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development of our system has steadily progressed, we have not accomplished all we should like, or even all that is possible. This has been especially true of one aspect of our work. While we have done rrfuch to prepare our pupils to acquit themselves worthily in their callings, we have not done all that is desirable in the direction of preparing them for the duties of citizenship. History has been taken in.the commercial classes only, and in these no doubt the members of the staff who have dealt with this subject have endeavoured that their pupils should arrive at the conclusions which history teaches and which are of such moment in the life of to-day. But outside this no opportunity, other than that which the literature lessons may from time to time give, has been afforded for bringing before pupils the relationship in which they stand to the State, for impressing upon them the duties of citizens, and the qualities of mind and of heart that the State demands. However much we may differ as to the best means by which this may be brought about, all will agree that it should be a chief end in education. I hope next year to be able to arrange that all classes may have lessons in the organization of the State and on the right functions of the citizens. Our school has for two years past provided some training for positions of responsibility through our system of school prefects and class monitors. A further development in the same direction has recently taken place by the establishment of a school parliament, consisting of representatives from each class authorized to consider and deal with any matters relating to the school that do not introduce any new principle or method that has not had official sanction. Evening School. —It seemed that the record which was reached last year would be likely to form, for some time the high-water mark of our attendance, when the number of students on our roll was nearly 1,200. The growth that has marked the College from its inception has, however, continued, and the total number of students receiving instruction in all departments of the College during 1911 reached a total of 1,301. The transfer of the domestic science department from the noisy rooms at the corner of Worcester and Manchester Streets, where for the past five years they have been housed, to the quiet, light, and airy rooms of our new wing now permit the work to be carried on under the best of conditions. The provision of additional accommodation for our woodwork, bookbinding, and typography classes has greatly increased the efficiency of the instruction, while the new south wing just completed will give a much-needed drawing-office and a class-room and laboratory for physical science. With the blacksmiths' workshop we may consider that our provision for the industries of the district is as complete as the demands at present require, though I hope that at no distant date we shall be able to find a sufficient number of students prepared to take a course in brickwork, in house-painting, and in that industry which has done so much and is destined to do so much more for Canterbury—l refer to the dairying industry. During the session one new class was started, and one which had been dropped for two sessions was revived. The class for sanitary inspectors proved to meet an unexpectedly large demand, no fewer than 26 students joining the class ; while the class for bookbinding has had a much increased roll, more regular attendance, and produced excellent results. Last year I was able to report that the Typographical Association had donated a sum of money, subsidized to an equal amount by the Master Printers' Association, for scholarships to students attending the typography class whose work and attendance deserved such recognition. These associations will be glad to know that the encouragement thus given has been attended by an increase of more than 30 per cent, in the roll number and a very high average attendance. This year the Canterbury Carpenters and Joiners' Union has decided to donate a sum of money for similar scholarships to be awarded to apprentices in carpentry and joinery who attend regularly and stand well in the College examinations. A very important and new principle was introduced by the recent award for carpenters and joiners in the Canterbury District, by which apprentices who have secured a two-years certificate at the Technical College shall be entitled to 2s. per week above the award rates. The amount involved may be small, but the establishment of a test of competency is a principle of first-rate importance, destined to be of great benefit to masters, workers, and the public. The work of the engineering department has reached a much higher standard than in any previous year, and the demand for instruction in plumbing was so great that an extra class has been formed. In coachbuilding and signwriting, while excellent work has been done, the number availing themselves of the instruction are not as large as these important trades should supply. Five classes for instruction in wool-classing and sorting have been held in Christchurch and have been very well attended, while our instructor, Mr. Marquet, has conducted for the Education Board classes at Waiau, Hawarden, Spye, and Cheviot. It is very encouraging that so much attention is now being paid throughout the district to this subject, in which the Board had such difficulty in starting its pioneer classes. In the higher-grade examination, kindly conducted by Mr. Walter Hill, 11 candidates were presented, and all were awarded first-class certificates. An important innovation was made this year in the conduct of a class in a country district —I refer to the class in machineshearing at Glenmark. This class was well attended, and gave great satisfaction to all concerned. We are much indebted to Mr. Johnston, who kindly placed his shearing-shed at our disposal and provided accommodation for the students. The classes in shearing held at the showgrounds, Addington, maintained the good position gained in the previous year. The results of the City and Guilds of London examinations have again been gratifying, our students obtaining two first-class certificates in the honours grade and thirty others. At the Trades and Labour Council's industrial exhibition our students were also very successful. Three secured prizes in carpentry and joinery, and three in typographical work, while a coachbuilding student obtained the good medal. The growth of the commercial and general classes has been marked, and the attendance well maintained. In four cases it was necessary to form additional classes, and great inconvenience was experienced for want of proper accommodation. The extensions that have now been made to our buildings should, however, meet all present needs. An important experiment is to be made this year in providing opportunities for evening technical instruction in suburbs at some distance from the Technical College. Some of our students have to spend a considerable proportion of their time in travelling to and from the College, and to lessen this as far as possible, and to remove

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