31

E.—s

for the new session, and a special teacher has been appointed for the last two subjects, so that the home-science classes, which are already large ones, should continue to increase in popularity. In the trade classes good enrolments of engineering students have been recorded, though the attendance of a proportion of the apprentices has not been sufficient to enable them to profit fully hy their courses. A considerable addition to the equipment of the engineering workshop is anticipated early in 1918, and this will be of much assistance in the working of the practical classes. The plumbing classes have suffered more in numbers from the war than any other in the school. Most of the apprentices are required to leave on active service before completing their apprenticeship, so that the' chances of presenting any candidates for the Registration Examinations are small at the present time. The attendance at the woodworking and buildingconstruction classes has also been small, though earnest work has been done by those attending. Reference must be made to the encouragement given under the new Arbitration Court awards to woodworking and plumbing apprentices to attend technical classes by the payment of increased wages to apprentices who pass suitable examinations of the City and Guilds of London Institute. The class for electrical wiring was not held during the session just past, but the class for motorengine driving again attracted a large number of students. The equipment for this class is very satisfactory, as a gift of a Ford motor-car engine has been received, and a small de Dion car in working-order has been purchased for demonstration purposes. The necessity for giving more instruction to pharmacy apprentices became evident during the session, and classes are now held three evenings weekly, one for candidates for Section A, and two for candidates for Section B examinations. Despite war conditions the standard of work was well maintained in all sections, and both permanent and part-time instructors were responsible for the commendable degree of industry manifested by the students and the results obtained during the year. Horace E. Niven, Chairman. D. E. Hansen, Director. Extract from the Controlling Authority of the Gore Technical School. Classes were conducted during two terms of ten weeks each. Very successful work was done, and the pupils were keenly interested; The classes for dressmaking, Latin, and French were attended by twenty-two, thirteen, and seventeen students respectively. I regret to state that the arithmetic and book-keeping classes were not supported as they should have been. Other classes in operation were attended as follows: Electricity, 11; shorthand, 13; ladies' woodwork, 9; cabinetmaking, 4; English, 8. Of the total number of students—viz., 117 —thirty-three were holders of free places. Andrew Martin, Secretary.