Appendix D.]

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No. 3. EXTRACTS FROM THE REPORTS OF THE PRINCIPALS OF TRAINING COLLEGES. AUCKLAND. The chief feature of the year has been the absence of the Principal on military service, and the consequent reorganization of the staff. The headmaster, deputy headmaster, first, second, and third male assistants were each advanced one place, and an ex-student was appointed to fill the vacancy thus left. This arrangement has proved satisfactory, especially in preserving a continuity of aims and methods both in the school and in tlie College. Other changes in the staff also became necessary during the year. The first term opened with a record number of students —119 —four more than in 1915. The number was made up as follows : First year —Men 22, women 55, total 77; second year —men 9, women 33, total 42; grand total, 119. Of this number, three men left during the year to serve their country in arms, and two women (both of Division D) withdrew before the close of the year, leaving the roll number 114. Under the circumstances the small proportion of male students is not surprising, for there is little doubt that the small number is largely due to the demands of the war. On the women's side the College space has been unduly taxed, and more accommodation may soon be urgently required. In 1908, when the College was built, the regulations provided for only eighty students; in 1916 the number of women alone exceeded this number by eight. Before the end of the year a number of students enlisted for military service besides the three mentioned above who actually went into camp. As the reality of the war came more and more closely into the College life and the call for men became keener, students found it harder to settle calmly to a studious life. This very natural tendency was particularly noticeable in the case of men awaiting their turn to go into camp after enlistment. In the face of this unrest a number of students were conspicuously assiduous in their studies, and achieved highly satisfactory results. In the Teachers' C and D examinations, as well as in those for University terms and for sections of the B.A. degree, the results have been very gratifying indeed. In the giving of practical training to the students the staff was again-assisted by a number of associated teachers in other city and suburban schools, whose services have been very helpful, and in some cases exceptionally valuable. The College staff rendered excellent service in this normal-school work, an extremely important part of the students' training. As in other years, on Wednesday afternoons a number of visits of observation were made with the purpose of enlarging the students' outlook. Among the places visited were Mount Eden, Rangitoto, the Museum, the Art Gallery, the Herald Printing-works (to see the printing of the Weekly News), the sugar-refinery, and Messrs. Ambury's milk-factory. I think the visits have been of considerable benefit to the students, and later should lead them as teachers to make use of their school environment as fully as possible. As in previous years, the sport side of college life was a, noticeable feature of its activity, and to this must be largely attributed the continuance of the general good health of the students throughout the year. Experience makes it more and more evident that this essential of our college life is the best safeguard against overstrain. In hockey our senior ladies' team had the honour once again of winning the association's.banner in the season's championship competition. In concluding this report I wish to pay a tribute to the loyal and able services of the staff. A man of strong personality like Mr. Milnes cannot be absent without his loss being strongly felt. I believe that every teacher in the school and college has felt the obligation to put forth in Mr. Milnes's absence their best efforts to compensate for his loss. Our joint aim lias been to earn? on his work in the way he would have done it, and thus to maintain the traditions which he has fostered. As Acting-Principal I take this opportunity of acknowledging my personal indebtedness to these ladies and gentlemen, with whom I have been proud to work. Without their loyal and earnest help I should not have been able to face the task that suddenly devolved upon me.

WELLINGTON. Terms. —The College opened on the 28th February, and closed on the Bth December, a working session of thirty-nine weeks, exclusive of the vacations. Roll. —Fifty-one senior students returned to complete their training, and sixty-six new students entered. During the year four students left and one entered, leaving a roll of 114 at the close of the year. This is exclusive of enlistments, which are dealt with in another place. The students were classified as follows: Division. A, 105; Division B, 4; Division C, 4; and Division D, 1. Curriculum. —The course of study prescribed by regulations was arranged as follows : History and principles of education (senior classes), hygiene, child-study, and nature-study —the Principal; method—the headmaster; science and geography—Mr. E. K. Lomas, M.A., M.Sc.; kindergarten methods —Miss Maitland; music—Mr. R. Parker; domestic science—Miss. L. Wilson,

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