TECHNICAL COLLEGE.

Timaru Herald, Volume CXXIII, 16 December 1925, Page 10

TECHNICAL COLLEGE.

BREAK-UP CEREMONY. Of a very bright and pleasing naturo was the break-up and prize distribution ceremony in connection with the Timaru Technical College, which was held in the Unitarian liall last night. The hall was crowded—-it was so iu.l that many had to be content with i standing room. Mr G. J. Soaley i (chairman of tho Board of Managers) i presided, and included among those i present were Mr F. J. Rolleston, M.P., and Mr G. J. Wallace (Mayor). AToj eeedmgs opened with a verse of the National Anthem, after which Mr ‘ Seale.v extended a hearty welcome to all j present, and went on to make some in- [ teresting references to the work of the : College; to the excellent staff which it possessed, and to its beneficial influence which it exerted on the young life of the community. t A pretty operetta, ,: The Princess of Poppyland,” was then staged, and cleverly enacted as it was, met with the warm approbation of the audience. Those who took part in it were the Misses W. Thompson, M. Roundhill, E. Callaghan, M. Probyn, L. D. Argus, E. Segar, C. Smallridge, H. Heads, P. Atkins, M. Guthrie, C. Arras, M. McPhedran, C. Palmer, N. Hawkey, M. Brown, G. Sangster, P. Collins, D. Heath, B. Tooth, M. Moir, L. Morris, J. Carnegie, C. Douglas, A. Townley, F. Donaldson, A. Stewart, H. Diak, R. McConnell, L. Drafhn and A. Mauger. The operetta -was produced under the direction of Mr Axel Newton, Mr J. A. Rae was responsible for the scenery, Mr W. Figgins for the lighting, and Miss H. Couper for the costumes. A hearty vote of thanks was pnswjfl to all who were responsible for what all present considered a delightful performance.

) DIRECTOR’S REPORT. 1 In presenting the annual report on the work of the College for the year, the director (Mr W. F. Fossey) said that the loss of valuable time at the beginning of the year, on account of the epidemic, had been felt by pupils and staff, but he was pleased to bo able to say that by the co-operation of all concerned much of the leeway had been made up, and a good and profitable year’s work had been done. The day school roll was 97 —a during the period of enforced closing due to students obtaining positions druing the period of enforced closing at tho beginning of the year. Twentythree obtained positions during the year, leaving a roll at the end of 74 pupils. All but about three attended for the full course of work. As in previous yeans, the courses were designed to suit pupils for either comI mercial, trades, agricultural or domesi tie pursuits, such cultural subjects as 1 applied art, vocal music, literature and history also being included. Two I examinations were held during tho 1 year with the following results: — i Engineering course: First class 10, 1 second class 12; commercial course: | First class 30, second class 7; domestic course: First class 31, second class 6. j No students had failed. A special class i in invalid cookery, similar to that j arranged for nurses from the. Public j Hospital, was held for girls in the domestic course only, and woolclassing j for boys. The proof of the value of tho training given was seen in the fact ’ that positions had been obtained for all pupils who had been fit to take and hold them, and he had received none but satisfactory reports from employers of such students. The usual games and sports had been carried on, and there had been an interchange of visits with Geraldine District High School, Tcnuika District High School, and Ashburton Technical School for games of football and basketball. In every case most enjoyable games had been played, and tho proper spirit of,.comradeship had been fostered between the schools An annual sports meeting was held in December, and a very pleasant “parents’ afternoon '-was lie Id in October. Classes were'seen at work, school work was on view, i) nt ' ,?" 11 entertainment was provided by the pupils He trusted that this would bo the first of many such functions. Although it might seem that the primary object of the College was to fit young people for future occupations, the real function was to train real men and women, who were not only -it to ‘ carry on an occupation in an intelligent way, but also to take a leal interest in their fellow creatures and life generally. The College was coeducational in the truest sense of the word, and the result of the system had been most happy and successful. The attendance had been remarkably good, and the general conduct of the pupils beyond reproach. A total of 32 evening classes had been carried on weekty, and arranged to meet the needs of commercial, domestic and trades students. The classes carried on were: —English, arithmetic, shorthand, typewriting, book-keeping, commercial correspondence, economics, machine drawing, building construction, geometry, electricity, mechanics, wool-classing, carpentry and joinery, practical engineering, art, dressmaking, needlework, millinery, ticket-writing, plumbing, and pharmacy science. Classes were held also for High School boys in wool-classing; invalid cookery for nurses from the Public Hospital; I cooked, for pupils from the Convent school; art and agriculture, for teachers, making ff total of 40 classes per week. The total number of pupils enrolled, including the day school, was 541, made up of—free placo 244, and paying students 297. | The annual examinations were hold, and the results were:—First class: °39 (62 per cent.); second class: 115 (29 per cent.) ; failed: 32 (9 per cent.) This is exclusive of the day school pupils. A special class in sheep-

shearing was carried on at Smithfiekl Freezing "Works, with 18 students, who all obtained their certificates at the close of the course. An important feature of the year was the provision made for training apprentices in the building trades, under the Apprentices’ Act, when 32 pupils were enrolled for building construction, geometry, and carpentry, and ho sincerely hoped that committees would bo set up in tho mechanical, electrical and motor engineering trades, so that apprentices in these trades may attend, and become more efficient in their work. The apparatus, staff and buildings were available, and it would be of tho greatest advantage to the communiyt as a. whole when this could be done. A comprehensive exhibit of carpentry and joinery, cabinet-making, dressmaking, needlework and millinery had been sent to the Dunedin Exhibition. The attendance had been, on the whole, better than in previous years, but it was still to be regretted that so many fro placo holders lost these free places tlnough irregular attendance. He trusted that parents would co-operato with the Board in making the attendance as regular as possible, good results being impossible unless this was done. Reviewing the year, excellent work had been done in the majority of cases, and he had only words of praise foi the general conduct of all the students, who had loyally kept the rules, and assisted the staff by their unfailing attention to their work, when present. In conclusion, Mr Fossey returned thanks to the pupils for unfailing courtesy and ready obedience at all times;'the stall" of the College, for| unremitting attention to duty and pupils; the members of the Board, tor assistance rendered at all times; the Tress, for readiness to assist with reports cct., and parents generally, tor assistance in keeping the attendance as regular as it had been. All these factors combined in keeping up the standard of work and making the institution the important factor in tho community ol South Canterbury that it most undoubtedly is. ~ Mr F. J. Rolleston then gave a brie, address appropriate to the occasion, after which he distributed the prizes and certificates which had been won during the year. Supper was then served, afrer ft Inch a dance was held. The names of those who gainec. certificates have already been published. I lie winners of prizes were as follows Day School. —Junior girls: LiiK.a Morrison, highest marks. Grace Sangster and Winnie Thompson, most improvement, ~ . . Junior bovs: Victor 3 reston, highest marks. Ralph Hide, most improvement. , . Senior girls: Ada Mauger, most improvement. Senior boys- Albert Hill, most improvement. Hazel Heads, dux of School. Vivian Koens, dux of Boys’ Department. SPORTS. Girls: Championship, Winnie Thompson, runner-up, Teggv Atkins. Boys: Championship, L. Galletly, runner-up, J. Spr.ggs. EVENING CLASSES. First year, Rita Williams, commercial course, Eileen Cooks, domestic course. Second year, Mona Skley, commercial course, Elsie Mitchell, domestic course. Third year, Gladys Trengrove, commercial course, Stella Macdonald, domestic course. Four year, Margaret Smith, commercial course. Tennis doubles championship, Eileen Callaghan and L. Morrison. Singles championship, Eileen Callaghan.