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3. VICTORIA UNIVERSITY COLLEGE. Visitor.—The Hon. the Minister of Education. Members of Council. Chairman.—R. McCallum. Vice-Chairman.—P. Levi, M.A. Appointed by Governor-General in Council—A. R. Atkinson, 8.A.; D. M. Stout, M.D. Elected by Court of Convocation —C. Watson, B.A. ; P. Levi, M.A.; A. Pair, LL.B. ; S. Eichelbaum, M.A., LL.B. Elected by teachers in primary schools—H. A. Parkinson, M.A.; P. H. Babewell, M.A. Elected by members of Education Boards—P. J. H. White ; R. McCallum. Appointed by Wellington City Council—M. P. Luckie. Elected by teachers in secondary schools and technical high schools—J. H. Howell, 8.A., B.Sc. Elected by governing bodies of secondary schools —T. Forsyth. Elected by the Professorial Board —F. P. Wilson, M. A., F.E.S.; T. A. Hunter, M.A., M.Sc. Staff. Professors. —Classics—J. Rankine Brown, M.A. (Dean of Arts Faculty). English—H. Mackenzie, M.A. Modern Languages—E. J. Boyd-Wilson, M.A. Philosophy—T. A. Hunter, M.A., M.Sc. History—F. P. Wilson, M.A., F.E.S. (Chairman). Economics—B. E. Murphy, M.A., LL.B., B.Com. Education—W. H. Gould (acting Professor from May). Mathematics—D. M. Y. Sommerville, M.A., D.So., F.R.S.E., F.N.Z.I. Biology—H. B. Kirk, M.A., F.N.Z.I. Physics—l). C. H. Florance, M.A., M.Sc. Chemistry—P. W. Robertson, M.A., M.Sc., Ph.D. (Dean of Science Faculty). Geology—C. A. Cotton, D.Sc., A.0.5.M., F.G.S. Law —J. Adamson, M.A., LL.B. (Dean of Law Faculty); J. M. E. Garrow, 8.A., LL.B. Agriculture—G. S. Peren, B.S. Registrar.—G. G. S. Robison, M.A. Librarian.—B. H. Ward, B.A. REPORT (ABRIDGED). Pursuant to section 44 of the Victoria College Act, 1905, the Council presents the following report for the year 1926 : - The number of students attending classes in 1926 was 745. This number represents a drop of sixty-one as compared with the number for 1925. This is the first time that the College has failed to maintain its numbers since the war. The rather serious diminution may be accounted for by the following factors, which are placed in the order of importance : The new policy of the Department with regard to Training College students, whereby a considerable number of students from the middle district, who would ordinarily have come to Wellington and have attended this University college, were diverted to other centres. The Council is of opinion that this cause alone is enough to account for the decrease. Other factors are the falling-away in the number of new law students as a consequence of the new regulations for the LL.B. degree, and to some extent the falling-away in the number of science students owing to the inauguration of a scheme for day teaching in science. The last factor has operated .chiefly in the subject of physics, and is probably due to a merely temporary dislocation caused by the change-over to daytime teaching, which it is thought will disappear when students have become accustomed to the changed conditions. Changes in Staff. —Dr. J. Sword, of the Glasgow University, has been assistant and demonstrator in the Chemistry Department. He exchanged with Mr. A. D. Monro, who is returning this year. Miss Eileen Duggan, M.A., was appointed assistant to the Professor of History. Day Teaching in Science.—The year 1926 marked a very important epoch in the history of our college—the first determined effort to break away from the dominating influence of evening lectures. The change to day teaching in science may have caused a decrease in the number of students attending certain classes, but this year the attendance appears to be normal again. It has been a comparatively simple matter instituting day teaching : the difficult task is to convert a part-time student into a full-time student. Many of our science students are following full-time occupations, and are only able to attend day classes on the understanding that they must put in the corresponding amount of overtime. In the case of science subjects which have advanced with such rapid strides in recent years it is essential, if a student is to have anything but a smattering, that he should devote his full time to their theoretical and practical study; and from a cultural point of view it is highly desirable that a student should have time for general reading and reflection. It is to be hoped that a greater proportion of students will come not merely for the sake of a bread-and-butter degree, but with a desire to understand more fully the laws of nature and to take part in extending the boundaries of human knowledge. Library.—There have been 978 accessions during the year, at a cost of £613 13s. Id. Of these twenty-two were Carnegie publications, nine were from New Zealand and other Governments, ten were from universities and learned societies, five were from the Public Library, 329 were from Sir Robert Stout, and twenty-three from other private donors, including eight from Mr. J. O'Shea and six from Professor Garrow.