19

E.—s

The most important step in the history of the school was marked by the decision of the Education Board to appoint a fully qualified instructor who could take charge of the engineering section of the school, and devote the whole of his time to both day and evening classes. The appointment was made towards the end of the first term. About seventeen boys attended the day course, and additional evening classes were established. When increased accommodation and better equipment can be secured the future success of the engineering department will"be assured. The attendance at the day classes in engineering was excellent, many of the boys making over 800-hour attendances, and, with only one or two exceptions, earning the maximum capitation. The work done was very efficient j many additional subjects were taken which had not been before attempted, such as machine drawing and design, steam and heat engines, &c. The question of the enlargement of the workshop was brought prominently to the fore, and as a result of the departmental Inspector's visit steps were taken to acquire, if possible, additional land. A definite forward movement seemed to be the result. The evening class in woodwork was better attended than it had been for some years; some good work was done. The commercial classes, as usual, proved very attractive to the younger students. The accommodation is very inadequate, and additional typewriters are much needed. Students of these classes have been fairly successful in the various examinations, and find no difficulty in obtaining good positions in the offices of the local firms. The art and crafts classes were not so well attended as formerly; nevertheless some excellent work was done during the year, and the work shown at the exhibition surpassed in quality that of former years. The domestic classes were fairly well attended. There was a marked and well-sustained improvement in the cookery classes, and for the first time in many years the evening class in this subject was continued throughout the whole session. The display at the exhibition was a great success, and much credit was due to the instructress and the students, who spared no pains or time to make the cookery department a credit to the school. The proceeds after deducting actual expenses were devoted to the Red Cross Fund, and resulted in a good sum being handed over to the treasurer. The attendance at the telegraphy class has fluctuated a good deal owing to the frequent changes at the post-office. The plumbers' class was fairly well attended, but better facilities and improved accommodation are required in the workshop. There is perhaps more hope for the future in this respect now that the City Council has set the example and donated the sum of £25 to the school. I sincerely trust that this grant will be continued, and that other local bodies will contribute also. Some very fine specimens of the work done by students in the photography class were displayed at the annual exhibition-. The usual classes for teachers were held in drawing, chemistry, and botany, and a new class in hygiene was established. The usual exhibition of students' work was held at the end of the session, and was very well attended. In conclusion, 1 have to thank the Post and Telegraph Department for the loan of instruments, the staff of the Board for their valuable assistance, and the members of the technical staff for their loyalty and support. F c j C ockburn, Director. Extract from the Report op the Director op the Westport Technical School. The year has been a decidedly strenuous one for the staff owing to the considerable extension of the scope and operations of the school, and to the alterations, renovations, and extended equipment work carried out during the year. The difficulty of procuring material and appliances also added to the work of the staff. The number of students attending the evening engineering class has been much less than that of previous years, the reason being that most of the youths have either gone to the war or have left the town for employment. The attendance at the day engineering class was a record for the school, the capitation earnings showing an increase of £74 18s. lid. over those for the previous year. The carpentry class has had a very successful year, the attendance being quite satisfactory, while the work, especially in the ladies' department, has been excellent. Attention is drawn to the urgent necessity of a commercial class-room. It has been with great difficulty and with much extra work that the typewriters and their cabinets have been kept in working-order during the year. As in past years, the annual .exhibition of work at the school was a great success. A sale of donated goods was also held, resulting in an amount of £18 being raised for expenditure on equipment improvement. Branch classes were held at Millerton in the subject of dressmaking, and at Denniston in the subjects of dressmaking, domestic science, and metal-work. The Millerton classes were held in the primary school, and were taken by a local teacher, assisted by occasional visits from one of our permanent staff. The Denniston classes are filling a long-felt want, and are much appreciated by the residents. An exhibition of the work was held, and a sale of donated goods resulted in £14 ss. 7d. being raised for the purpose of certain equipment improvements. The total number of enrolments for all technical classes for the year was 670. There were forty-three free-place students. Capitation earnings show a considerable increase over those for the previous year. The amount, together with fees, totals about £1,250, against £952 for 1916. This total does not include an amount of capitation due on account of the instruction provided for certain classes at Reef ton.