___.—__.

[Appendix A.

possible the stated individual needs of the teachers attending, and especially to advance them in the laboratory practice for the science-work of the certificate, and, further, to indicate such lines of study as, being faithfully followed, would enable the purpose in view to be attained. The report on the course indicates that the teachers devoted themselves to the course of study with praiseworthy attention and diligence. Training College. —The following is a brief statement of the statistics of the year : First year, 17 men, 52 women ; second year, .10 men, 50 women. Of these 102 were A students, 6 B students, and 4 A graduate students. Districts : Wellington, 40 ; Wanganui, 25 ; Hawke's Bay, 20 ; Taranaki, 6 ; Nelson, 8 ; Marlborough, 5 ; Grey, 5 ; Westland 3. The Board was again reluctantly compelled, owing to limitations of space at Thorndon, to reject a number of very eligible B applicants. The infant department of the new college, a fine, commodious, and airy structure, was opened in April. As many parents proved to be unwilling to enter their children in the infant department unless the course of instruction was extended beyond Standard 11, the numbers enrolled were much below anticipation. Extension in 1915 to Standard 111 has resulted in a considerable increase, but as the difficulties of student practice, already very great, will be increased on the transfer of the student department to Kelburn, it is very advisable that the erection of the main school should proceed without further delay. The students' block was about half finished at the end of the year. Scholarships. —The following scholarships were awarded on the results of the Department's examination. Details of awards are appended to the Inspectors' Report:— Examination. _ . Number of Scholarships awarded. •Junior National Scholarships .. .. .. .. .. ..5 Junior Board Scholarships . . .. .. .. . . 23 Senior A Board Scholarships .. .. .. . . .. .. 8 Senior B (Rural) Board Scholarships .. . . .. . . 11 Manual Instruction.--[See E.-5, Report on Manual and Technical Instruction.] District High Schools. —The general criticisms of the Inspectors in the main report, and those on the individual schools and subjects in Appendix II to the Inspectors' report, afford substantial ground for satisfaction with the quality of the instruction in the secondary departments of our district high schools. Physical Training and Medical Inspection. —lt is very pleasing to find the Inspectors able to report that as a result of the course of training in phyiscal development undertaken by the whole teaching staff of the district, under the direction of the officers of the Department, there has been a general improvement in the physical training given in all the schools, one result of which is that breathing exercises are practised more efficiently than formerly. At the same time they remark on the need for attention to the individual child, and the difficulty of obtaining, owing to their numbers, the very best results from the largest of the city classes. The kindred work of medical inspection has proceeded steadily during the year, and the school staffs have assisted to the utmost of their power, especially in the tactful appropriation of the sympathy and co-operation of the parents. The number of schools down to Grade 111 visited was thirty-eight. As the reports appear to show that an appreciable fraction of the pupils suffer from malnutrition or subnormal nutrition, an important public service would be rendered if the Medical Inspectors would say what are the chief causes of the unsatisfactory condition, .j. and, seeing the circumstances appear to exclude poverty as an explanation of many of the cases under review, it is suggested that they may, with great benefit to the community and in particular to parents, see their way to indicate how, by change in personal habit, or by more appropriate selection and preparation of articles of food, the healthy development of the growing child may bo most perfectly attained. In view of the considerations outlined above, and of other substantial reasons in favour of the suggestion, my Board is of opinion that the office of Chief Medical Inspector and that of Chief Inspector of Physical Education (sections 134 (1) and 136 (I)) should be combined in one officer. Buildings. —The following were the principal building operations of the year : (a) The infant department, Kelburn, was completed, and the students' department and the new school at Britomart Street were under construction. (6.) Additions were completed at Island Bay (infant department). Eastern Hutt (two rooms) ; Tokomaru and Shannon (one room each), (c.) Residences : A residence was provided at Matahiwi, an addition at Shannon, and minor improvements, such as bath, washhouse, &0., at nine others, (d.) Cookery and science rooms were erected to replace the building destroyed by fire at Greytown. (c.) Improvements to drainage and outbuildings (including one septic tank) were carried out at nine schools. (/.) Fencing was erected at eight, and fencing-renewal undertaken at nine schools, (g.) High-pressure water-service was provided at two schools, (h.) Painting and overhaul were carried out at twenty-eight schools and fifteen residences. Before the end of the year the pressure of numbers had again become acute at Island Bay, Maranui, Northland, Wadestown, Lansdownc, and Brooklyn. Urgent Matters. — The Board wishes the urgency of the following to be recognized, and the necessary remedial action taken: (I.) Completion of Training College block: It is recognized that adequate student practice will be impossible when the main practice school is distant some one mile and a half from the College. (2.) Erection of a technical school for Wellington : Every first-class centre except Wellington, and most of the centres next in order of importance, are accommodated according to their needs. In Wellington the Technical School is accommodated under well-nigh as many roofs as the State Departments. (3.) Establishment of an agricultural college for the North Island : This can be justly urged in view of the nature of the primary industries of the Dominion, of the rapid relative increase in their importance, and of the insignificant provision made for the special higher training for the calling of the farmer as compared with that made for those following commercial, manufacturing, and similar pursuits.

VI