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our class in bookbinding, the attendance was so small that the Board has decided that this class must be dropped for the present unless a greater demand is forthcoming. Every requisite facility has been provided, the equipment for the class being ample for the purpose, while the Board has been fortunate in securing the services of Mr. Wraight, who, in addition to a thorough colonial experience, has had the advantage of Home and technical-college training. Yet in spite of all this, and of the earnest endeavours of the officials of the union to encourage the class, the numbers have been very small. Our shearing classes at Addington and Glenmark were again very successful, although owing to the occupation of the showgrounds by the special police, it was unfortunately necessary to close the class at Addington some weeks earlier than we would otherwise have done. The Board has decided that in future the minimum course of instruction should be two weeks, but that the working-day should be increased from six hours to eight hours. In 1912 a teachers' diploma in needlework was instituted, and similar diplomas may now be obtained in dressmaking and millinery. Iliese are the highest awards that the College gives, and are obtained only after a searching examination. At the arts and crafts exhibition two displays of class-work were made—viz., in typography and signwriting —and to each of these a first-class diploma was awarded. A representative collection of the work done in all trade classes except plumbing was prepared and forwarded to the Auckland Exhibition. The Board felt it was very desirable that the Christchurch public should have an opportunity of seeing the character of the work that is being done, and we are greatly indebted to Messrs. W. Strange and Co. (Limited) for kindly allowing us the use of their corner window for a week for the display of the exhibit before it was sent to Auckland. 1 am sure that all who were able to examine the display will agree that it was very creditable to the Staff and students alike. Some two years ago a clause was inserted in the carpenters' and joiners' award for the North Canterbury District to the effect that an apprentice who gained a second-years-course certificate at the Technical College should be paid during the last two years of his apprenticeship at the rate of not less than 2s. in excess of the ordinary apprentice rates. For the first time this qualifying examination has been held, being conducted by Messrs. Pearce and Stubberfield as representatives of the employers and Mr. Rusbridge as representing the Technical College Board. Of fifteen apprentices who presented themselves for the examination, which included both theoretical and practical tests, three qualified for the award. We confidently expect that in future years 1913 will be regarded as noteworthy through an important step taken in the direction of securing wider interest and co-operation on the part of employers and workers in the trade classes — viz., the appointment of honorary visitors for each such class. In general two honorary visitors were appointed by each union of employers or workers for whose trade a class was in existence, the honorary visitors being asked to visit the class from time to time and to make any suggestions with regard to the improvement of the equipment or instruction that they might see fit. The object of such an appointment is twofold. In the first place, and mainly, the College hopes to receive suggestions that will be of value in developing the work that is being done; and in the second place, it hopes that the honorary visitors will, by their reports to tht bodies which they represent, render valuable service in making better known the excellent, opportunities that the College offers for trade training. One of our chief tasks is to educate not merely our students but the public, and to educate the public is perhaps the more difficult, and in this, we need all the assistance we can get. The members of the Board, who are thoroughly representative of the public bodies in our district, are the chief agents in this work; but in the honorary examiners they have very valued coadjutors, and we trust that the honorary visitors will render no less help. Last year I had to report a great improvement in the arrangement for physical culture for girls in our day school. This year even greater progress has taken place. The Board was able to secure the services of Mr. Sarelius, who has had not only the advantage of special training in Sweden for the work, but has been for several years in actual practice in his profession. Mr. Sarelius has given two days a week to the girls, each pupil getting not less than two half-hours' instruction. This is admittedly insufficient, but if the exercises are properly followed up great benefit must result. During the third term Mr. Sarelius has also taken a class for boys for, two and a half hours per week, who will themselves be able to give valuable assistance in future in this branch of the work. I hope that in the near future we shall be able to arrange for physical-culture classes in connexion with our evening school also. Games have never before been so systematically carried out, partly no doubt owing to the fact that the exceptionally dry winter caused few interruptions. We have been, however, hampered by lack of room. The part which we are allowed to Use at Lancaster Park is quite inadequate for a school of our size, and during the hockey season we had to supplement this by renting a ground in Sydenham Park. Two teams of girls took part in the Secondary Schools' Hockey Association competitions, and basket-ball was largely played. Hockey was perhaps the most popular winter game with the boys, and the eleven acquitted themselves very creditably in matches, while the Rugby football team and the cricket eleven are certainly the strongest we have ever had. Swimming among the boys is in a very satisfactory condition, mainly owing to the regulation of the School Council which has made this pastime compulsory for boys during the first and third terms; but among the girls I regret to say that it was most disappointing. I hope that by next year means will be adopted to remedy this state of things, for there is no better or healthier exercise than swimming, and now that the city has provided such excellent baths it is more than a pity that so few girls avail themselves of them. The athletic sports were far more successful than in the two previous years, a large majority of the boys and girls entering for the events, and more pleasing still than the numbers was the evidence afforded that many of the
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