53

E.—s

tages of this course, either with the Langer system or without, should induce a larger number of pupils to join the class in the new building. During the year the Managers appointed a Director, in view of the opening of many classes needing supervision in the now properly established Technical School. The thanks of both the Managers and students are specially due to the Government for a grant of over £3,000 ; also to the Petone Borough Council for the eminently suitable site of half an acre ; and finally to those public bodies and companies that have so generously supported the school with funds in the past. Statement of Receipts and Expenditure for the Year ending 'i\st December, 1908, in respect of Associated Classes conducted at Petor<e. Receipts. £ s. d. j Expenditure. £ a. d. Balance at beginning of year .. .. 76 11 4 Salaries of instructors .. .. .. 304 7 0 Capitation on associated classes .. .. 83 0 3 Office expenses (including salaries, staCapitation on account of free places .. 53 5 0 tionery, &c.) .. .. .. .. 12 0 4 Buildings .. .. .. .. 3,098 17 6 Advertising and printing.. .. .. 13 14 0 Bent .. .. .. .. .. 40 19 0 Lighting and heating .. .. .. 17 19 6 Material .. .. .. .. 24 10 8 Insurance and repairs .. .. .. 119 1 Subsidies on voluntary contributions .. 127 6 9 Rent .. .. .. .. .. 73 19 o Fees .. .. .. .. .. 97 8 6 Material for class use .. .. .. 8 8 6 Voluntary contributions .. .. .. 86 8 6 Cleaning and lighting .. .. .. 10 17 6 Petone School Committee, for gas used .. 2 0,0 Bank oharges .. .. .. .. 016 9 Cartage .. .. .. .. 1 10 0 Fees refunded .. .. .. .. 16 5 0 Contracts (new buildings, additions, &o.) .. 2,850 0 0 Architect, &o. .. .. .. 160 2 6 Clerk of works .. .. .. .. 90 0 0 Levelling site, new school .. .. 9 14 0 Fencing .. .. .. .. 90 16 8 Balance at end of year .. .. .. 27 17 8 £3,690 7 6 £3,690 7 6 Alex. Thomson, Chairman Iq{ M ers J. G. Secretary) Extract from the Report of the Managers of the Masterton Technical School. The school opened on Monday, the 10th March, and classes were established in the following subjects: Building-construction, dressmaking (live), woodworking, (two) (comprising instruction in book-keeping, shorthand, and typewriting), sign and ticket writing, woodcarving, drawing from life, perspective,flight and shade, geometry, technical and model drawing, Service subjects, English"and arithmetic and Pitman's shorthand. In all twenty-one classes were established, and the work was spread over a period of three terms of twelve weeks each. The average number of pupils on the roll for the three terms was 260, whilst the average attendance for the same period was 176. represent a considerable increase on the numbers for the previous year, and are, in fact, the largest that the Managers have yet been able to record. In September last, at the request of the local residents, the Managers decided to establish branch dressmaking classes at Hastwell. The Education Department's approval being granted and a suitable building available, Miss Johnston, the instructress to the Masterton classes, journeyed to Hastwell on the Friday of each week, when she gave instruction to two classes, anjtfternoon an evening class. That these classes were much appreciated by the residents of Hastwell was conclusively by the excellent attendance maintained throughout the term. As on previous occasions, were this year also thrown open for the free admission of the holders of senior and junior free places. The number this year who took advantage of the regulations for free places was 44—40 junior and 4 senior free-place pupils. Ot this number, 4n succeeded in complying with the departmental regulations as to attendance, the failure of the remaining four to do so being unavoidable owing to their removal from the district. At the examinations conducted in Masterton during last May and June under the auspices of the City and Guilds of London Institute and the Board of Education, South Kensington, London, fifteen candidates wen- successful in gaining certificates. In addition to these successes several students wire successful in the half-yearly examination for plumbers' certificates conducted in Masterton under the auspices of the Wellington Technical Education Board. In May last the school was visited by Mr. E. C. Isaac, Inspector of Manual and Technical Classes. Mr. Isaac inspected most of the classes, and later on forwarded a generally favourable report on the working of the classes he had seen. During the past year the work of the school has as heretofore been carried on in the old building, and, needless to explain, undet great disadvantage. This state of affairs has, the Managers are pleased to observe, now come to an end. This year will see the classes working in the commodious building recently erected as the outcome- of a magnificent local effort backed by an appreciative Education Department. The sum of £1,200 was raised by public subscription, the Government voted a special building grant of £1,000, and this with the pound-for-pound subsidy on the voluntary contribution has enabled the Managers to build and equip the building officially opened by the Minister of Education on the 10th December last, a building which it is confidently anticipated will suffice for the requirements of Masterful fot many years to come. The Minister of Education, the Hon. George Fowlds, in his opening speech, traced the growth of technical education in this town from its earliest stages, and indicated generally the lines on which it might lie extended with beneficial results to the town and district. In this connection the Managers that, opinion, the scope of the work of this institution should be extended in all possible directions during the current