36

E.—s

The evening classes, as in previous sessions, were carried on in temporary premises, no less than six buildings in different parts of the city being utilised for the purpose. Most of these were quite unsuitable, and the disadvantage of having the different departments so scattered was very considerable. However, after five years' waiting, there is every possibility that a portion, at least, of the new College will be ready for occupation during next year. Speaking generally, the quality of the work of the evening classes was slightly in advance of that done in any previous session. The attendance, however, on account of the wet weather for three months during the winter, and also because of the great amount of sickness during that period, was not as regular as usual. A much larger number of papers were worked at the College examinations than in 1906, and the percentage of successes was higher. Students of both day and evening classes entered for the Examinations of the City and Guilds of London Institute, and of the English Board of Education, London, in June and July last. Considerable success was achieved, particularly in plumbing; carpentry and joinery; freehand, model, and geometrical drawing; machine construction and drawing; and building construction and drawing. It is interesting to note that of all the London Polytechnics and Technical Institutes in one only—the London County Council School of Building, Clapham—was a larger number of successes in plumbing obtained. At Clapham two more passes were obtained than in Auckland, but the number of plumbers in attendance there was more than three times as many. Continuation Classes were held to enable those pupils who had left the primary school without passing the Sixth Standard to attend and improve their general education before entering the technical classes of the College. When it was decided, at the beginning of 1905, not to admit students to the College who had not passed the Sixth Standard (except those over twenty-one years of age), it was necessary to make provision for these students, so as not to prevent them from eventually attending if they had made good their educational deficiency in the meantime. Accordingly, continuation classes were started, and for the past three years they have filled a decided want. Last year forty-five students of various ages received instruction from Mr. James Vuglar; some excellent work was done, and at the end of the year twenty-six passed the Sixth Standard examination, conducted by Inspector Goodwin, twenty obtaining certificates of proficiency (which grant them free instruction in the technical classes), and six receiving certificates of competency. It will be thus seen that it is possible in Auckland, even for boys and girls of defective education, to attend evening classes which will eventually qualify them for five years' free tuition at technical classes. In connection with the Home Industries Section of the - International Exhibition, held at Christchurch at the end of 1906 and beginning of 1907, special classes of exhibits for technicalschool students were arranged. Exhibits were sent from various classes of the Auckland Technical College arid from the manual-training schools, and it is satisfactory to be able to record that the work was highly spoken of by the public and by the Press. The plumbing exhibit in particular, which gained four gold, five silver, and one bronze medal, as well as first order of merit with special mention, was considered by experts in the Dominion and from " Home " to be one of the finest ever got together. By special request of the Christchurch Technical College, this exhibit was donated to the College, to be placed in its museum as an incentive for the Christchurch students. George George, F.1.C., F.C.S., Director. Statement of Receipts and Expenditure for the Tear ending 31st December, 1907, in respect of Special Classes conducted at the Auckland Technical College. Receipts. & s. d. Expenditure. £ s. d. Balance at beginning of year .. .. 8,008 4 4 Salaries of instructors .. .. ..2,804 16 10 Capitation on special classes .. .. 2,326 15 5 Office expenses (including salaries, staCapitation on account of free plaoes .. 843 10 0 tionery, &c.) .. .. .. 370 14 4 Rent .. .. ' .. .. 226 0 0 Advertising and printing .. .. 128 7 5 Material .. .. .. .. 159 12 11 Lighting and heating .. .. .. 114 2 5 Subsidies on voluntary contributions .. 10,392 7 0 Insurance and repairs .. .. .. 16 1 5 Fee s • • .. .. .. .. 542 611 Bent .. .. .. .. .. 210 4 4 Voluntary contributions.. .. .. 45 16 0 Material for class use .. .. .. 327 2 6 Sales of apparatus .. .. .. 13 0 1 J. B. McLeod Prize Fund .. .. 214 0 Rents from sites .. .. .. 18 7 6 Postage .. .. .. .. 65 18 5 Sales of material .. .. .. 107 8 4 Legal expenses.. .. .. .. 67 0 Interest on fixed deposits .. .. 271 14 0 Architect, &o. .. .. .. 463 16 1 Furniture, fittings, and apparatus .. 1,057 14 0 Balance at end of year .. .. .. 17,387 3 9 £22,955 2 6 £22,955 2 6 Vincent Rice, Secretary.