TECHNICAL COLLEGE.

Taranaki Daily News, 8 December 1917, Page 6

TECHNICAL COLLEGE.

ANNUAL BREAKING-UP. The anrj break-up ceremony in connection with the New Plymouth Technical College took place on Thursday afternoon. The proceedings commenced at the Good Templar's Hall. There was an attendance of between 200 and 300 people. Tn the absence of the chairman of the Education Board Mr. P. White, a member of the Board, presided. In his opening address Mr. White referred with satisfaction to the progress of the work of the college during the past year and to the advances made in the development of technical education. He congratulated the Director and staff on the results attained and the pupils on the diligence shown. i THE DIRECTOR'S REPORT.

The Director (Mr. A. Gray) reported on the year's work as follows:

In jyesenting to von this my fifth annual report I am pleased to be able to record ,a very successful year's work. The total number of students attending the day classes during the year lias been ICS. Of these 108 have travelled by train. The labor conditions prevailing have been the cause of the loss of several of our senior bovs, who" have had to (ill various vacancies which the particular training received at the college lias enabled them to do with credit to themselves and us. , THE WORK, I feel that a lot of good solid work has been done during the year. At the City and Guild's examination of 1916 the following students were successful:— Motor car engineering.—Leslie M. Allan, Herbert H. Crockett, Henry Feakins, Garner, Rupert George, Frank Senter, Dermorit Street, Charles Wicksteed. Electrical Engineering,—Rupert George, AVilliain Penman, Haddon Smith. Tlie following students were also successful in the examinations named:— Matriculation—Ellen Warren (full pn<s) and Leslie Allen (partial pass), Public Service Entrance—Haddon Sinilii. Senior Fro/ Place—Joan Tlvndinan .'unior Free Place—Hazel Andrews, \ Teachers'' D. and C.—Maggie Parli (partial pass). Teachers' D.r-Jean TTvndman (partial pa** in three grriups) and Ellen Warren (partial in two groups). The eertific.ites to be issued to-day ore an indication of our estimate or the .woH: done in Die various ejsssos. Those cert ideates are of more value really than any ordi larv examination results, because tliey denote the result of the year's work :is a whole, and not of the Work of r.nv particular day. We ore particularly careful to set a very high standard of marking, inasmuch as the reputation which the College has huilf, up must he maintained. SPORTS. The sports side of the institution lias been well looked after. The football ( t«am w as a particularly good one. Cricket has suffered somewhat through lack of a proper playing area whereon a good pitch could he put down. We are also liadlv in need of a gymnasium and of a tennis court, and although a great many calls have lately been made on the public, T feel sure that the townspeople would help us in this direction. I do net think durinsr the past five years we have ever asked for ii'/Tinc-ial help, and hence I suggest the above with no apology for doing so. BUILDING ACCOMMODATION. During the year we moved into the new engineering establishment. The boys fitted up the machinery, and are at present engaged in wiring for the lighting of the building. The 'Education Department gets a good deal ot" criticism for parsimony, but I must placp on. record mv appreciation of the failway in which the Depaitmental officials have treated ,o"ur institution in this direction. The Department lias under con- ' sideration alternative plans for additions in the shape of three class rooms. I , hope these may be available early in the new year, THE FUTURE, What the future of Technical Education will foe it is hard to tell, but one thing is certain, viz., that the nation will have to depend on technical education for its existence after the war. No one can doubt that the authorities controlling this olass of education in Germany are already planning and scheming for post war work, and it behoves us, while profiting bv the mistakes Germany has made, jotably in the suppression of individualism, to prepare likewise. In our own school we are trying to do what we can in this direction. The ideal we strive for i 3 "one hundred per cent, efficiency." This, couDled with solid manliness, should, I think, produce the stamp -of citizen the State requires. THE STAFF. During the year there have been several changes of the staff. Miss Menzies and Mr. Davis resigned their positions as commercial instructors, while Mr. Rirkpatriek proceeded to camp. Miss ,Mil;kelsnn also resigned her position as dressmaking instructress, the vacancy being filled by Miss Starkey. Miss H. ■ Watkins and Mr. G. H. White were ap- , pointed to the Commercial Department ■ and Sir. Wright to the engineering side. Mr. Duff has been doing visiting instructor's work. These new instructors have amply justified the Board's choice of their appointments. I wish to express my thanks to the staff for the loyal support during the year. A great deal of extra work has 1 been thrown on various members, and ■this has been carried out uncomplain- ,c ingly. To the press also I am very " grateful for much help. 1 NATIVE STUDENTS. \ This year we have had a. number of native students These boys have done C really good work, and linve been most, loyal to the school in evevv way. They I have gained the respect both of teachers 1' and of fellow students: syid I should be f. glad to have more of these lads so long as they are of the excellent type of this ( year's students. TRAIN STUDENTS. J. During the year about one hundred C and eight student] have travelled by 1

train to the classes from a? far away a? Eltham. The large number of students naturally throws a great responsibility on the railway officials, and I liavo once again to thank these officers I for their courtesy and kindness. As the train service is most unsuitable for a town of this size, I hope something may soon be done to secure an alteration. LEAVING STUDENTS. On those students who are leaving us this year I would impress the necessity of attempting to show the public the value of the training received. During the past year I have met many old pupils, and I have been struck with the manner in which they seem to have applied the principles learnt, at the : college. This is, of course, as it should be. The Rev. O. Blundell, and Mr. .S. G. (Smith, a member of the Education Board, also addressed gathering. The chairman then presented the thirdvcar certificates, there being some SO to .40 awards made. The presentations also included the championship cup for sports, with gold medal, the junior sports championship cup. and the gold medal offered by Mr...1. W. Havden for cooking, j A recitation was given bv Captain Allen. When the proceedings at the hall had concluded an adjournment was made to the 'work done by the pupils during'the year was on exhibition. The visitors were entertained to afternoon tea.