JB.—2.

! Appendix .1).

estimate of the literary attainments, tastes, and mental calibre of many of those for whose training lam responsible. A few students who wished to take domestic science (II) were accommodated by a practical class conduoted by Mr. S. Page in the Canterbury College laboratory. The instruction given at the Training College was extended this .year by the addition of a class in physiography, conducted by the headmaster. In view of the prospect of the appointment of an additional member of the staff it is proposed to extend considerably the soope of this class during the corning session. The class in dressmaking was continued at the Technical College, and classes in woodwork and cookery were held at the Board's manual training centre, on the Normal School site. A beginning was made in the direction of organized physical (raining, two of the Department's instructors being at liberty to take students' classes for a considerable portion of the College year. This important feature of the work will receive increased attention during the coming session, as two instructors have now been definitely assigned to the Canterbury District. The work of these classes is hampered by the want of suitable accommodation, which it is hoped will shortly be supplied on. the section that has been secured for the erection of a new College. In co-ordination with the work of physical training the usual course of lectures on school hygiene has been delivered by Dr. Eleanor Baker, who has also conducted the medical inspection of the pupils of the Normal School, in the presence of successive drafts of students. A course of lectures on first aid was delivered by Dr. Whetter. and forty students gained the certificate issued by the St. John's Ambulance Association. For the swimming class, conducted by Mr. Billson, in the municipal bath there was a large enrolment. Special facilities were offered for training the more expert swimmers for the tests imposed by the Royal Life-saving Society. One student gained the award of merit and the honorary instructor's certificate, nine the bronze medallion, and two the proficiency certificate awarded by the society. The classes in glee-singing and voice-training have been further developed by Mr. Sidney Williamson. As most of the students before their admission to the Training College had satisfied the requirements in drawing as demanded for the teachers' certificate, the visiting teachers were at liberty to devote most of the time at their disposal to instruction in the art of illustrating lessons on the ordinary school subjects by means of the chalk or the brush. Being unhampered by the demands of any examination the)' were enabled to impart new interest to the drawing-lesson and to develop the teaching of this subjeot on lines that should prove most useful and effective in the daily routine of the school. For the attainment of skill in class-management a most useful and effective means has been supplied by the demonstration lessons given by the headmaster and expert members of the staff in the presence of students assembled in the criticism-room. It is proposed to make further developments in this direction during the coming year. In the several class-rooms students of the first year observe methods or teach drafts in the infant department or the lower-standard classes. In the second year they have similar experience in the higher classes and the Model School, and each of the senior students in turn gives a carefully prepared lesson in the presence of his fellow-students, the Principal, and the headmaster. Most of the senior students were afforded an opportunity for a month's observation of the methods employed in selected classes in town and suburban schools. My thanks are due to the head teachers of these schools, who so readily supplied the students with facilities for extending their experience of school-work. New regulations, gazetted last month, provided for a substantial improvement in the remuneration of teachers qn the staff of a training college. It may now be fairly expected that as vacancies on the staff occur the improved outlook will attract the most promising and progressive teachers to aspire to positions in an institution which offers such a wide scope for their energies and such an extended sphere of influence in moulding the teachers of the future. The efficiency of the work of our Training College continues to be hampered by limitations in the way of accommodation. When the last annual report, was penned the outlook for the erection of a new Training College on the site procured some two years ago appeared very promising. I had hoped to be able in this report to chronicle the laying of the foundation-stone of a new College, but events have been ordered otherwise, and the greatest war in history broke out just when our plans were ripe for adoption. It is hoped that the interruption wiil be of brief duration, and that a forward step will soon be taken in the direction indicated. In the meantime improved accommodation is urgently needed for our secondary department, and no suitable provision can be made for a model school of type II (classes Pto S II). A school of this type is required not only for the benefit of the students, but also as a model for the numerous teachers of country schools who call during their vacations to observe the methods employed in one or other of the classes at the Normal School. Teaching by correspondence has been given during the year by the headmaster and Mr. J. H. Wilson to uncertificated teachers who were employed in localities where direct tuition could not be procured. To the students' library valuable additions have been made during the year, and the recordbook shows that they have been put to profitable use. The social side of student life has continued to receive its fail- share of attention. Several gatherings, organized by the committee of the Students' Association, have been held; also athletic contests between the seniors and juniors. The association has had an energetic and capable president in Mr. W. O'Connor, who has also edited the students' magazine, the Recorder. Miss L. Seyb has proved an efficient secretary. The usual reunion—the date of which had been fixed for the end of August —was not held this year, in view of the distractions and responsibilities consequent on the outbreak of the war and the departure to the training-camp of so monv past and present students. The programme of the Saturday Xight Club included a lantern lecture on

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