E.—s

49

for associated classes but made somewhat worse for the day technical-school classes. The net result has been a considerable gain educationally and a slight gain financially. The principle that advanced work in teaching should be more highly paid than elementary has been indirectly recognized in regulations providing grants of higher capitation for students taking grouped courses and attending regularly -year after year for several years. The good effect of these changes should be found in greater encouragement of those classes which hitherto have been too expensive for technical schools to provide, as, in the nature of things, the more advanced a class is the fewer are the students in the class, and the more inadequate a per caput grant unless literally graded. The total number (1,533) of those who have joined classes in 1911 is somewhat in advance of the number for 1910, which was itself a record year. The rate of growth is not at present high, and indeed cannot be high until we have better facilities to offer. A slightly larger proportion of students take grouped, courses, and on the whole the work done was more searching and thorough than in previous years. The behaviour and attendance of students was, with few exceptions, fairly good. Free-place students are better in respect of regularity, on the whole, than paying students, but do not always show as keen interest in all subjects as is desirable. In the compulsory subjects this inattention is naturally most noticeable, students being often too young and too ignorant to know what is best for them. The art classes are satisfactory in every way, except that, owing to the small demand for trained art workers, the number of students offering is not large. Results in the national competitions in London show that the school is not disgraced by comparison with British art schools. The science and mathematics classes haye been extended in scope and numbers during the year, and continue to do good work. A valuable collection of apparatus, obtained by grant from the Education Department, has been added to the equipment of the mechanics and mathematics classes, and should do much to increase their popularity and efficiency. The engineering classes have been at least equal in standard to those of previous years, and students have been very successful both in internal and also in external examinations. The classes relating to the building trades have on the whole been smaller than in the previous two or three years, owing largely to the unusual depression in the building trades. The demand for commercial instruction continues unabated, and has been well met by the instructors in charge. The large increases in the continuation classes in the last two or three years have greatly overtaxed the accommodation available. Notwithstanding this difficulty of overcrowding good work has been done: e.g., 40 out of 46 students in English in the senior class passed the Senior Civil Service Examination in that subject. Wool-classing : A successful season's work was done. The domestic economy classes continue to improve in numbers and in enthusiasm, but are very severely handicapped by the absurd inadequacy of our accommodation. The day Technical School continues to thrive. At the national competitions of the Board of Education, London, one student obtained a book prize and was commended for exhibits (drawing of head from life —black and white) ; two students were commended for their exhibits in animal studies ; one student was commended for her modelled head from life. The buildings and equipment have been maintained in good order and repair during the year. Cleaning and caretaking have been careful and thorough. The thanks of the school are due to the Wellington City Council for its annual contribution of £300, and to the contributors of prizes for competition among the day and evening students in the December class examinations. W. S. Lα Trobe, M.A., Director.

Statement of Receipts and Expenditure for the Year ending 31st December, 1911, in respect of Associated Classes conducted at the Wellington Technical School.

Extract from the Report of the Director of the Petone Technical School. Steady progress has been made throughout the school, and the pupils generally are showing greater enthusiasm and keenness in their work. While this spirit exists amongst the students there can be no doubt as to the ultimate success of the school as a whole. During the year two open nights have been held, one at the end of the first quarter and one during the third term. Both of these have been largely attended by parents and others, and undoubtedly, taking all things into consideration, they do a great

7—E. 5.

Receipts. £ s. d. Balance at beginning of year .. .. 1,178 11 0 Japitation—Day Technical School .. 2,262 0 0 Japitation on associated classes .. .. 2,400 0 0 Japitation on account of free places .. 865 15 9 lent .. .. .. .. .. 39 0 0 Purniture, fittings, and apparatus .. --• 30 0 0 Material .. .." .. .. 272 18 8 Subsidies on voluntary contributions .. 304 11 0 fees .. .. .. .. .. 1,023 11 6 Voluntary contributions .. .. 301 1 0 lales of material .. .. .. 132 14 11 Vellington College, for instruction .. 141 0 0 larine Department, for " Amokura " classes 126 13 7 lundries .. .. .. .. 15 15 0 Expenditure. £ a. a. Salaries of instructors .. .. .. 5,801 4 10 Office expenses (including salaries, stationery, &c.) .. .. .. 614 15 6 Advertising and printing .. .. 172 10 9 Lighting and heating .. .. .. 170 16 11 Insurance and repairs .. .. .. 159 11 0 Rent .. .. .. .. .. 94 14 4 Examinations, &c. .. .. .. 54 15 0 Material for olass use .. .. .. 861 8 9 Typewriter repairs .. .. .. 23 6 6 Library .. .. .. .. 33 3 6 Prizes .. .. .. .. 57 5 5 Sundries .. .. .. .. 54 16 9 Furniture, fittings, and apparatus .. 210 9 3 Balance at end of year .. .. .. 784 13 11 £9,093 12 5 £9,093 12 5 David Robertson, Chairman , ,, ■nr a t rr a o_ r ot Managers. W. S. La Trobe, Secretary I &