur- J ance and repairs, £4 6s; examinations, 8s 3d; material for class use, £44 16s 3d; fees refunded. £6 19s; exhibition expenses. £6 15s lOd; bank commission and interest. J £2 5s 6d. Buildings : Contracts (new build t ings, additions, etc.). £97 lis; architect, £5; furniture fittings and apparatus. £75 15s 11:1: c:e:lit. balance. 31st December. 3905. }»..%-.Z.. £lsl 17s lid; -«*s unpre- - sentci. £lO lis 9<l. P. 0.5.8.. £5 9s 6d: j j cash in hand. £2 12s 6d. To this credit halaare must be added £39 os sd, due from the Department on account of refusd 2-3: ds r.f the cost ©j material £29 4s 6t15. balance of subsidies on contributions (£3 lis), ar.d balance of capitation (£5 7s lid}. \ It- wi'i -ic (.bserved that the balance sheet refers - -.a p,?r:.;d of- 10 months cnlv. Hither;... the yt: :• has close! on 28th Feb- - ruary. This -•;•>. is.und !!K-i-i;vcnic;j;. hmr- I ever. r.s t.:o Dcparimtnt icowires a slate- » men: •- f ;-.;\r;un» r en December 31s* : more-■iVi-r, ;:- v;.;;: ? (J ; ;)>,. t'lasscv ,\<r.V TUH during t:i«j whole yer.r. I:, is nr>re cnnveaSetiJ. to c'osr- r:.c bucks •;;: December 31.'t. '"'Hie ;..;ii.ks <•;' ;iie Association sue due .*.« th.se !oc;:l bodies r.vul citizens who wn;r:br.tv:'. so the funds, r.ad the managers <-r.ie_;>_-.:::: ck.-ire to draw the attention of . viilunt.iry ciiiitribut»»::«: .\:>\ the subedits I thereon ;: considerable )■ s> would l>e shown. The r.-.«::iber »-; subscribe?* was 71. an incre.ise «: 16 on ;.-s; v.-.-''-. Ihe Association is ,s"sn in. r :eb;c;i t<» the «B.mir.3rs for the icratukons work so tvib ling:y {•erformeJ. and to the press far the ever ready assistance it has always tenderetl."' ■—■———— i