H.—l

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schools " a Board of Advice, consisting partly of members of Council, and partly of other experienced persons appointed by the Council." We think that a similar mode of government would be suitable for all technical schools established in connection with University colleges. Where, however, incorporated societies exist, such, for instance, as medical or law societies, it may be desirable to intrust them with the power of nominating representative members of the 'Board of Advice. In accordance with the recommendation made by a Committee of the House of Representatives in the last session of Parliament, the petition of Dr. Gillies and others was referred to us for our opinion. The petitioners desire —-(1) "that the different classes of the community specially interested in the University of New Zealand should be represented in the Senate, and that, as a school of medicine has been instituted, a fair proportion of the members of the Senate should be selected from the medical profession; " (2) "that the Council of the University of Otago should contain, in addition to the present nominated body, representatives elected by the Medical Association, the Law Society, the Educational Institute, the Chamber of Commerce, and the Court of Graduates ; " (3) " that the legal powers and functions of the Senate and Council respectively should remain as they are at present;" and (4) " that the members of the Senate and the Council should be appointed for a period not longer than three years, members being eligible for reappointment." With regard to the first item of this petition, we are agreed that it is not necessary to provide for the representation of particular professions in the University Senate, and that if all the professions, as well as the Government and the colleges, were represented, the Senate would be too cumbrous and unwieldy. As to the second item, it seems to us that the medical profession would have its due share of influence in the affairs of a University college through the proposed Board of Advice connected with the Medical School. It should also be remembered that medical graduates can be admitted ad eundem, and might as graduates exercise considerable power. The third and fourth proposals made by the petitioners are in substantial agreement with recommendations contained in our interim report. With regard to the application of funds set apart for technical and professional schools generally, avc are of opinion that it would conduce to the free development of technical education if funds which have in any case been set apart for some particular branch of technical instruction were, as necessity arose, made available for other branches of technical education by special legislation at the instance of the governing body. There are at present two normal schools in active operation —one at Dunedin, the other at Christchurch. The reports for 1878 show that at Christchurch seventy-one students were in training at one time during the year, the number at the end of the year being sixty-three —sixteen males and forty-seven females ; and that at Dunedin the number was forty-four —sixteen males and twenty-eight females. In connection with each of these institutions is a large practisingschool, at which the average attendance for the last quarter of the year 1878 was as follows : Christchurch, 745; Dunedin, 615. Arrangements are in progress for the institution of similar schools in Auckland and Wellington. We think that it will not be necessary for some time to increase the number of such schools. By an Order in Council (24th September, 1878) the control of normal schools is left to the Education Boards of the several districts in which they are situated, subject to certain general provisions made by the Order in Council. One of these provisions is that the Board which has control of such a school shall make regulations, under certain specified heads, for its organization and conduct, and shall submit such regulations for the approval of the Minister of Education. We entirely approve of this arrangement; but, as no regulations made by the Boards in accordance with the Order in Council have yet been received by the Minister, we are not in a position to report in detail upon the internal management of the schools. We can only refer to the reports furnished by committees of the Commission, and printed in the Minutes of Proceedings (p. 32) attached to our interim report.

Petition of Dr. Gillies and others.

Recommend (o mako income of special technical schools available for general

purposes of technical instruction.

Normal schools.