It is good to be able to report that the period under review has been a time of continued progress for the school. All the improvements which were reported a year ago have been maintained and, in some cases, extended. The school is now in a thoroughly healthy and flourishing condition. We have had very happy reports about the school from the various Government Inspectors who have visited us and all seem to regard the A.I.S. as a model school of its type. One of the best reports came from a Brahmin gentleman who has also gone out of his way to be of service to us.

Perhaps the easiest way will be for me to begin with the various school activities, these are:

In the capable hands of my headmaster, Mr. J. K. Thangaraj, the staff receives Bible instruction every Saturday morning. Every member of the school staff is now a junior-grade diocesan Lay- Reader. Everyone sat for the higher-grade examination last July but the results have not yet been published.

These bi-monthly visits are being maintained and are alike profitable to teachers and taught or, as I like to think, to the future pastors and members of their future congregations. The most cordial relations bind the Bishop's Theological College and the Art Industrial School at the present time.

Seven of our older Hindu boys are receiving preparation for Holy Baptism. One of these boys was sent to us by a missionary of the Baptist Mission. I had the pleasure of entertaining this gentleman recently in my bungalow. Among other things, we discussed this boy he had sent me (a member of the robber caste and a very good lad incidentally) and asked me if I could stretch a point in this boy's case in the matter of his Baptism. Would I allow the boy to be baptised by total immersion? My reply was that there was no point to be stretched because this is the only way we ever baptise our boys. I told him how we now send our boys to the Tinnevelly Diocesan Boys' Camp and their Baptism takes place in the great Courtallam waterfalls up in the nearby mountains amid most impressive and memorable surroundings. As I saw my Baptist friend off at the station, we both agreed that though one was a Baptist and the other under the S.P.G., yet we had much in common. (A copy of the programme for this year's Tinnevelly Diocesan Boys' Camp is enclosed with this Report).

The number of names on our books is now 120. At the very low ebb reached in May 1940 we were down to as few as 86. On my birthday (31st July) [43 years old] in 1940 the east shop was reopened after a year of idleness. A year later the north shop was reopened after over three years of idleness.

Among the many wise measures introduced by Bishop Neill is the formation of advisory boards for those diocesan institutions not controlled by governing boards. During the last six months an advisory board has been appointed for the A.I.S. It may be of interest to know of its functions and constitution.

These are as follows:

1, Necessity

It is felt that an advisory board is desirable to deal with matters referred to it by the Superintendent of the School, or his deputy, when occasions arise.

2. Constitution

The advisory board to consist of the two societies' representatives, the Diocesan Treasurer, two members to be elected by the Educational Standing Committee, the A.I.S. headmaster and superintendent to be ex-officio members, two additional members may be nominated by the Bishop. The A.I.S. superintendent to act as convener. Two members other than the superintendent and headmaster must be present to form a quorum.

3. Meetings

The advisory board to meet at least twice a year and at other times as called for by the convener. On the request of three members the convener shall call a meeting.

4. Membership

The advisory board to be reconstituted after every triennial diocesan election.

5. Functions.

(a) to receive the A.I.S. annual report and pass the same on to the diocesan authorities;

(b) to advise on any matter referred to it by the superintendent or by the Educational Standing Committee or by members of the board.

Any additions or amendments to rules can be made by a 2/3 majority of members present voting and then again in the same way (2/3) by the executive committee.

Signed G.E. Hubbard, Convener. 8/7/41.

These are still as popular as ever but I should like to see them transferred to the parish church. In a former incumbent's time a monthly English Evensong was regularly conducted in Nazareth Church.

Only another sixteen months to go and my five years will be up. Looking back over the past 3½ years I feel that I am in the right job out here, the work of the school and the manifold duties which it imposes upon me bring a satisfying sense of being where one is wanted.

There are just two qualifications to this however. The first is my lack of Tamil and the second is the utter loneliness of the life once the day's work is done. Tamil, of course, one picks up little by little the longer one remains in the country.

As to the loneliness one experiences, I can only say that I hope no objection will be raised by S.P.G. at home to my returning after my furlough as a married man. It will, I venture to think, just make all the difference to my happiness during my leisure hours.

At the present time, in spite of the War, we have a great deal of work on hand both buildings and work in the shops. The outstanding work which has come to us is the new school chapel for Kodaikanal School and I will deal with this first.

