E.—s

16

Arithmetic and Mensuration. —Instruction in this class was given with special reference to measurement of timber, &c, some very satisfactory work being done. Drawing. —The course of instruction in this subject included freehand, model, and geometrical drawing, with special reference to the cabinetmaking trade. Wood-carving. —A course of lessons in this subject was given with the idea of encouraging those engaged in the cabinetmaking trade to take up this branch of their work. Of the nine students enrolled, however, only one was engaged in the trade. Of the seven students who entered for the complete first year's course in cabinetmaking, two were successful in obtaining a complete certificate. Building Trades Department. The subjects dealt with in the first year's course were practical mathematics, freehand, model, and geometrical drawing, and theory and practice of carpentry and joinery. A special course of instruction in carpentry and joinery was given to journeymen, and a class in building construction and drawing was also held. Carpentry and Joinery. —In the first year's class .twenty-four students were admitted whilst sixteen students took up the journeymen's class. Considering that carpentry and joinery is one of the most important trades in Auckland, the work done during the session was not at all satisfactory. Arithmetic and Mensuration.—The application of these subjects to carpentry and joinery was taught, and some very satisfactory work was done. Freehand, Model, and Geometrical Drawing.—Generally speaking, drawing throughout the school was not satisfactory, and this class proved no exception. Lack of early training in the subject, no doubt, accounted to a great extent for the failure. Building Construction and Drawing. —This class was one of the most successful of the year, the students working steadily throughout the session, whilst at the examination all who took the paper were successful, six obtaining first-class, and five second-class certificates. The number of students who took up the complete first year's course in carpentry and joinery was fourteen. Of these, one only obtained a full certificate. Plumbing Department. The first year's course in this department embraced arithmetic and mensuration, freehand, model, and geometrical drawing, physics and chemistry, and theory and practice of plumbing. A special class in plumbing was also held for masters and journeymen. Principles and Practice of Plumbing. —Excellent work was done by the apprentices in both theory and practice. Those journeymen who were in earnest also made good progress, and some were disappointed at failing in the practical examination, without taking into consideration the fact that many of them had never done a piece of lead-work in their lives previous to their coming to the Technical School. It is hardly reasonable to expect that a man can become a fully qualified plumber as a result of eighty hours' practical work. Arithmetic and Mensuration. —As in other subjects, the apprentice plumbers showed themselves thoroughly in earnest, and excellent work in arithmetic and mensuration as.applied to the trade was done. Freehand, Model, and Geometrical Drawing. —This was the most satisfactory of all the drawing classes in connection with the trades. Physics and Chemistry.—These subjects were dealt with, both by lectures and in the laboratory, the course having special reference to the plumbing trade. Excellent results were obtained. Speaking generally, the work of the plumbing department was amongst the most successful of the school. Twelve students entered for the full first year's course, and five of these obtained the complete certificate. Painting and Decorating Department. The first year's course was as follows : Freehand, model, and geometrical drawing, arithmetic and mensuration, and theory and practice of painting and decorating. This department was the most unsatisfactory of any in connection with the school. It is with considerable satisfaction that I have to note that the City Council have, on my recommendation, decided to set up a Board of Control to deal with the examining and licensing of plumbers. The Board is to be composed of the Director of Technical Education, the City Engineer, the City Sanitary Inspector, a representative selected by the master plumbers, and a representative selected by the journeymen plumbers. Speaking generally, the work done in the Technical School during last session was not satisfactory. This I attribute chiefly to two causes : Firstly, the lack of sound elementary education on the part of the majority of the students entering the school; secondly, the lack of interest in their work, and the total absence of any ambition to get on, on the part of many of the pupils, especially those whose fees had been paid by the parents. That technical education is greatly needed in Auckland is made manifest more and more every day in connection with the various trades, and it is to be sincerely hoped that the Government will take steps to put matters on a more satisfactory footing than has hitherto been the case. George Geokge, F.1.C., F.C.S., Director of Technical Education,