E.—ll

42

classes, where the larger number of students are artisans, is a valuable saving. Many students, no doubt, hesitate at two years' work, but would gladly undertake a fifteen- or eighteen-months course. Although a number of students (less than half those attending the evening art-classes) pass through the geometrical and perspective sections, the majority upon entering do not appreciate the necessity of going through the courses of study, and do not consult the instructors sufficiently as to the best course to pursue. In technical drawing generally geometry and perspective should undoubtedly be the first subjects dealt with, and it is a pity advantage is not taken by industrial students to obtain at least the simplest elements. There is no excuse in the case of these students, the fees being extremely low. In the design-classes the instructor, Mr. Henry, has arranged a complete series of historical styles of ornament for the use of the class. Although the class has only been in operation for twelve months, some very creditable designs have been produced. Australian flora is also used for the purpose of decorative designs. The members of this class should prove valuable as industrial designers at no distant date. The modelling-class has been, and is, of considerable service to plasterers, moulders, carvers, &c. I inspected the works executed by the students at the yearly examination, those of the second-year students, with perhaps two exceptions, producing good work. A plasterer and a mason in this class have each won a bronze medal at the national competition of the South Kensington Art Department for ornaments modelled from the cast. The house painting and decorating classes were engaged in graining, marbling, stencilling, signwriting, and ornamental work, some of the work shown in the decorative class being of considerable merit. The walls were hung with various panels, marbled and grained, as examples, and a large number of coloured diagrams illustrating historical styles of ornament. Ordinary painting, varnishing, gilding, and glass-writing and painting form a part of this class-work. Throughout the whole of the classes excellent apparatus, examples, tools, machinery, models, &c, have been provided. The students have therefore every advantage, with the efficient staff of instructors and teachers provided, and the low fees. There were a large number of classes I was unable to visit owing to want of time, several of which I do not consider are at all technical in character, and others I think might just as well be taught at the University, where such classes are already held, as, for instance, pharmacy, physics, chemistry, and mathematics. Evening-classes are, I believe, held at the University at reduced fees, under the professor of the University. In any case I am sure it would be better to relegate these subjects to that institution, and utilise the expenditure thus incurred in advancing strictly trade subjects. I understand the fees are considerably higher at the University; but if the demand is sufficiently large it would be to the interest of that institution to popularise the evening instruction in these branches, and relieve the Technical College of this work. The department of commercial economy should, I think, be entirely distinct from a college of this description, and, if necessary, established upon a separate basis, or taught in connection with secondary schools. The examinations of the College and country classes are conducted by independent examiners appointed by the Central Board. The examinations are held in December yearly. Arrangements have been made with the City and Guilds of London Institute for the Advancement of Technical Education to extend their system of examination to New South Wales. The first examination was held in April of last year. The following rules have been framed by the Committee of the Institute for the conduct of these examinations : (1.) That the examination be held in the colony on a date to be approved by the Institute in the last fortnight of April, within five weeks before the date of the examinations in the United Kingdom. (2.) That a fee of 2s. 6d. be charged for each candidate examined. (3.) That the Board forward to the Institute, so that the information may be received not later than the Ist March in each year, particulars of the number of candidates to be examined, and of the subjects of examination. (4.) That all practical examinations be held in New South Wales in accordance with the rules of the Institute, and under the superintendence of persons appointed by the Board. (5.) That a certificate of having passed the examination in technology in the first or second class of the ordinary or honours grade be given to each candidate who satisfies the examiner in the written examination. Arrangements are made so that any person may enter for these examinations in various centres throughout the colony on payment of the fee of 2s. 6d. charged by the Institute, and obtain a certificate of theoretical or practical knowledge of such subjects as the following, in which papers are set: 1. Alkali and allied branches— (a) salt-manu-facture, (b) alkali-manufacture, (c) soap-manufacture. 2. Bread-making. 3. (a) Brewing, (b) spiritmanufacture. 4. Coal-tar products. 5. Sugar-manufacture. 6. Fuel. 7. Oils, painters' colours and varnishes, manufacture of. 8. Oils and fats, including candle-manufacture. 9. Gas-manu-facture. 10. Iron- and steel-manufacture. 11. Paper-manufacture. 12. Pottery- and porcelainmanufacture. 13. Glass-manufacture. 14. Dyeing— (a) silk, (b) wool. 15. Bleaching—dyeing and printing of calico or linen. 16. Leather— (a) tanning leather, (b) boot- and shoe-manufacture. 17. Photography. 18. Electro-metallurgy. 19. Textile fabrics—(a) manufacture of cloth, (6) cotton, (c) linen, (d) silk, and (e) jute. 20. (a) Lace-manufacture, (6) framework-knitting. 21. Weaving and pattern-designing. 22. Electrical engineering—fa) telegraphy, (b) electric lighting and transmission of power, (c) electrical-instrument making. 23. Metal-plate working. 24. Plumbing. 25. Silversmithing. 26. Watch-and clock-making. 27. Tools—(a) wood-working, (b) metal- working. 28. Mechanical engineering. 29. Carriage-building. 30. Printing— (a) typography, (b) lithography, &c. 81. Ores, raising and preparation of. 32. Mine-surveying. 33. Milling—flourmanufacture. 34. Carpentry and joinery. 35. Brickwork and masonry. The examination will be in two grades—l, ordinary; 2, honours. The ordinary examination is intended principally for apprentices and journeymen; the honours examination for foremen, managers, and teachers of technology : but candidates may enter themselves for either grade, except in certain subjects hereinafter indicated, in which they are required to obtain a certificate in the ordinary grade before being