E.—2.

nature-study are being issued separately on cards, as aids to oral instruction on modern lines in these subjects. Up to the present—August, 1909 —the following series have appeared : Twenty-four pictures illustrating great British battles, thirtytwo illustrations of New Zealand flora, eight of New Zealand geography, and sixteen of the geography of the British Isles; also a coloured wall-sheet illustrating the lives of Lord Nelson and Captain Cook. There are also in preparation similar pictures—namely, sixteen illustrations of glaciers, eight of New Zealand flora, eight of harbours in New Zealand, four depicting incidents in the life of Captain Cook, and four dealing similarly with the life of Nelson. Several publications of educational value were placed at the disposal of the Department, and so far as the number of copies permitted and the nature of each work warranted these were distributed to Special schools, Native schools, District high schools, Secondary schools, the larger Technical schools, Training colleges, and University colleges. In this way the following publications were distributed: "Animals of New Zealand," Hudson's "Entomology." "New Zealand Neuroptera," Colenso's " Lexicon," Tregear's " Maori Race," and Thomson's " New Zealand Naturalist's Calendar." Among other publications of general interest that have been issued by the Department during the past year may be mentioned the Inspector - General's " Report on Educational Institutions in Europe and America"; the " Manual of Physical Drill"; and the "Outline of a Scheme for Teaching Hygiene and Temperance" (reprint). The following are in preparation, and will appear shortly: "A Manual of New Zealand Mollusca," by H. Suter ; " New Zealand Plants and their Story," by Dr. L. Cockayne ; " Geology of New Zealand," by Dr. P. Marshall; " Industrial Education a Phase of the Problem of Universal Education," by Dr. Davenport (reprint), of Illinois College of Agriculture, Urbana ; New Zealand Flora plates, being published in connection with Cheeseman's " Manual of New Zealand Flora." The departmental library contains a large number of educational books and papers, most of which are available on loan for Inspectors, primary or secondary teachers, and others interested in education. Staffs of Public Schools. The number of teachers in the public schools, exclusive of those employed in the secondary departments of district high schools in December, 1907, and December, 1908, respectively, was as follows :— TABLE E.—Number of Teachers employed. Adults,— 1907. 1908. Men .. .. ■ .. .. 1,332 1,331 Decrease 1 Women .. .. .. 1,955 2,021 Increase (>(i Total .. .. .. 3,287 3,352 Increase 65 Pupil-teachers, — Male .. .. .. ..172 161 Decrease 11 Female .. .. .. 478 476 Decrease 2 Total .. .. 650 637 Decrease 13 All teachers, — Male .. .. .. •• 1,504 1,492 Decrease 12 Female .. ~ .. ■ ■ 2,433 2,497 Increase 64 Total .. .. .. 3,937 3,989 Increase 52 For the schools above Grade 0 having only one teacher—that is, schools with 16 to 40 children in average attendance—the average number of children per teacher or, in other words, per school—was 24-80. Taking all schools with two or more teachers, we find that the average number of pupils per adult teacher, if we reckon two pupil-teachers as equivalent to one adult, was 42-51 ; and with the same assumption the average for all schools of Grade 1 and upwards was 38-42.

2—E. 2.

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