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Chevrons for non-commissioned officers to be \ in. yellow braid on scarlet cloth; crowns and stars in yellow worsted to be worn above the chevron. Cap-badge.—The Royal cipher surrounded by a garter bearing the words " Public-school Cadets, N.Z.," and surmounted by a Tudor Crown.

The Secretary, Education Board, — Education Department, 23rd July, 1902. With reference to the renewal of the special grants made last year to Education Boards in respect of the maintenance of classes for teachers, I have to inform you that a further grant of £ has, subject to the observance of the conditions named below, been made to your Board. (1.) The grant is to be used solely for the purpose of establishing and of carrying on classes for pupil-teachers, teachers, normal students, and other public-school teachers in such subjects of manual and technical instruction as are prescribed for school classes by regulations under the Manual and Technical Instruction Act. (2.) Teachers are to be admitted to the several courses of instruction free of charge. (3.) Not more than 10 per cent, of the sum granted is to be used to meet expenses incurred in administering the grant. (4.) A statement showing how the grant has been disbursed is to be forwarded to the Department after the completion of the several courses of instruction. Classes established by Education Boards for the training of teachers in subjects of manual and technical instruction are special subjects, and as such are eligible for grants under the Act, provided that the conditions set forth in clauses 28 to 39 of the regulations under the Act are complied with. G. Hogbbn, Secretary for Education.

Education Department, Wellington, 6th September, 1902. (Circular Memorandum to Education Boards.) The North Canterbury Education Board has brought under the notice of the Department an inconsistency between section 10 of " The Education Boards Election Act, 1900," and the form of voting-papers prescribed by the schedule—viz., the difference between the words "posted to him not later than on that day," and the words "posted to him on that day." The Minister is advised that the directing words in the form cannot override the express words of the statute, and you are accordingly recommended to make the directions conform to the Act in all voting-papers printed by your Board. The matter is of importance, seeing that papers posted late on the last day might receive the postmark of the day following, and would in consequence have to be rejected. G. Hogben, Secretary.

Empire Day

The Government of New Zealand desires that in future the birthday of Her late Majesty Queen Victoria shall be known as " Empire Day," and hopes that steps will be taken by all school authorities throughout the colony to secure a suitable observance of the day. I have accordingly to suggest that at every school the children shall be assembled on the morning of Empire Day (which this year shall be deemed to be Monday, 25th May, as the 24th falls on Sunday), and that they shall salute the flag. This ceremony may be followed by a short address to the children reminding them of the privileges and duties of citizens of the Empire. The remainder of the day should be observed as a holiday. It is possible that in some cases the school authorities may see their way, by means of lectures, magic-lantern representations, music, and song, to draw the attention of the scholars attending their schools to matters of an Imperial and patriotic character. Education Department, Wellington, 4th May, 1903. G. Hogben, Secretary.

Authority: John Mackay, Government Printer, Wellington,—l9o3.