31

E.—s

Extract from the Report of the Director of the Wellington Technical School. Attendance.- —Excluding day technical free scholars, numbering 276 on the average, the number of class entries averaged 934 in the four quarters of the year. These were distributed as follows: Art and art crafts, 234; mechanical and electrical engineering, 118; plumbing, painting and decorating, carpentry and joinery, and building-construction, 227; mathematics, mechanics, geometry, and mechanical drawing, 116; English, Latin, and arithmetic, 74; tailor's cutting, 5; commercial, 160. Art Classes. —These classes were seriously handicapped during the year through the absence of a chief instructor, and through the general unsuitability of the rooms used. There should be considerable improvement in the quality of the work done during the year 1907, and also in the general direction and scope of the teaching; but the numbers will probably not increase till the good effects of well-arranged courses and high ideals begin to show. The art-work done was not confined to the ordinary art students during the year 1906, the whole of the day technical scholars taking four hours weekly of elementary drawing, with, on the whole, satisfactory results. Mechanical and Electrical Engineering. —These classes showed more promise than in former years. I woifld, however, strongly urge that a suitable drawing office and laboratory accommodation be provided, in order that the best type of student may be attracted and retained by the school. No real progress can be made in arranging courses and in compelling the attendance of apprentices till at least some of the necessary laboratory rooms and equipment and drawing-office accommodation has been provided. The present shortcomings in these respects almost entirely nullify the efforts of both staff and students, and tend to drive promising young men to other countries to obtain the whole of their training, with the natural result that they often fail to return to this country, which is left with a large proportion of incompetent and badly trained workmen. Proper appliances are absolutely necessary if good advanced classes are to be established, and without such classes the courses are of very moderate utility and really earnest students are not attracted. Building Trades. —The attendance in these classes was good during the whole year, and the quality of work done very fair. The same general criticism applies to this branch of the school as it does to the engineering branch. Good teachers and good students were handicapped by lack of room and equipment. Mathematics, Mechanics, mid Mechanical Drawing. — The numbers were fair and the work done good considering the circumstances in which the work was done. Special rooms and special equipment are very necessary, and were not available. Continuation Classes in English, Latin, and arithmetic were well attended, and the results showed careful teaching, and also earnest work on the part of many of the students. Book-keeping, Shorthand, Precis, and Typing were amongst the most successful classes in the school, and were well attended both by day and evening students. Day Technical Scholars. —The classes for free technical students in the daytime were well attended, and good progress was made. A large proportion of the second-year students remained till the end of the year, and were successful in obtaining senior free places. These are now attending the school in more advanced classes both day and evening. The demand for these students in business and industrial concerns in the town has lieen very strong, and good reports have been received of all who left the classes to go to work. In many cases firms engaging one of the secondyear students have been so well pleased that they have sent to the school for others. The new workships were equipped during the year, and have been found convenient and suitable. The furniture and equipment of the main buildings have been as far as possible perfected, and the available space fully utilised. It becomes increasingly evident, however, that the school is being badly throttled by cramped and inconvenient buildings and lack of breathingspace. A convenient area for recreation is a very urgent necessity for both day and evening students, and the available class-room is only about one-third of that required for properly carrying on the work. There is no doubt that a change of site is inevitable, and the sooner the change is made the sooner good results will be obtained from the annual expenditure. The removal of the school to suitable buildings on a sufficiently large site would be followed by a large increase in numbers and efficiency. In accordance with the desire of the Education Department, students of the school sent some 160 exhibits to the International Exhibition at Christchurch. Over fifty awards were obtained, including eleven gold medals. W. S. La Trobe, Director. Statement of Receipts and Expenditure for the Year ending 81st December, 1906, in respect of Associated Classes conducted by the Wellington Technical Classes Association. Receipts. £ s. d. Expenditure. £ s. d. Balance at beginning of year (inoluding con- Salaries of instructors .. .. .. 4,719 10 1 tractor's deposit, £100) .. .. 476 5 6 Office expenses (including salaries, stationCapitation on associated classes .. .. 3,543 110 cry, &c.) .. .. .. .. 30 16 8 Capitation on account of free places .. 1,369 810 Advertising and printing .. .. 185 18 4 Buildings .. .. .. 2,367 0 0 Lighting, heating, and cleaning .. .. 395 15 3 Rent .. .. .. .. ■ • 58 11 6 Insurance and repairs .. .. 86 16 4 Furniture, fittings, apparatus .. .. 2,043 2 7 Rent .. .. .. .. .. 40 0 0 Material .. .. .. .. 274 1 5 Examinations, &c, .. .. .. 129 14 2 Subsidies on voluntary contributions .. 445 1 2 Material for olass use .. .. .. 528 5 4 Fees .. .. .. .. 1,421 5 9 Library .. .. .. .. 52 4 5 Voluntary contributions .. .. 430 19 2 Appointment of instructors and travellingRent from Victoria College .. .. 21 13 4 expenses to New Zealand .. .. 119 7 5 Drawing classes, Wellington Boys' and Sundries .. .. .. .. 46 510 Girls' Colleges .. .. .. 120 0 0 Deposit refunded .. .. .. 100 0 0 Sales, waste material .. .. .. 105 5 6 Contracts (new buildings, additions, &c.) .. 2,815 18 3 Sundries .. .. .. .. 28 9 9 Architect, &c. .. .. .. 157 15 0 Furniture, fittings, apparatus .. .. 2,042 13 8 Balance at end of year .. .. .. 1,253 5 7 £12,704 6 4 £12,704 6 4 W. S. La Trobb, Secretary.