316 



Anniversary Meeting. 



[Nov. 30, 



nology undertaken by this Institute, were held in May last at 

 147 centres in 37 subjects. Of the 1,972 candidates who presented 

 themselves for examination, 235 passed in Honours, and 987 in the 

 Ordinary Grade. In 1881, 895 candidates passed, showing an 

 increase of 307. The Examinations were held this year for the 

 first time under the revised Regulations, which appear to have 

 worked very satisfactorily. Two points deserve notice with respect 

 to these Examinations. In the first place, the Institute experiences 

 very great difficulty in obtaining properly qualified teachers. The 

 applicants are either practical men working in the factory, or at their 

 trade with no scientific knowledge whatever, or men possessing a very 

 elementary science knowledge, and little or no practical acquaintance 

 with the details of the industry, the technology of which they profess 

 to understand. In order to indicate the kind of qualifications required 

 in an ordinary technical teacher, the Institute has inserted in its pro- 

 gramme a paragraph to the effect that persons who are engaged in 

 teaching science under the Science and Art Department, and who at 

 the same time have acquired a practical knowledge of their subject in 

 the factory or workshop, may be registered as teachers of the Insti- 

 tute. The second point calling for consideration is the fact referred 

 to in the Report of the Directors, — that of the 1,222 candidates who, 

 this year, passed the examinations, most of whom are workmen or 

 foremen in various branches of industry, not more than 450 are quali- 

 fied to receive the full Technological Certificate, by having previously 

 passed the examinations of the Science and Art Department in certain 

 science subjects. This fact clearly indicates 'that widely beneficial as 

 has been the action of this Department of State, there is still a large 

 field for its influence among the population who are engaged in manu- 

 facturing processes, and desire to receive Technical Instruction. 



One of the most satisfactory results of the Examinations of the City 

 and Guilds of London Institute is the impulse they have given to the 

 establishment, in different parts of the country, of properly equipped 

 technical schools. At Manchester, Preston, Dewsbury, Hawick, 

 Sheffield, Leicester, and other places, efforts have been made during 

 this year towards organising schools for the technical instruction of 

 artizans and others in the application of science and art to specific 

 industries. At Nottingham, a grant of £500 has been made by the 

 Institute, to be followed by an annual contribution for a limited 

 period of £300, towards the establishment of technical classes in con- 

 nection with the University College ; and at Manchester a subscription 

 of £200 a year has been promised to assist the funds now being 

 raised for the conversion of the Mechanics' Institution into a 

 Technical School. The attention of the Council has been greatly 

 occupied of late with the arrangements for the opening of the 

 Finsbury College. Classes in Electrical Engineering and in Technical 



