E.—l

14

to define the courses still'further, so far as that can be done without interfering with the freedom of the' several[colleges to t shape their own programmes, as, unfortunately, there seems to be a tendency at present tot] avoid the study of natural science, without which no teacher can be said to be properly equipped for his work. It is also a question whether some other modification of the regulations may not be desirable to pre\ent some of the students from subordinating their legitimate training as teachers altogether to the object of taking a university degree. The course of training extends over two years, and it does not seem expedient that this period should be shortened, except in the case of those who have already graduated in the University, and who may therefore be considered as requiring only professional training in the colleges ; for them one year would probably be sufficient, l --; The new Training College buildings at Auckland and Dunedin have now been completed, and are in actual occupation. At the close of the year the students in training numbered 274, as follows :— Number of students in training colleges, end of 1908 : — Men. Women. Total. I I Auckland 23 25 48 j Wellington .. .. .. •■ •■ • • 14 64 78 Christchurch .. .. .. .. •■ • • 13 59 72 Dunedin .. .. -. • -.21 55 76 Total 71 203 274 £ s. d. The amount paid in 1908 for the training of teachers was .. .. .. .. 40,968 0 4 made up as follows : — - I. Training College — Salaries of staffs .. .. .. • • • • ■ • • • 5,925 310 Students' allowances .. .. . • • • • • • • 10,666 411 University fees of students .. .. .. .. • • • • 2,276 8 3 Libraries.. .. •• •• ■• •• •• •• 187 18 11 Apparatus .. • • ■ • • • • • • • ■ • 25 13 3 Buildings .. •• •• •• •• •• ■• 13,565 0 0 Total £32,646 9 2 - 11. Other training — Grants for special instruction in handwork, including agriculture, of teachers other than training-college students F [~!«■ ■ ■ • • • • 2,900 0 0 Railway fares of teachers and instructors J. j|.. .. .. .. 5,42111 2 Total £8.321 11 2 Public-school Cadets. The Education Act provides that " in public schools provision shall be made for the instruction in military drill of all boys " ; and it is declared to be the duty of the Board in each district " to cause physical drill to be taught to all boys and girls over the age of eight years attending the public schools in the district." The number of children returned as receiving instruction in drill in the public schools of the Dominion at the end of the year was 143,580. The term " drill " here must be taken to include physical and disciplinary exercises. There were on the 31st March, 1909, 185 cadet companies, 111 detachments, and 14 sections, with a total strength of 14,686 members, equipped with the " model rifles " (dummies) which have been imported by the Department for purposes of drill, and with a percentage of miniature Martini-Henry rifles for target-practice. Details of the number of cadet companies in the several districts are given in Table V of the report of the Officer Commanding. The number of battalions formed was 32. At the end of the year the companies in the North and South Islands respectively, exclusive of those attached to district high schools, competed for two challenge shields presented by the Government. The conditions were that each competing squad should consist of ten cadets, all belonging to the same company or detachment ; each company to have seven shots at 100 yards (kneeling), 150 yards (sitting), and 200 yards (lying), the local range being used in each case. The North Island shield was again won by the* Dannevirke North No. 1 Company (Hawke's Bay), with a score of 798 out of a possible 840 ; the South Island shield was won by the