E.—<2.

[Appendix D.

During the year several valuable additions have been made to the College library, the effective use of which will be more in evidence when ampler space for reading and better accommodation for study are provided. Regulations recently issued for the conduct of training colleges approve of a considerable increase in the number of students that may be admitted to training. The enrolment for the new year will be about 110 names. The increase in numbers strongly emphasizes the need for improved accommodation. In the consideration of our claims we hope to have the practical sympathy of the Education Department, as the fairness of our request is patent to an} one who makes himself acquainted with the working-conditions of the institution. With additional responsibility an urgent demand arises for more liberal staffing and for the establishment of a second model school for the training of the large number of teachers who will afterwards have charge of small country schools. It is encouraging to note that a forward step has already been taken in the direction indicated, and we live in hopes of better things to come. The social side of the students' life has received a fair share of attention. The committee of the Students' Association (president, Mr. G. G. Hancox; lion, secretary, Mr. R. C. Abernethy) arranged for several excursions and for other social functions, including the annual reunion of past and present students, which this year attracted a large gathering. The meetings of the Saturday Nighl Club (hon. secretary, Mr. J. W. Bird) have supplied, in an unpretentious way, scope for practice in music, recitation, and debate. A large framed photograph of the late Principal, and another of a group of second-year students of 1912, have been presented to the College by the association. The annual number of the Training College magazine, The Recorder, was this year edited by Mr. D. O'Connor, M.A. The Normal School is of the full size permissible under the regulations, and during the year it has been necessary to refuse admission to many deserving applicants, for whom accommodation was provided in neighbouring schools. Two visits were paid by the Board's Inspectors, and the report on the school makes complimentary reference to the suitability of the methods employed, and to the development of intelligence in the pupils, as illustrated more especially in the quality of oral answering. At the beginning of the year Mr. J. Wyn Irwin joined the staff in charge of the secondary department. Mr. Irwin has specialized as a teacher of commercial subjects, and in the programme of work set out a strong feature is made of the commercial course. At the same time suitable provision is made for the illustration of the methods of teaching the subjects usually taught in secondary schools. This division of the school reopened at the beginning of the year with an increased attendance, and for the admissions for the current year the available accommodation is barely sufficient. Mr. G. H. White, for many years senior male assistant in the primary department, retired at the end of the year on medical advice. He is succeeded by Mr. M. J. Lynskey, promoted from the Model School. r lhe new master of the Model School, Mr. It. S. Pearson, will join the staff in a few days. I have much pleasure in recording my high appreciation of the services rendered by the staff, and of the loyal support accorded mc in a period of strenuous work undertaken at short notice on the decease of my predecessor in office. I have, <tc, The Secretary, Education Board, Christchurch. T. S. Foster, Principal.

OTAGO. Report of Principal for the Year 1912. Sir,— Training College, 20th December, 1912. I have much pleasure in presenting my report for 1912. We opened the College with an attendance of 106—forty-seven first-year students, of whom fifteen were men and thirty-two women, and fifty-nine seniors, of whom twenty-three were men and thirty-six women, or a total of thirty-eight men and sixty-eight women —106. The rank or status of the students may be stated in this way: Eighty-six entered under Division A, seventeen under B, two under C, and one under D. The students come from various educational districts, and were this year essentially a representative gathering—viz., Wellington, 1; Hawke's Bay, 2; South Canterbury, 13; Southland, 28; and Otago, 62. The attendance at College and University was very satisfactory during the year. The University attendance was checked once a month from the reports, and the College classes by regular daily marking of the register by the assistants. This was seen once a week by myself. We had a good deal of influenza, but it did not materially affect the attendance on the general average. I regret, however, to say that one of the junior students, Miss Molly McCrone, succumbed to a severe attack. Miss McCrone was a favourite with her class associates, and her very sudden death threw a gloom over the College. University Training. —The College, I am glad to say, has for many years maintained a very close connexion with the Otago University. No student is allowed to attend University classes without permission from the Principal, and before agreeing to any course of University study I take into account the training in secondary subjects which the student has received and decide if a junior or a senior class can be attended with profit. As a rule junior students take junior classes. This year the students attended such classes as would enable their University courses to count towards their departmental certificate or with a view to graduation. Forty-six students attended two classes and forty-six three classes, ten one class, and four did not take any classes.

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