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Training College, and for the Wellington Boys' College, on Saturday mornings for primaryschool teachers. The influence of the teaching is therefore widely felt in the primary and secondary schools. Efforts have been made by the Technical School Board to come to some arrangement with the Education Board whereby the art staff might be more closely connected with the direction of the drawing in the primary schools, and it is probable that a satisfactory working scheme may shortly be adopted. In the case of the secondary schools the art department already does its share of the work, and it is hoped that the programme may be extended to include more work in the upper forms of the Girls' College, though it is difficult to arrange satisfactory time-tables in face of the demands of the Matriculation and Junior University Scholarship courses. The classes for science and mathematics, engineering, and building trades continue to do good work, though many of the senior students leave before their courses are finished in order to enlist. The Building Trades Board of Control gave very careful consideration during the year to the question of the training of apprentices, and it is hoped that the courses approved by the Board will be largely attended by young tradesmen and apprentices. Every facility is provided for a sound course in all branches of building and architecture. The plumbing classes have maintained interest and numbers, though the average age of the students is somewhat lower than usual. The Masters have continued to take great interest in .the work of the classes, and have made many valuable suggestions. At the end of the year the JJoard decided to provide tools for the younger boys, in addition to the apparatus already installed. In accordance with a, recommendation from the Masters, the subject of the heating of large buildings will be treated more fully than heretofore in the advanced course. The commercial and continuation classes were well tilled as usual. The difficulty is not to get students, but to keep them long enough to make real progress. The demand for junior -clerks, typists, and shorthand-writers is so strong that the students are tempted to leave before ;they are properly prepared. The classes in domestic economy continue to do very valuable work. I have again to urge that longer courses should be arranged for cooking for invalids. These courses are attended by hospital nurses seeking to obtain their certificates as competent nurses, and the time which they can devote to cooking is far too little for a really good course. It is to be hoped that in the interests of the patients a better arrangement will be found possible. The numbers in the Technical High School arc increasing at present, and appear likely ■to. increase at a greater rate in the future. The school is powerfully throttled by reason of inadequate premises and unsuitable surroundings, and. the efficiency of the work and the keen interest of the students reflect great credit on the teachers, who are performing exceedingly difficult duties in almost impossible conditions. ■:r The buildings have been kept in good order throughout the year. The equipment has been added to where necessary, though much more is required in every branch of the work. It is not possible, however, to use much more in our present quarters. The thanks of the College are due to the Wellington City Corporation, New Zealand Institute of Architects, and New Zealand Academy of Fine Arts, who contributed £300, £10, and £10 respectively to the funds of the College during the year. Fifteen Callander Memorial Scholarships of £5 each were awarded, distributed as follows : Carpentry, 1; domestic economy, 1; plumbing, 3; mechanical engineering, 8; electrical engineering, 2. W. S. La Trobe, Director. Extract from the Report of the Director of the Petone Technical School. The work during the year has been interfered with considerably by the war. The plumbers' class and the senior electricity class were most seriously affected. In some cases the junior students were required to work overtime, and this greatly affected their attendance. As there is such a demand at present for girls for clerical work, the commercial classes are taken up in preference to the domestic courses. The shorthand and typewriting classes consist largely of girls, some of whom have made a great advance in their work. The attendance at these classes was such as to render an additional teacher necessary. The book-keeping and business class also improved considerably, and it was found necessary to appoint -an additional teacher. The continuation classes (English, arithmetic, shorthand, and book-keeping) are largely attended and require teachers of great skill. We have been very fortunate in obtaining teachers who have this essential, and therefore the wink in these departments has been of an exceptional quality. So few pupils came forward for dressmaking and millinery that it was deemed advisable not to start these classes during the 3 r ear. This is regrettable, but an effort will be made once again in this direction The instrumental-drawing class made good progress during the year, and a solid foundation was laid for more advanced work. The building-construction and carpentry classes show work that reflects in no small degree the interest taken in them by their instructor. In the last quarter of the year a steam class was started. Although only five pupils attended this class, I think it was a step in the right direction. Good work was done, and this class will no doubt prove of great benefit to the community. The cookery class was continued throughout the year. This is a most important class, and it will still further improve. The experiment of introducing invalid cookery for both men and women should tend to popularize this subject. The introduction of ambulance instruction has been a good thing. Men and women have been brought into closer contact with the school, and I am sure that their influence will do much to bring the school into greater prominence. Most of those attending expressed their appreciation of the work the Managers enabled them to do. The plumbing class this year has been very small
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