51

E.—s

thank the Petone and Hutt Borough Councils, the Gear Company, Wellington Woollen Company, and the Petone Working-men's Club for their donations, which are of such great assistance to the school. I must also thank Dalgety and Co. for their kindness in lending us their sheep-shearing machines. . J. H. Ltnsky, Director. Statement of Receipts and Expenditure for the Year ending 31st December, 1913, in'respect of Associated Glasses at the Petone Technical School. Receipts. £ s. d. Expenditure. £ r. d. Or. balance at beginning of year .. .. 68 10 V Salaries of instructors .. .. .. 537 10 0 Capitation on classes .. .. .. 310 0 0 Office expenses .. .. .. .. 512 0 Capitation on account of free places .. 153 11 0 Registrar's salary .. .. .. 15 15 0 Furniture .. .. 23 2 4 Advertising, &o. .. .. .. 917 6 Material .. .. .. .. 20 0 9 Lighting, &c. .. .. .. .. 62 7 4 Subsidies .. .. .. .. 95 15 0 Insurance and repairs .. .. .. 3 0 7 Pees .. .. .. .. 116 4 0 Rent .. .. .. .. .. 248 Sales of material .. .. .. 17 4 10 Material .. .. .. .. 40 10 1 On account of public-school classes .. 69 6 8 Caretaker .. .. .. .. 75 0 0 Voluntary contributions .. .. .. 99 6 9 Bank charges .. .. .. .. 110 Cartago .. .. .. .. 3 10 Auditor .. .. .. .. 13 4 Furniture and apparatus.. .. .. 67 17 11 Cr. balance at end of year .. .. 148 1 6 £973 1 11 £973 1 11 Alexander Thomson, Chairman) x„, J. G. Castle, Hon. Secretary f of Mana B ers - Extract from the Report of the Managers of the Masterton Technical School. The opening of the school for the year took place on the 10th March, and the work of the three full terms was completed towards the dose of November. Classes were conducted as under : Art—Painting, freehand drawing, general drawing, model-drawing, and light and shade; dressmaking; plumbing, theory and practice; woodworking; shorthand (Pitman's and Gregg's systems) and typewriting; book-keeping; Civil Service subjects; English and arithmetic; elocution. At the beginning of the .school year classes for the teaching of the theory of building and machinery construction were opened, but owing to the very poor support given these it was reluctantly decided to close them down. It is hoped that this year these classes will be resumed in connexion with the woodworking classes, and that many boys and young men will take advantage of the excellent opportunity afforded by the teaching of these subjects by so able an instructor as the one whose services are available. Wood-carving will probably be added this year to the woodworking department. The roll number for the first term was 228, and the average attendance 157; second term 238, average 192; third term 230, average 192. The percentage of attendance for the year was 78. There were forty-three free-place pupils, and these were instructed in a large number of subjects. The total ices paid by the pupils amounted to £115 6s. 6d., over £40 more than the preceding year. The financial year of 1913 began with a debit balance of £89 os. 7d:, but there was a credit from annual and ordinary capitation on behalf of the classes, and this amount, together with subsidies on voluntary contributions and grants which did not come into credit till later, augmented the funds. During our financial year of 1913 some amounts which were in abeyance from the previous year were paid off, a complete outfit for the woodworking classes obtained, the expenses of the school exhibition paid out of revenue, and the advance in salary of the secretary provided for. The year 1913 closed with an apparent debit balance of £32 14s. 5d., but when the annual capitation, together with rent payments, come to hand there will be a credit balance. Their attention to their duties by the staff was most commendable, and the work of students creditable, while the discipline maintained has been the cause of much favourable comment. The art classes have grown in favour and the work done was of so high an order of merit as to win the cordial approval of competent judges. The dressmaking and art-needlework classes have grown to large proportions, and much enthusiasm is being shown in connexion with the enrolments for the year 1914. The revival of the woodworking class has proved most popular. The Managers would impress upon all parents whose children are not entered upon the rolls of secondary schools to carefully consider the advantages of the Masterton Technical School both for free-place and other pupils. Take, for example, the book-keeping and typewriting and shorthand classes. In all of these classes the work done has been more than favourably referred to by business men of this town and district. The attendance at the Gregg light-line classes was very large, and that at the Pitman's fair, while the book-keeping class was one of the best attended in the school. For boys and girls who may be taking up employment after passing out of the local schools this school affords an opportunity that should be more largely availed of by our young people. Here they may carry on further studies to fit them for commercial and Public Service pursuits, as well as to obtain practical instruction which must prove invaluable to those having the mechanical turn. At the opening of 1913 it became necessary to appoint a new secretary, and the Managers decided to try the experiment of combining that office with that of Director of the school. From a number of applicants Mr. J. T. M. Hornsby was chosen, and he has proved a very valuable officer. He has displayed a great amount of enthusiasm in the working of the school, and his constant supervision has had the best results. At the close of the year a school exhibition was held, at which the work of the pupils was submitted to public scrutiny. Not only did the public take a deep interest in the exhibition, but very heartily congratulated the Managers on the evidence so afforded of the excellence and value of the work done by the students.