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The formation of classes for instruction in the subjects of the Public Service Entrance Examination mentioned in the report for 1918 has proved very satisfactory, and as a natural sequence senior students are continuing in attendance in order to prepare for the Matriculation Examination. These examinations are now regarded as qualification for entrance to the higher branches of engineering, domestic science, agriculture, and accountancy, so that provisions must be made in technical high schools for tuition to at least Matriculation standard in the required subjects. This standard of work is expected of students who desire to qualify for the bursaries now granted for instruction in engineering and home science at the New Zealand University, and in agriculture at Lincoln College. It will be noticed that our agricultural course, as in other technical high schools in New Zealand, attracts fewer students than any one of the other sources, and this is all the more surprising in view of the large number of country boys upder instruction. Special attention is being paid, however, to subjects of importance to young farmers, and arrangements have been made for the appointment in Britain of a highly qualified instructor to take up his duties in 1920. In order to make the course as useful as possible for boys in their third and fourth years, the purchase of an instructional farm has been under consideration, and may, it is hoped, become an accomplished fact before the end of the year now entered upon. There can be no doubt that it is an absolute necessity if a graded course is to be carried on satisfactory for even three years. At the-end of the year two of our former students secured bursaries by which they will be able to carry on advanced studies in agriculture at Canterbury College and Lincoln College. The engineering course continues to be the most popular among the boys, and large numbers of ex-students are now engaged in the trade in Christchurch and other towns in Canterbury. Only one mechanical-engineering workshop has been provided, and it is inadequate for the 176 boys who spend part of each week in it; but the grant of £5,000 recently made towards extensions will enable this defect to be remedied. The bursaries in engineering, tenable at Canterbury College for students who have taken the course in a technical high school, are unlikely to be in demand among our students until a maintenance allowance is made for those resident here as well as for those whose homes are in other parts of New Zealand. The value of the work done in all grades of the home-science course is emphasized by the fact that in the past six years at least twenty-five of our students have secured good positions as teachers of home science in various parts of New Zealand and Australia. Many of the most intelligent students taking this course in the Technical High School are encouraged to qualify for the teachers' diploma granted by the College by following up the advanced work in which instruction is given; and the facilities available in our classes, at the Training Hostel, and at Canterbury University College are ample for the training of good teachers. In view of the expense involved it is hoped that home-science bursaries for students in training in Christchurch will be provided before longby the Education Department, instead of by the College, since the work is of such great importance to the Dominion as a whole. The College has not yet been able to board boys from the country, and a hostel for this purpose is very The Girls' Hostel is also quite inadequate for the accommodation of all the students who apply for admission, and as the number of pupils of both sexes attending from the country is considerable, the provision of additional accommodation is in need of early consideration. Evening Classes. —As mentioned earlier, the attendance at the evening classes showed a considerable increase over that of the previous year. An analysis of the records of students shows that about a third were interested in commercial and. general education and about one-sixth in domestic classes, so that about one-half were mainly in the trade classes. This is a very satisfactory indication that the school is serving a useful purpose in forwarding trade and industrial education in the town. All the trade classes were well attended, except that the typography class was suspended about the middle of the year owing to an insufficient number of students. Mechanical engineering subjects have always been popular, and the electrical-engineering classes showed increased enrolments. The plumbing classes have made a marked recovery since the termination of the war, and were attended by many discharged soldiers, but young apprentices were few in number. The classes for cabinetmaking and carpentry were also very satisfactory. Classes for shearing and wool-classing were well attended, sixty-nine men taking the former, in which upwards of eight thousand sheep were shorn. For wool-classing it has been found necessary on account of the large classes, to rent a room at some distance from tho College. Courses in general subjects to qualify students for such examinations as Standard VI, Public; Service Entrance, and Matriculation have all been well filled, and undoubtedly there is at present a growing interest in subjects that promote general education and mental development apart from those which make for technical efficiency. A total of 168 returned soldiers enrolled for the ordinary classes in the College, whilst a large number attended besides at classes specially arranged by the Defence and Repatriation Departments respectively. The spirit evinced by these men is a source of pleasure, for many of them have sat side by side with some of the youngest pupils in the school, and carried out unaccustomed work with a determination and an interest demanding admiration. One full-time day class in motor engineering was arranged for discharged men in the third term, and though most of the students had had no previous trade experience, they are making very good progress. General. —Much dissatisfaction was caused among contributing bodies by the decision of the Minister of Education to reduce their representation on the Board of Managers. The contributions, and the interest and support that they carried with them, have done much to bring the school to its present position, and the hope is expressed that something may be done immediately to give better representation to those bodies whose support is so vital to its well-being. At the same time the Board has to express its gratitude to the contributors for their continued assistance. The ex-students have continued to show.a keen interest in the College, and all their clubs and societies have been well supported during the year. They have also been active in connection with the raitsing of funds for the Old Boys' Memorial, and about £200 was added to the fund through the activities of past and present students during the year. I). E. Hansen, Director. Extract from the Report of the Supervisor of Manual and Tkchnical Instruction. Although there has been an increased interest in technical and continuation classes during the year, this branch of education does not receive the support it deserves, and the reason of this is not far to seek. Technical associations in all parts of the district are suffering from lack of funds

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