46 Position of Belfast in Relation to Technical Instruction. 



of action, the Government in 1841 determined to further the 

 creation of schools of design in certain manufacturing 

 centres and to provide teachers for this purpose. Under 

 this arrangement the School of Design was established 

 in Belfast, subsequent changes in the conditions under which 

 aid was given to local schools, caused the Belfast school to be 

 given up although it had contributed works to the first 

 exhibition of students' works ever held in London. The 

 Belfast School of Art, which suceeded the old school 

 of design after some years, was opened in 1870, had 

 made steady progress, and in the School of Science, established 

 two years later in connection with the Working men's Institute, 

 pupils had taken high positions in the annual national 

 competitive examinations. The labours of the Royal Com- 

 mission on Technical Instruction during 1882 and 1883 gave 

 a powerful stimulus to local eiforts lor the promotion ot 

 technical instruction, and while the Commission was sitting 

 Belfast was stirred up to establish the Hastmgs Street School, 

 which has steadily maintained a precarious existence ever since, 

 under most discouraging circumstances. The fact, then, that 

 we have struggling for existence a school of art, a science school, 

 and a certain form of Technical school demonstrated the 

 desirability and possibility of having a good combined central 

 Technical school if sufficient funds were forthcoming. Belfast 

 has always for its voluntary educational agencies but limited 

 means, and divided interests hindered their effective operation, 

 as in the case of the scheme formulated in 1887. Having 

 noted the want of co-operation among the various agencies 

 engaged in technical instruction in Belfast, and the evil 

 consequences arising therefrom, Mr. Gray drew attention to the 

 fact that by the Technical instruction Act of 1889 city councils 

 were enabled to aid local effort to provide technical 

 instruction to the extent of id in the £\. The Act was 

 welcomed throughout the kingdom, and new schools were 

 everywhereestablished underits provisions. In Belfast, although 

 every effort had been made by public appeal, deputations, and 



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