By limited competition with three other industrial schools, this work has been entrusted to the A.I.S. This will be first-class advertising for us because Europeans and Americans - whether in Government, Mission, business or as planters - from the whole of south India, meet during the hot weather at Kodaikanal for the "season.” Kodaikanal (American) School occupies a prominent site in the centre of the town and is itself one of the social centres during the "season.” The work of the Chapel is of such a size that I shall have to sub-let some of the woodwork to one of the Methodist Industrial Schools, the manager of which is a friend of mine. There is far more than we ourselves can handle. Even without this windfall I could have reported the School as being busy.

Now, however, we have more than we can comfortably manage. I shall have more to say about this interesting and important piece of work in my next Report. [Photographs of the completed chapel.]

A few economical structural changes are taking place with a view to making the central courtyard Into an exhibition hall for furniture and other goods made in the school. The appearance and convenience of the bungalow is being greatly enhanced by these alterations.

This building is now well in hand and the walls have reached to the level of the top of the aisle walls. The church is built of local grey granite at the foot of our Tinnevelly mountains. It lies almost due east and west but not quite. Actually it is lined on to the great peak of Agastyamalai, sacred to Hindus, which is the outstanding height in a range of rugged mountains. I hope to be able to say more about this building in my next Report.

A two-storey wing has been added to this school by the A.I.S. during the last six months and has provided excellent practice to our senior boys.

The semi-permanent Chapel has now been built against the east wall of the permanent central Tower built by us in 1939. It is a great improvement as till then the Chapel had been no more than a facade with no actual chapel beyond. This too, has given very good practice to our boys.

Other work has included the re-hanging and lowering of a church bell on to a reinforced concrete frame in the tower of Pannaivillai Church - one of the oldest and finest churches in the Diocese.

We have also made the Canons and Archdeacon's Stalls for the pro-Cathedral at Palamcottah and we are shortly starting work on the Bishop's Throne. Furniture orders, making furniture for stock and furnishing the Chapel of the Roman Catholic Presentation Convent at Kodaikanal, have kept us busy and not infrequently working overtime.

We have started making brushes and broomheads in our intermediate shop and find that it is most profitable.

These have not been reaching me at all this year in spite of repeated requests by me to have them sent as usual. Until the end of 1940 I received the Mission Field, E. and W. Review and the Q.I.P. I pay in advance for these in the autumn and can only assume that my M.O. failed to reach its destination.

It is a very big miss to be out of touch with one's Society all this time. I have not seen any of these magazines at all this year. I hope that the S.P.G. Report for 1940 will reach me. The latest Report I have by me is THE CHURCH UNDAUNTED, S.P.G. REPORT FOR 1939.

Curiously enough, C.M.S. magazines which I also take in have been reaching me without fail.

During the last six months there has been a repetition of the 1938 trouble, the present High School headmaster doing exactly what the then headmaster did. Both then and now the High School headmaster tried to obtain possession of A.I.S. property. I am glad to say that Bishop Neill dealt with the matter very summarily and effectively at the Educational Standing Committee and I foresee little further trouble for the present.

I am still Chaplain of the Tuticorin English Church and visit the station monthly.

I now have the services of the Rev. S. Samuel, M.A., one of the best and ablest of the Indian clergy that one could very well meet anywhere.

I am very fortunate to have his help.

Nazareth, Tinnevelly, S. India.

21st Sept. 1941

"13th Sept. 1941.

I had the pleasure of being shown round the S.P.G. Art Industrial School this morning. All the Staff were present. Rolls showed 118 and attendance 116. The distribution of the boys was quite even, and they were all very earnest about their work. The care and workmanship bestowed upon the finished articles made in the school are really effective and agreeable. I also had the pleasure of going round the Boarding and was glad to find everything clean and hygienic and that the boarders had a happy time during their stay in it.

The institution serves a real need for vocational training and I admire the orderliness and the soundness with which the staff are able to run the departments.”

Copy of Report of the District Educational Officer (a Brahmin).

"2nd April 1941.

I have been deeply impressed by the fine piece of work which is being done for these destitute boys. They are sure to turn out useful citizens, influencing others for the good. I am very grateful to Mr. Hubbard for taking me round, introducing me to his young friends and explaining everything to me.

H. Byerrum, Danish Mission, Cuddalore.”

"29th August 1941.

I have very much enjoyed visiting the school and seeing the boys at work. They appear to be extremely cheerful and the work that they turn out is of a very high standard. The Chapel in the middle of the school buildings is very beautiful. At Nazareth in South India I like to find much connection with Nazareth in Galilee.

May God's Blessing rest upon the school.

Ch. Robinson, Cambridge Brotherhood, Delhi.”