£.—5

76

Statement of Receipts and Expenditure for the Year ending 31st December, 1911, in respect of Special Classes conducted at Timaru, Hannaton, and Winchester.

Extract from the Report of the Managers or the Timaku Technical School. The association has now completed the eleventh year of its existence. Timaru was one of the first places in the Dominion to take advantage of the machinery provided by the Manual and Technical Instruction Act, 1900, and in the eleven intervening years the school has gradually increased in size and extended its sphere of usefulness. The 1911 session shows a marked increase over preceding years in the number of students attending the school, and the reports of the different examiners show that the quality of the work done was excellent. The following gives the number of students enrolled in each subject during the year : Commercial arithmetic, 71 ; agriculture, 7 ; ambulance work, 35 ; building-construction, 16 ; book-keeping, 39 ; invalid cookery, 8; plain cookery, 73; drawing, modelling, and painting, 16; children's drawing, 12; dressmaking, 48; electricity, 9; commercial English, 70 ; advanced mathematics, 9 ; millinery, 37 ; plumbing, 12 ; shorthand, 55 ; Standard VI, 11 ; typing, 55 ; carving, i ; woodwork, 8 ; wool-classing, 20 ; senior Latin, 10 ; matriculation class, 7 ; total, 632 class entries. This is a much larger number than we have ever had before, and shows an increasing demand for technical education in the town. In accordance with the amended regulations, 1910, definite courses of instruction were carried on, involving attendance at classes in related subjects on one, two, three, or more evenings per week. The courses were confined to a domestic course, a commercial course, a trades course, and an arts course. It is pleasing to note that the domestic, the commercial, and the trades courses were exceptionally well attended. The other courses were not so well attended. The attendance at the class in agriculture and horticulture was rather disappointing, but wool-classing has now been successfully carried on at this school for three years. Of course, students were allowed to take one or more unrelated subjects, but they were not encouraged to do so. Seventy-one free students attended the school during the year, 9 senior and 62 junior. The attendance of these free pupils was exceptionally good, and their diligence was highly satisfactory. Ten junior free pupils who have completed their two-years course have been granted by the Department Senior Free Places, tenable at the school for the next three years. On several occasions the Managers have considered the advisability of carrying on afternoon classes, providing a course of domestic instruction for girls. This course was placed on the prospectus last year, but there were not sufficient applications forthcoming to warrant the Managers in carrying out the scheme. The time is not far distant when Timaru will have to follow the lead of the larger centres in the matter of carrying on a day Technical School. During the year the Managers met nine times, and attended to everything connected with the welfare of the school. Visiting committees were appointed each month, and official visits were paid to the different classes whilst at work. Owing to ill health the Technical Inspector was unable to visit the school whilst the classes were in progress, but he visited the school at the close of the session and expressed satisfaction with the work that had been done. At th( close of the session examinations were conducted in the different subjects, and certificates were granted to deserving students. Seven candidates passed the Standard VI examination, and five plumbers qualified for licenses in accordance with borough by-laws. A glance at the balance-sheet will show that the finances of the school are still in a sound condition, but to bring this about the Managers have had to practise the strictest economy, as the school has no endowments, but has to depend on its own resources for its very existence. A pleasing feature is the large amount collected in fees, demonstrating the fact that people are willing to pay for the instruction which they need. Summarizing, the work of the past year must be considered highly satisfactory. The number of students on the roll shows a substantial increase on the previous year, and the examiners report that the different classes did good work. The attendance was excellent, and the diligence and general behaviour of the students were all that could be desired, not a single case of bad behaviour having been reported. The thanks of the association are due to all who in any way contributed to the success of the school during the year, to the local bodies and citizens who contributed liberally to the funds, and to the Press, who always loyally support the school and are ever ready to promote the cause of technical education in the town. A special word of thanks is due to the teachers for the very able manner in which they have carried out their onerous duties during the year. The whole success of the school depends on the staff, and their loyal enthusiasm in the past has placed the school in the position it occupies to-day. Their work is often a labour of love, as the remuneration allowed does not compensate them for the amount of trouble they go to to carry out the work successfully. The Managers also desire to place on record the prompt attention of the Central Department to all claims and applications made during the year. J. A. Valentine, 8.A., Chairman.

Receipts. 3*pitation on special classes ?urniture, fittings, and apparatus.. Material special grant for training of teachers ?ees £ s. d. 26 10 3 271 7 4 13 7 3 150 0 0 13 0 0 Expenditure. £ s. d. Balance at beginning of year.. .. .. 82 15 0 Salaries of instructors .. .. .. 106 12 0 Material for class use .. .. .. 10 0 Travelling-expenses .. .. .. 2 18 10 Administration .. .. .. .. 13 2 5 Furniture, fittings, and apparatus .. 20 13 7 Balance at end of year .. .. .. 247 3 0 £474 4 10 £474 4 10 A. Bell, Secretary.