E.—le

Session 11. 1906. NEW. ZEALAND.

EDUCATION: PHYSICAL DRILL.

Presented to both Houses of the General Assembly by Command of His Excellency.

CIECUI/AE TO SbORETAEIES OF EDUCATION BOAEDS AT AUCKLAND, WELLINGTON, NAPIER, Blenheim, Cheistchuech, and Inveecaegill. Education Department, Wellington, 29th August, 1906. I am directed by the Minister to call your attention to clause 3 of section 137 of " The Education Act, 1904," and to ask you to be good enough to furnish, as directed therein, a report of the manner in which the requirements in respect of instruction in military drill have been carried out in your district. E. 0. Gibbes, Secretary.

Education Board, Auckland, 6th September, 1906. In answer to your memorandum dated the 29th August, and in terms of clause 3 of section 137 of the Education Act, the Board reports that the teaching of physical drill receives satisfactory attention in the public schools of this district, and in many of the larger schools it is highly efficient. The Secretary for Education, Wellington. V. E. Bice, Secretary.

Education Office, Napier, 24th September, 1906. Herewith please find copy of the Inspector's report on the instruction given in military drill and calisthenics in the schools of Hawkes Bay. The Secretary for Education, Wellington. G. Crawshaw, Secretary.

Education Office, Napier, sth September, 1906. In all the larger schools, and in many of the smaller ones, military drill and calisthenics form a regular part of the ordinary school instruction. As shown in Lieut.-Colonel Loveday's report issued in May last, Hawke's Bay contains a larger number of cadet corps compared with its school population than any other district in the colony, there being on the 31st March last thirtytwo school corps, containing in all 1,734 officers and privates. Great enthusiasm is aroused by the annual assembling of pupils at Gisborne and Waipawa. Sports are held, and a shield and banner are given to the schools that acquit themselves best in drill and calisthenics. It is the opinion of the Inspector of Schools that much more would be accomplished were opportunities given to the lads to form camps at places like Taupo and Waikaremoana, where officers and privates could study contour-lines and places of strategic importance, whilst at the same time they would acquire a knowledge of topography, and benefit physically by the change. H. Hill, The Secretary, Education Board, Napier. Inspector of Schools.