THE TROPICAL AGRICtJLTURIST. 
[Feb. I, 1894,-: 
be very happy to take the first two subjnots 
in the Hat, drawing and workshop praotice, and 
offer a priae for profioienoy in them. (Applause). 
live Surveyor-General. 
Mr. MamieiiL, who was the next speaker, said 
he had very maoh pleasure in being present at 
what was praotioally the opening of that long 
talked of institute. It dealt with a very important 
branoh of eduoation Mbiob as it wera coiap'eted 
what wa3 begun in the elementary sciools. and 
gave the students a good praotibal grounding in 
boienoe. With his friend Mr. Mitohell he thought 
the Government had been peouliarly fortui<ite in 
having seoured the services of Mr. Human, being 
eminently qualified for the position of Superin- 
tendent of that Bohool. One only required to 
make a round of the rooms to see bow careful 
were the preparations he bad made for putting 
before the stulent in a praouoal manner the 
principles of dynamics and other things. This 
kind of school hadl baen a great success in the 
great centres in England— in London, Manchester. 
Glasgow, Stockport and other placas — and be 
hoped it would be a success in this country. 
(Applause). There could be no doubt that the 
Bishop struck the key-note of this institution 
when he said that it showed the dignity of labour, 
(Applause.) In this country every description of 
HANOICBATI WAS VKRT POOB AND INFEBIOB. 
Those who knew European countries and were 
able to compare the work that was done there 
with the work that was done here could not but 
be struck with th« inferiority of mechanical work 
of every kind in this country ; and they would join 
with him in hoping that this institution would 
result! in an improvement in that respect. Trades 
would not be taught ' the boys there, but 
they would be taught?^ the principles and the 
details of work, and that was a great ad- 
vantage. Reference had been made to nomina- 
tions being given to students of that Institute 
for some of the Government Depirtmants such as 
the Survey and Public Works Departmeat-<, and be 
should say tbat a good oertiiioate from the Principal 
of that school showing that the student had 
been good' in his oonduot, had attended the whole 
course, and been a good student, would have great 
weight ^th' the beads' of these Ddpartments and 
with the Government in considering any applica- 
tions for situatioas by these boys. (Applause.) 
The D.P.I, had spoken about promises being 
made, and ha might siy that he intended to 
propoBB to Government that all the theod lite3, 
levels, barometers: and other instruments of a 
scientific nature might be sent there to be cleaned 
and repaired. This be had no doubt Government 
woaldr consent to, andnit iwould be a benefit to the 
school and to the students. Those of them who 
intended'Uo become land surveyors would have 
theopportunity of seeing a theodolite taken to pieces 
and understanding the meobanism and construction 
of the instrument. Another promise which he 
might hold out was that he thought be would 
be able to induce som^ of his olB^ers to gratuitously 
give lectures to tli<a students on the use of the 
inatraments ha had mentioned and on the art of 
surveying and levelling, (Applause). For himaeU 
he might make anotb'r promise and that was 
that he would gladly givd a prize for one of the 
subjects taught and'wfaf&h h i svould arrange with 
Mr. ^Human aftctrwardss ^ (Applause). 
The- Director dfPuhlic Works. 
The Hon. Mr. MAcBaiDB b^gan by saying that he 
was afraid there was hardily anything lefi tor' bim 
to promi8« ■ as most ' of the {jromises tbat <«ei'd 
wanted had already been made. He had been 
asked by the D.P.I, to say a few words to the 
students who had been admitted to participate 
in the advantages wbioh, by means of ihie 
in stitutioD, H. £. the Governor bad placed within 
tneir reach. In the first place be expressed the 
hope that they would attend the classes with 
tONOTDALITV ANU RBOOUiaiTT, 
and work with diligence, obey the orders of the 
master, oondnct themselves in bu orJiirly 
manner, conform to the rales of the insti- 
tution, and not fail to embrace the opportunities they 
now had of gaining technical knowledge under Mr. 
Ham to who, he beliaveo, was competent to instruct 
them. (Applause). When the neofssity of a 
Teohnicil School in Ceylon was first alleged it 
appeared 10 him that the want, to begin wiih, oould 
be m^t, temporarily at least, by Ecbools of Drawing 
and Design attached to the Government Factory 
and Railway Worfeshops ; but perhaps it was better, 
and he had now no doubt it was belter tbat 
Government should have taken up the soh^me in 
the present systematic manner. He read not long 
ago that tbe lack of technical instruction in England 
was responsible for 
TUB FAILDBB OF THE BNOUSH ABTIZAMS 
in competition with continental workmen. That 
was to bo deplored, but as technical schools 
were now to be found in every city and large Imwb 
iu Great Britain the reproach was not likely to be 
of much longer duration. For his own part he had 
not tbat faith iu a technical iuHtitnte that be 
bad in 
THS APPBBNTIOE BTBTEM. 
and the aim of this institution he thought sboald b« 
to supplement that system and not to supplant it 
(Hear, bear). Government having considered tbat 
there was suffiaient proof of the De«d of teclnti- 
oal instruction of some sort in Ceylon bad 
provided for it and the syllabus of tbe ooor^e was 
naw before them. Judging from that syllabas be 
had no doubt that very great benefit cjuld be 
derived by the Government Factory Apprentices 
j from tbat institution and it was his ioteniioa to 
I report accordingly to Qovernment, (Applause ) Ha 
I would Ventura to suggest and emphasize that the 
' first step to be taken is teacbinj of 
1 ELEMENfABV bKAWINO. 
A man who could espresa his ideas in drawing 
as wall as in writing was »ery much more oom- 
p^fteut tban a mm who could not do so and for a 
superintendent of workmen or a workman him- 
se'.f faciHty in drawing was almost a indispen- 
sable qualification. Once the students learnt 
io draw bis position was so advansed as to 
almost corapletaly r move his prelimiuary diSS- 
ouities ; but they majt remember thai a oertiin 
standard of ganeral proficiency was indispensable 
: sj that they might understand the principles of 
I the subjects whicb they were being taught, 
j He would advise that miny hours m each 
i week should ba ddvoted to elementary drawing, 
' anil tiat afterwards the'more advanced drawln.^ 
and Iredbaad drawing should form the second 
coufoc to be puriutjj ; and be would direct 
tueir attention to bailding-ooastrujtion, to plum. 
' bers"^ work, djo .raturs' work, modelling and to 
! applie'd 'mechanics. Any attempt to 
I lUBN ABIIZANS INT J BACHliLOBS OF ABT3 
{ was, he thought, to be deprecated, and be was of 
' opinion ' that there was great danger in filling their 
' minds with ideas bayond those of artizans. In 
Ceylon they had skilful wo»k6rB 'in gold and silver, 
lapidaiieci, wood oarveis, Btone eotterB, jewoleta 
