15

E.—s

Agricultural Chemistry. —This class has been under the tuition of Mr. B. J. Dolan, who holds high certificates in chemistry, and has distinguished himself as a science student. In this class a comprehensive and interesting programme of work, on the lines of the South Kensington Science and Art Department's syllabus, has been gone through. Practical work, such as the testing of soils, has been done both by demonstration and also by the pupils. The lessons have been fully illustrated by experiments. The scientific apparatus at the public school has been made free use of, and a good supply of apparatus and chemicals has been obtained for the special use of the class. The lessons have, therefore, been of a very interesting and useful character. The Committee hope that a large number of young students will enter for this class when the new session commences. Shorthand. —This class has been instructed by Mr. D. S. Papworth, whose practical knowledge of the art and daily use of it thoroughly qualify him for teaching the subject. Successful work has been done by this class, several of the pupils having made considerable progress, while several are now able to make use of their newly acquired art in their office work. From the number of inquiries made by intending pupils it is probable a fairly large class will be formed. Book-keeping. —This class was at its inauguration undertaken by Messrs. Keith and Sellar. During the first session this was the most popular class, the roll-number being thirty-six. Mr. Keith resigned his position at the end of the first session, and the class has since been carried on by Mr. Sellar. Excellent work has been done, and very great interest has been taken by the pupils in the subject. Several members of the class have bettered their positions by the knowledge of book-keeping obtained by attending this class. General Knowledge. —This class has been taught by Mr. E. Darrock and Mr. B. J. Dolan, arithmetic having been taken by the former, and English by the latter. Particular attention has been paid to commercial arithmetic and correspondence. Good work has been done by teachers and pupils. At the close of the session the members of this class unanimously thanked the Technical School Committee for having established the class, and the teachers for their zealous work. It is very pleasing to the Committee to be able to report so favourably of the working of the classes. In spite of the many interferences and inconveniences that pupils and teachers have had to put up with, no class has fallen through. On numerous occasions the pupils have met at their class-room for their usual instruction only to find that the rooms were occupied and that no classes could be held. Many of the pupils had to walk or ride a considerable distance to attend their classes, and it is a matter for surprise that these discouragements had not the effect of breaking up the classes. It is hoped that these interferences will be obviated during the current year. In order to create an interest in the technical classes, the Committee made arrangements for several popular science lectures, and during the year very able addresses were delivered by Sir James Hector, M.D., on "Antarctica"; by Eev. J. T. Nott, on "The Moon"; by Mr. Charles Hulke, F.C.S., on " Milk-testing" ; and by Mr. T. W. Kirk, Government Biologist, on " Insect Pests." A course of lectures on " Political Science" was delivered under the auspices of the Committee by the Eev. A. C. Hoggins, B.A. The Committee hope to be able to arrange for other popular science lectures during the present year. Following the precedent of the Wellington Technical School Committee, this Committee decided to award free drawing scholarships to those pupils who succeeded in obtaining full firstgrade drawing certificates in the examinations held by the Wellington Education Board —a full certificate comprising a pass in freehand, model, geometrical, and scale drawing. These scholarships were awarded to the number of fifteen. The holders of them have, by their application to their work and by their exceedingly regular attendance, shown their appreciation of the privileges conferred. Four of these scholarship-holders have each passed this year in two second-grade art subjects, and three others have each passed in one subject. The Committee desire to carry on the classes already established, and to add to them, if possible, classes in cookery, dressmaking, and woodworking. To enable the Committee to carry out these proposals they ask the Trustees to allocate the sum of £150 for the current year. The general unsuitability of the drill-shed has been fully demonstrated during the past year, and the Committee therefore earnestly desire to see a new building provided for technical education in Masterton—a building specially adapted, and one which will be in keeping with the importance of the town and its future prospects. This Committee has reason to believe that if the Trust will provide a suitable site, a grant for a building would be given by the Government. Accompanying this report is a statement of receipts and expenditure for the past year, and also a return showing the number of pupils and attendance in the various classes.

Summary of Pupils and Attendances.

First Quarter. Second Quarter. Third luacter. Class. M "*»*. AuJnTafce. AtteTafc, Meetings. Average Attendance. Drawing Agricultural chemistry Shorthand Book-keeping General knowledge 22 11 8 11 17 15 7 10 25 15 25 13 12 12 26 26 11 8 16 18 22 11 11 9 21 26 7 9 10 16