TECHNICAL SCHOOL.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 67, 12 December 1907, Page 9

TECHNICAL SCHOOL.

EXHIBITiON OF STUDENTS'-WORK,

In the upstairs portion of tbo Technical School workshops building i n Mercer Street, there was thrown opeu for exhibition yesterday afternoon n most interesting collection of work done by tho students in the various classes. A careful inspection of the various inhibits, and a littlo abstract thinking afterwaids, should convinco "the man in the street" that here is an institution worthy of support and development in further directions. The contributions to the exhibition nro from siudcnts of varying ages, from eight years upwarcls.

'Iho' woodwork and carpentry section shows an array of exhibits which aro highly creditable to the youthful constructors. Model wardrobes, cupboards, bookshelves, miniature houses in various stages of construction, stairways, dcors, and sashes. Considerable attention has, to judge from some of the miniature houses, been given to the requirements suitablo for the character of' building land in tho city, so that tho embryo carpenter, when he enters upon his trade in due course, will not bo conficntcd with conditions of sites with which ,ra s previously unacquainted. Various types of roofs are also exhibited. Master builders should, therefore, look with a favourable oye upon this particular class. ' Another section worthy of mention is that in which nro exhibited designs for marine balers, gas ongincs, and gas producor plants. Wesigning evidently receives systematic attention in the school, for certain exhibits in wallpapers, illuminating, and sign-writing aro of distinct morit.

The commercial section is' well represented; Neat examples of shorthand writing" (correspondence style), book-keeping, statistical tables, and mapping are displaved. i ..In. the art section, the oxhlbits are' of a very high standard,, of merit, life studios, fiom the ivctunl animate models are shown, along with the animals and birds which tho studies represent. Thcro is also some encouraging work bv the students of tho "Life" Class, somo of the. studies from the nudo showing considerable promise. Mention must also bo mado of tho meritorious work done in studies of plant and insect lifo. In sonie cases such objects have been used as the motif of decorative design. An exhibit of scientific apparatus and instruments, designed by the director (Mr. W. S. La Trobo), and Mr. Alexander, constructed by the students, calls for specinl mention. In many cases theso are improvements on imported patterns of a similar nature. ■ The optical fittings, of course, wero imported. Included in this exhibit are instruments for measuring, the speed of falling bodies, devices for deluato measurements (such as the 1000 th optical part of an inch). In a corner of tho engineerinp room downstairs is an interesting exhibit of electric cnble joints, showing the methods adopted for joining up strand* of varying thickness. The whole exhibition is a most satisfactory indication of tho utilitarian character of the class-work undertaken at the Technical School. The exhibition will bo re-opened to-day,