E.—2.

144

WELLINGTON. Report of the Principal for 1908. Sir,— Training College, February, 1909. I have the honour to present,my annual report on the Training College for the year ended 1908 The session commenced on the 3rd February, with an enrolment of 80 students, the maximum number allowed.by the previous regulations. Fifty-eight were ex-pupil-teachers, and 22 entered under Division. B. Thirty-two were students in their second year, 48 in their first. All those who entered as first-year si udents in 1907 returned in 1908, but 2of them were obliged to retire during the year. The net roll of i lie regular students at the close of the year was thus 78. A full list of these, arranged according to districts, is appended. Tn addition to the regular students, several teachers attended at various times during the year—usually for a week or so at the time of the term holidays. The figures below give a summary and analysis of the roll.

Wellington City provides only twenty-two of our students ;so that by far the greater number, fifty-eight, Ire students living away from "home. The first problem (and in many cases it is a difficult one) , before the majority of the students is the problem of finding a place of residence at once suitable and within their means. The utmost that most can pay is £1 per week ; and it is the testimony of those who are by no men us extravagant that to pay this amount and to meet all other necessary expenses taxes fully the resources of an income of £60 per annum. One pound per week is a reasonable amount to pay, arid where the amount paid has been much less I have taken pains to satisfy myself that the students Were in■'comfortable and suitable quarters. The Women Students' Hostel has been found a great boon, more than twenty of our students having obtained rooms there. This establishment furnishes the ideal conditions for student life—every convenience for study joined with opportunity for social recreation. It is gratifying to learn that the Council contemplates further development of the hostel scheme, so that we may ere long see sufficient accommodation provided for all our women students. . When that time does come i trust it will be obligatory upon all students to avail themselves of the opportunity afforded. So Hi none of the men have taken advantage of the Men's Hostel. For them even more than for the women the life and associations of residence are desirable. lam sure of this : that we are not getting the best Tesiilts'under present conditions. The circumstances under which some of our students are obliged to live are <|uite inimical to the student habit and to the development of the type of character which is needed in the teachers of our children. A return of the tariffs paid by the students showed that 3 students paid 14s. per week, 11 paid 15s. per week, 2 paid 16s. per week, 17 paid 18s. per week, 13 paid 18s. 6d. or 19s. per urrk. and 5 paid £1 per week. Those who paid the lower rates were in most cases staying with friends" or in private families/ It is not possible to secure suitable lodgings at a rate much beltfw' ; £l per Week. It is desirable that in this matter all our students should be placed on the same footing, and that all should have the advantage of the very best arrangements possible. If it were made a condition of studentship that the student must go into residence, I believe it would not be a matter of much difficulty to find good homes that would serve for the purpose —homes that would specialize in ihc requirements of students, and that would be recognized by the authorities as College The holders of the boarding scholarships for 1908 were J. D. Bruce, M.A., Wanganui; B. Nicholson, 8.A., Nelson ; E. Morrison, 8.A., Invercargill; N. Dallaston, 8.A., Dunedin ; A. Brown, 8.A., Masterton ;' A. Currie, 8.A., Wanganui; R. Biggar, Nelson; E. Thompson, Dannevirke. ; Under the new regulations all entrants under Division B will receive the same allowance. Miss A. Brown, who is entitled to her scholarship for another year, has resigned, having been appointed to a position in Wahganui College. Tarn pleased to report that without exception the scholarship-holders have proved worthy of the scholarship, and that they have done good work in the College. Those who have' firrished tlieir courses give promise of being very efficient teachers in secondary schools. The fact that the minimum requirementfor entrance to the College is matriculation or its equivalent in Partial T) should insure that most of the students are fairly well equipped in general knowledge ; and so they are. But at the same time it has to be noted that their equipment along science lines is wofully

■-". District. Division A. M. F. Divisi M. ion B. F. TotaL Wellington Wanganui Hawke's Bay Marlborough .. Nelson . . Taranaki Gfrey Otago ,' Southland 1 23 7 14 1 6 2 1 3 1 2 2 9 2 2 1 34 25 9 2 4 3 1 1 1 1 1 1 ■ 9 49 5 17 80 .? "±rt