TECHNICAL CLASSES.

Timaru Herald, Volume XIIIC, Issue 14141, 26 February 1910, Page 7

TECHNICAL CLASSES.

MEETING OF SUBSCRIBERS,

The annual meeting of subscribers to the J. imam Technical Classes Association was held last evening m the .technical School, when Mr j. A. Valentine presided over an attendance of üboat ten persons. The annual report stated that the session began on the 19th of April, and lasted for 26 weeks, making two uerms of 13 weeks each. The managers had made several attempts to prolong the session, but experience has proved that there is little use in starting the classes before the Easter Holidays, or keeping the school going after October. In July last the school suffered an irreparable 'loss by tha death,of the chairman, Mr John Jackson. Early in 19uS, the Government granted £2500 for tha purpose of making additions to the Technical School. The erection of the building had done much to promote the growth of technical education in Timaru. More classes could now be taken than formerly, and not only that, the classes . could be conducted with a greater degree of cc ort both to students and to teachers. Although the school had shown a considerable increase in the number of students, there was still plenty of room for development, especially in what might be called the purely technical subjects. The attend- • ance at art subjects was not what it should W in a place like Timaru; but with the appointment of Mr "Wm. Greene as art instructor, the management hoped to see a big development in this department of the school. A plasing feature of the year's work was the excellent class for farmers and others, conducted by Mr F. H. Harte in wool-classing. This work required developing, and the managers expect when the agricultural instructor ap- ; pointed by the board arrived from ; Home, that other classes will be conducted on similar lines. By the strictest economy, the finances were kept in a.sound condition. The statement of assets and liabilities showed a credit balance of £l5O. This must be considered mgniy satisfactory wJien the increased expenditure in connection with the .opening of the new building was taken into account. It should be pointed'out, however, that but for the. -voluntary contributions of "the public -and contributing bodies, the school could not exist, as' the only other sources of revenue were the fees and capitation, and it required tLe whole of these to pay the salaries of instructors. Thanks were accorded,, all who had helped the association. Summarising, the past year's work must be considered highly -,atisfa«t >ry; 417 students enrolled, which wa3 tfe highest number in the history of the atlool, ■the amount collected for fees, £215 12s 6d, also constitutes a recxra. A special word of thanks was duo, to the teachers for the very, able ma:ii;*.r in which they carred .out their work during the past year. The whole success of the school depended on the staff,, and their loyal enthusiasm in the past had helped to place the school in the position it occupied at present. -She balance-sheet Showed that the i chief receipts were: Cr balance at beginning £717 18s lOd, capitation on ; classes £l2B Bs, capitation on account of free places £44 7s 6d, buildings grant £6OO, fees- £215 12s 6d, voluntary subscrintions £6l 3s 6d; total £1778 16s 4d. The princinal items of expenditure were:—Salaries of instructors £405, advertising and printing £2414s 6d, lighting and heating £l6 19s lOd, material for class use '£44 15s Bd, ,new buildings, additions, etc. £950 lis Id, architect, etc., £lls 15s, furniture, fittings and apparatus £ll4 lis Bd, Jeaving a credit balance of £78.85. sd. The assets amounted to £211,6s 4d, incltiding. subsidies due from the Government £122 Is sd, fees unpaid £3 12s. 6d. The liabilities were made up on bmulding £SB 13s 7d, sundry accounts £2, Jeaving a balance of £l5O 12s 9d. The report and balance-sheet were unanimously adopted, the chairman and others making complimentary referen-

ces to the success of the classes, the excellent work of the instructors, the invaluable services of the director, and to the bright prospects for tie com. ing year. A communication was received from the .Education Department, dated February sth, 1910, stating that the representation on the Board of Managers- would henceforth be as follows: Timaru Borough Council 3, Levels County Council 2, South Canterbury Builders' Association 2, Timaru AT and P. Association 1, Licensed Victuallers Association 1, Timaru Debating Society 1, Subscribers % Education Board 2; total 14. The chairman drew attention to the fact that subscribers had to elect two managers. Formerly the subscribers elected three, but for some unknown reason the Government had changed this representation. On the motion of Mr Holdgate, seconded by Mr Ferrier, Messrs Dalgleish and Valentine were re-elected representatives of the subscribers. Mr Holdgate, the retiring manager, was accorded a hearty vote of appreciation for his nast services. The meeting closed with votes of thanks to the chairman and to the managers.