MASTERTON TECHNICAL SCHOOL.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXV, Issue 10713, 27 February 1914, Page 6

MASTERTON TECHNICAL SCHOOL.

ANNUAL REPOKT

Following is the annual report oE the managers of the Masterton Technical School, to be presented at the antmnl mooting to-night:— Tho opening of the school for the year took placo on March 10th, and "the work of the three full terms was completed towards the close of November, Classes were conducted as under :—Art: Painting, freehand drawing, 'general drawing, model drawing, and liftht and shade. Dressmaking: Practical. Plumbing*. Theory -anet practice. Woodworking. Shorthand (Pitman's and Gregg's system;.) and typewriting ; hook-keeping • Civil Service- yuhjeets, English and arithmetic; elocution. At the opening of the "school year classes for the teaching of the theory of building and machinery construction were opened, hut ■owing to tho very poor'support given those, it was reluctantly decided to close them down. It is hoped that this year those classes will be resumed in, connection with tho'woodworking .classes, and that many'boys and young men will take advantage of the excellent opportunity afforded by the. teachingj of these subjects by so able an instructor as the one whose services are available. . Wood-carving will ■ probably be added this year* to the wood-working department.

The roll number, for the first, term waa 228 awl the average attendance 157; second term 238, average 192; third, term 230.. average 192. .The percentage of. attendance for the year was. 78. There were 43 free-place pupils,' and these were instructed in a large number of subjects, so that the free-place pupil lists.show: First term 104, second 104, third 109. The total fees paid by'tho pupils amounted to £lls 6a 6d', over £4O more than the preceding year. Tho' financial year, of 1913 began with it. debit.balance of £B9 0s 7d. but there was a credit from' annual and ordinary capitation on behalf of the classes, and this amount, together with subsidies on voluntary .contributions and grants whiclv. did not come into credit till later, augmented thei funds. During our financial year of 1913 some amounts which were in abeyance from the previous, year were paid off, a complete outfit for the woodworking classes obtained, the expenses of the school exhibition paid out of revenue, and the advance insalary of the secretary provided .for. The year 1913 closed 'with an apparent debit balance of £32 lis sd", but ,when the annual capitation, ...together with rent payments, come to hand there will ho a credit balance.

Their attention to theii' duties by .the staff was most com mend able, tlio work of the students creditable, while the discipline maintained lias been the cause of ahuoh favourable comment. The art have grown in favour and the work done was of so high an orcfer as to win the cordial approval ■of. competent judges. The dressmaking and art'needlework classes have grown to. large proportions, and much enthusiasm is being shown in connection with the enrolments for the year 1914'. The* revival of the woodworking class has proved most popular. .

Your 'managers ..would impress upon all parents "whose children are not entered upon the rolls of secondary schools to carofiilly consider the advantages of the Mastertqn Technical School both for free-place and qther pupite. Take, for example, the bookkeeping and typewriting; and shorthand classes. In all of these classes the work done has been more than favourably referred to by business men of this town and district. The attendance at the Gregg lightline classes was very large, and that at the Pitman's, fair, while the bookkeeping class was one of the best attended in the school. For boys and girls who may be taking -up employment after passing out of the/local schools, this school affords an opportunity that should be more largely availed of by our young people. At the opening of 1913 it became necessary to appoint a now secretary, and your managers decided to try the experiment of combining that office with that of Director of the School. From a number of applicants Mr J. ■ T. M. Hornsby was chosen, and he has proved a very valuable officer. He has displayed a great amount of enthusiasm in the working of the school,' and his constant supervision has had the best results. ( At the close of the year a school exhibition was held, at' which the wort of the {pupils- was submitted to public | scrutiny. Not only did- the nublic', ,take a deep interest in the exhibition, J but jvery heartily congratulated ■, your managers on the evidence m afforded of the excellence and; value of the work done by tho students. There 1 , can be no doubt but the exhibition ' did much to further popularise the school, as is evidenced by the desire of so many young people' to join the ' classes of 1914: Your managers desire, in connection with the school exhibition, to thank in the warmest' tei-ms the ladies who eo generously as well as enthusiasticallly aided them in their project. Our thanks are i also due to the professional musicians

i for their help; tho ladies and gentlei men who assisted the instructors in I the placing of exhibits and the deI coration of the rooms; the performers I who provided such excellent proj grammes for the concerts;; tho instruc--1 tors for their zealous and successful ; efforts; the W.F.O.A ~ Levin and Co., Perry and Co., Mr Whittaker; • Wati son and Co., and Graham and Co. ! for their help, and many private individuals for their generous gifts. Once again during last year a do- 1 tided effort was made to start a vet- ! erinary class, but without success. ; The Mastertpa A. and P. Society ai I onco offered assistance, the services '■ of a master of veterinary science wer§ j fortliconi.lrig, kiVas ipHly 6iie or two students offered, your managers were I compelled to abandon-the scheme;,. Itj is a matter for regret that in a district like Masterton so valuable a pro- ( ject as that of the carrying on of in- ; atraction, in veterinary science should j not long ago have been brought to a successful issue. Your managers are still anxious to get the class set up,- and will be glad to hear of a movement amongst our young farmers in the direction indicated. Other ' classes which might be successfully ) started here are those of wool-cktss-i ing (all the necessary appliances are (in our possession from - the former 1 very successful trial given to the ! teaching of this valuable technical subject), mechanical engineering, study of electricity, cooking and other branches of domestic science, or any other class or classes which may be desired by students. Your managers -would also call attention to the. opportunity afforded others' than juniors' to improve themselves by attendance at the; classes in this school, for example, in English, arithmetic, bookkeeping, typewriting arid shorthand. Young people who have left school, and are gaining their livelihood can, if they wish, come t6 this school and take all the subjects which will enable them to pass the Public Service \ Entrance Examination, or the Matriculation examination. Young men who are working at the plumbing trade should be aware that they can no longer be employed on sanitary, work till they have obtained their certificates. These certificates can be obtained on examination atthis school and are oonferred by the City of London and Guilds. . ' , Your managers are looking forward to a most successful year in 1914; the classes are filling rapidly, and at the opening of the school on Monday, March 9th, they will be glad to welcome parents and pupils. To the press of Masterton. our best thanks are due for the whole-hearted manner in which the proprietors of the two newspapers have # helped the school by the publicity given so ungrudgingly in their coknina. We have, further, to thank the Town Lands Trust for the financial as.sistj.ance given; also the Borough Council for their annual grant.