83

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Israel continued to act as Hon. Treasurer. Mr. W. Scott vacated his seat before the end of the year, and the Education Board appointed Mr. P. McKinlay, M.A., to fill the vacancy thus created. Mr. G. Simpson resigned, and was succeeded by Mr. C. W. Chamberlain. According to the details submitted in the Director's report, the figures for 1912 constitute a record, and the work of the school viewed as a whole has been very satisfactory. During the year the energies of the Board were concentrated upon advancing the erection of the building for the King Edward Technical College. A fair proportion of the amount required to defray the cost of the building being in sight, the detailed working plans and specifications were prepared and tenders invited for the work. The tenders received showed that the cost, including architect's fees, would amount to approximately ,£32,000, and in view of the exceptional circumstances that had arisen during the year the Managers did not deem it wise to pledge the Board for the full amount of the contract price. It was therefore decided to hold over in the meantime that part of the contract having reference to the plastering of the stairways and corridors and to the heating and lighting. The liability of the Board on the present contract was thus reduced to £26,421 17s. 4d., and the contract being spread over two years gives an opportunity of raising the remainder of the money in time to continue the building to completion. So far every appeal made to the public for funds in aid of the school has met with a liberal response, and the Managers anticipate that as the erection of the building proceeds the people of Dunedin will recognize the magnitude and value of the work undertaken, and thus be induced to contribute to the funds for such a worthy object. In this connexion we note that during the year £600 was contributed to the building fund by a friend of the school. A few such donations and the amount required for the completion of the King Edward Technical College would be assured. For many years now Professors Shand and Gilray (and previously Professor Black also) have done much to encourage our students by granting a free place each in their respective classes, and the Managers here place on record their appreciation of this generous action of these gentlemen. In his annual report, however, the Director suggests the desirability of securing a closer connexion between the Otago University and the Technical School. The suggestion appears to us to be of considerable importance, and we are strongly of opinion that action should be taken in the direction indicated. Probably a conference of an informal nature between members representing the two bodies concerned would lead to some solution of the matter. While dealing with this question the Board wishes to add that the Managers are of opinion that they might well go further and recommend that in the interests of education and of the community generally the various bodies controlling education in Dunedin should meet in conference periodically. The honorary examiners continue to render valuable service and advice, and to these the Board tenders its best thanks. Members of the staff have been earnest and conscientious in the discharge of their duties. They have been assisted by, and worked in harmony with, the staff of the School of Art. The certified statement of receipts and expenditure shows that the credit balance of the general account on the 31st December was £658 7s. 5d., while there was a fixed deposit of £3,000 which has to be credited to the building fund. Thos. Scott, Chairman. Extract prom the Report of the Director of the Dunedin Technical School. The enrolment of individual students totalled 1,233, an increase of 140 on last year's corresponding figures. The day Technical School was attended by 215 pupils, receiving systematic instruction in one or other of the full courses provided. The attendance in the three departments under which the day school is conducted was as follows: Domestic course —First-year girls, 26; secondyear girls, 10. Industrial course —First-year boys, 24; second-year boys, 8. Commercial course —First-year pupils, 20 boys and 73 girls; second-year pupils, 2 boys and 38 girls; thirdyear pupils, 1 boy and 13 girls. The commercial course is the most popular with pupils, and, judging from the applications made to the school by employers offering engagements to members of the day commercial classes, the training is evidently of a sound and serviceable nature. It may be gratifying to feel that this branch of the work is on right lines, and that classes in shorthand and book-keeping require to be duplicated," but it is a matter for regret that so few of the young girls of the community enter upon even a short domestic course, affording a practical training in the details of general household work. The instruction given in the industrial course seems to be appreciated, and was during the year under review supplemented by the addition of practical work in blacksmithing and milk-testing. The opportunities afforded by these extensions were eagerly availed of by the country boys in attendance. All classes other than those constituting the Day Technical School are known as associated classes. These classes were, for the most part, held in the evenings, and, excluding eleven pupils transferred from the day school, were attended by 1,018 individual students, including 201 junior free pupils and 87 senior free pupils. In addition to the classes at Dunedin, continuation classes were held at the following suburban schools : North-east Valley, Kaikorai, High Street, Green Island, and Forbury. At Palmerston classes for horticulture and wood-carving, and at Portobello classes for dressmaking and needlework, were also held. As regards the classes of the Technical School, the 'lasses for commercial subjects, with the exception of commercial law, are well patronized; and a pleasing feature is that students seeking commercial training now invariably attend for instruction in grouped courses —that is, they elect to receive tuition in two or more related subjects. The members of the engineering classes are also, year by year, exhibiting a desire for grouped courses rather than for individual or

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