ANNUAL ADDRESS. XXI. 



engineers and for industrial workers, and by means of 

 special committees is engaged upon important inquiries in 

 regard to professional education in directions in which 

 there have been controversies. 



CORRESPONDENCE SCHOOLS. 



As an indication of the extraordinary demand that exists 

 for technical instruction of various kinds it is not inappro- 

 priate to instance the institutions known as Correspondence 

 Schools, and this more especially as they have recently 

 been introduced into Australia, and already have attracted 

 a good deal of support, especially, I understand, from people 

 in country districts who have not the advantage of a regular 

 college in their neighbourhood. These schools have sprung 

 up like magic in America during the past ten years, and 

 although some refuse to regard them seriously, are now 

 thought by many to be serving a great need. Whether they 

 will remain in demand, or are only a passing phase of 

 educational opportunity, may be questioned. Until other 

 opportunities of acquiring a technical training become 

 pra.ctically universal, however, the evidence is already 

 clear that they will find a great work to do. The fact that 

 a single one of these schools has now on its roll of students 

 several hundred thousand names is the best possible proof 

 of the great demand for technical education. These 

 schools supply their students with specially prepared text- 

 books and pamphlets, and have developed systematic 

 methods of imparting instruction by correspondence — a 

 system indeed organised to a pitch of elaborateness and 

 efficiency that commands the admiration even of those who 

 criticise the method. 



THE LATE DR. R. H. THURSTON AND SIBLEY COLLEGE. 



As no earlier opportunity has occurred of mentioning it 

 I cannot let the occasion pass when speaking of educational 

 work without referring to the death which has taken place 



