E\—2

140

£ s. d. The amount paid in 1908 for the training of teachers was . . . . .. .. 40,968 0 4 made up as follows: —■ . I. Training College— Salaries of staffs .. .. .. .. . . .. .. 5,925 310 Students' allowances . . .. .. .. . . .. 10,666 411 University fees of students . . . . .. .. . . .. 2,276 8 3 Libraries.. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 187 18 11 Apparatus . . .. . . .. .. .. .. 25 13 3 Buildings .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 13,565 0 0 Total .. .. .. . .. .. .. £32,646 9 2 11. Other training— Grants for special instruction in handwork, including agriculture, of teachers other than training-college students . . .. .. . . 2,900 0 0 Railway fares of teachers and instructors . . . . . . .. 5,421 11 2 Total .. .. .. .. .. .. £8,321 11 2

No. 2. TRAINING COLLEGES. AUCKLAND. Report of the Principal for 1908. Sir, — . Education Board, Auckland, 30th March, 1909. The new College was opened on Wednesday, the 11th November, 1908, by the Minister of Education, the Hon. George Fowlds. The work, since the College was opened in 1906, has been carried on under serious disadvantages in a few odd rooms of the Normal School; so that it is a great relief to both students and staff to remove to properly equipped and suitable quarters. It is quite true that buildings do not make a college, but at the same time a diamond is none the worse for good setting. A handsome-looking building like the new College cannot fail to add to the tone of the students. They feel that they are " citizens of no mean city," and their general bearing has already improved in consequence. The building is of brick faced with concrete, the main supports being of ferro-concrete. The entrance leads through the ante-hall to the central hall, the feature of which is its excellent lighting from above. This hall is for use for physical-culture work and general assembly. To the right a flight of steps leads to the basement, which contains the swimming-bath. This is 50 ft. by 25 ft., and has a depth varying from 3 ft. to 7 ft. 6 in. There is ample space around the bath for the practice of landexercises in connection with life-saving. There are twenty-five dressing-boxes, two shower-baths, and at the eastern end an area for drying towels and costumes. The wall-space leading to the swimming-bath is covered with hylo-plate, so that practice in blackboard drawing can be given to about twenty-five students at once. Returning to the central hall, it is noticed that the class-rooms, &c, on the first floor all open from it. The Principal's room and the two common rooms are on the north side near the street; while on the south side are two lecture rooms and the criticism room. The common rooms contain students' lockers, and each has a small side room, containing a slipper bath, with hot and cold water. The Principal's room is in oiled rimu like the library, thus giving a pleasant contrast to the rest of the building, the scheme of colouring for which is dark-green dado, pale-green walls, and white roof. The two lecture rooms on this floor can be converted into one large room by a McCabe hanger partition ; and a permanent platform at one end allows concerts, readings, theatrical &c, to be given. The criticism room is large enough to hold a class of fifty children and the same number of students. It can be made suitable for magic-lantern work in a few seconds by means of patent blinds. Two staircases lead from the first floor to the second : one at the eastern end for the use of the men, the other at the western end for the use of the women. The rooms on this floor comprise the library, museum room, science room, a large lecture room, and two study rooms for men and women respectively. Off each study room a balcony opens for outdoor work. A portion of the roof of the building is ready for use as a roof-garden ; but, as the only access at present is by a ladder, its general use is out of the question until a spiral staircase can be added. The desks, lecture chairs, and furniture were all made locally to the Principal's direction. The desks are in five different sizes, so that, though not adjustable, still correct accommodation can be found for any ordinary-sized student. They are very comfortable, and yet are designed to make students sit up squarely to their work, and so minimise the chance of round shoulders.