E.—2.

[Appendix D.

Fortnightly socials have been held in College on Saturday evenings, as in previous years, with programmes provided either by the students or by visitors. During the year a reading circle has been instituted. The discussions on the books read showed considerable independence of judgment, and were distinctly promising of growing character. In July the annual concert was given by the College Glee Club with much success. At Easter an enjoyable annual reunion of past and present students was held, and the opportunity was taken to send a cheery message to our "Old As".on active service. The College is always pleased to welcome back its old students, and fully recognizes how much the maintenance of its best traditions depends on the goodwill of those who have passed through its portals. The early closing of College on account of the severity of the influenza epidemic necessitated the abandonment of a number of functions which have been much appreciated in the past. A good deal of the year's work was left incomplete, and several examinations had to be omitted. It is worthy of record that both students and members of the staff found many fields of useful service during the dreadful visitation, and, I believe, acquitted themselves most creditably in the performance of the distressing and arduous duties entailed. The amendments to the Training College Regulations gazetted on the 17th December will, I believe, prove of great advantage to this College. The students will much appreciate the increased allowances, and in future no student should be debarred, for financial reasons from entering College. The provisions in the, amended regulations for special treatment of pupil-teachers, probationers, and training-college students who have been on active service, will, I believe, prove highly satisfactory, and the Minister is to be congratulated on their opportune appearance.

WELLINGTON. (J. S. Tennant, Esq., M.A., Principal.) The session began on the 27th February, and the College was closed by order of the Public Health Department on the 15th November. The total roll for the year was 136, made up of seventyfour junior students and sixty-two seniors. During the year two names were taken off the roll and seven men were absent on military duty. An analysis of the roll gives the following details : — (i.) Women, 115 ; men, 21. (ii.) Probationers, 70 ; pupil-teachers, 49 ; others, 17. (iii.) Division A, 119 ; Division B, 11 ; Division C, 3 ; Division D, 3. The various districts were represented as follows : Wellington, 45 ; Wanganui, 32 ; Hawke's Bay, 20; Nelson, 18 ; Taranaki, 11 ; Marlborough, 5 ; Otago, 1 ; West Coast, 2 ; Canterbury,!; Southland, 1. The exact figures are not available, but the admissions to the Training College represent approximately about 60 per cent, only of those who enter the profession as pupil-teachers and probationers. The students took advantage of their University privileges as indicated by the following figures : English, 38 ; Latin, 26 ; French and German, 18 ; philosophy, 45 ; education, 60 ; history, 6 ; economics, 2 ; mathematics, 8 ; biology, 26 ; chemistry, 10 ; physics, 2 ; geology, 2. The results were that 38 first-, 68 second-, and 156 third-class passes were gained, while 28 students kept firstyear terms, 20 kept second-year, and 12 kept third-year terms. The usual course was followed with regard to the student-teaching practice. The juniors devoted the afternoons of four days a week to giving prepared lessons to the low r er-standard classes under the special supervision of the headmaster. Those not engaged in actual teaching (about half the number) attended special demonstration lessons given by the College staff. The senior students were divided into two sections, each of which had continuous practice for fortnightly periods throughout the year. In addition to this work in the Normal School, each senior student had one period in an associated school. Sixty-nine students completed their term of training at the end of the year, and the joint results of the various external examinations and the Training College recommendations are as follows : D certificates, 3 ; D and partial 0, 25 ; C certificates, 25 ; B certificates, 7 ; A certificates, 1 ; no concession, 8 : total, 69. The social life of the College lias naturally been seriously affected by war conditions, though the Students' Association continued to provide some form of recreation for three out of every four Saturday evenings a month. A number of short lectures were delivered by various ladies and gentlemen to the students during the term. The men students gave a most successful entertainment in aid of the Common-room Furniture Fund. The Glee Club, assisted by the Dramatic Club, also gave two very successful concerts. The question of student accommodation has now become a most pressing one, and it was with the greatest difficulty that anything like suitable lodgings were found for some of the later entrants. I sincerely hope that something will be done this year in the way of providing another hostel. The health of students was fair, but probably would this year have been worse had it not been for the splendid work of the Friends' Hostel and the Women Students' Hostel,

IV