OTAGO EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTE.

Otago Witness, Issue 2413, 31 May 1900, Page 62

OTAGO EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTE.

Secomd Day — Tuesday., Mobbing Sibsbiok. . The Educational Institute met again on Tuesday morning, Mr Eudey in the chair. There were about SO members present. ANNUAL SEPOItT. The following are the chief clauses in the annual report : — The* Committee of Management, as members are aware, is constituted differently from what it has been in former years, it no-\y being composed of the officers and delegates flora, the various branches. This has made the committee most thoroughly representative, and enabled it to deal more fully with the questions brought forward. It has also tended to increase the interest of the branches in the doings of the committee, while the commiLtee has endeavoured to maintain that interest by forwarding to each branch an account of the business transacted at each committee meeting. Various impoitant questions have "been debated during the year, the most important having been the consideration of the new regulations for the inspection and examination of X^rimary schools, the board's new scale of salaries, and reading books. These and other matters are referred to in the body of the report. The Minister of Education has now under consideration a scheme for providing a colonial scale of salary tor teachers in public schools. Mr Walker has promised to submit the scheme to education boards, and to the various branches of the N. Z.E.I, before bringing 'it before Parliament. Your committee has every iafLh in the ability of the Minister and his officers to fornralate a scheme that will give satisfaction to the vast majority of teacheis in the service of the various boards of education. Some teachers, no doubt, will have their salaries reduced; but there will be the satisfaction of knowing thai- the, constant " nibbling ' at salaries will stop, and that something like stability will have been arrived at. New Zealand Journal of Education has now entered on its second year oi publication with every prospect of success. It is, as membeis know, the recognised official organ of the 15T.Z.E.1. ; it hss been warmly approved by tho Council of the Institute, and by that body has been strongly commended to the suppoit

of members of the teaching profession. Your committee would re-nind members, that, if teachers as a body aie to hold and retain a position of influence, they must support the jctunal, which is devoted to their interests and to the cause of educational progress. Early in the year -the Otago Educational Institute suffered a severe loss by thq'removal of their president (ilr J. A. Valentine, J3.A.), who left the service of the Otago Education Board to become he?d master of a large school in South Canterbury. Mr Valentine was a. most energetic and enthusiastic member, and the institute owes much to his vigorous efforts to promote its welfare. Your committee congratulate him on his promotion, and wish him every success in his new duties. Wo note with pleasure thai Mr Valentine has been appointed .secretary of the South Canterbury District Institute. Mr Walter Eudey, for many years secretary to the Otago Educational Institute, was. appointed president m Mr Valentine's stead, and in liim we have had an able and eneigetic officer. Teachers have every reason for congratulation in still having m their rank?, as they have had in the past, men willing to give their time and labour unsparingly on behalf of their fellow teachers. The report also contained the main provisions of the Court of Appeal Act, and also a number of formal reports from s,ub-brar.che&. I Tha balance sheet showed the receipts iroui "various sources, together with the bala.ice brought forward from the previous year, to be £122 3s 4d. The expenditure for the year wa& set down at £52 Is 9d, leaving a credit balance of £70 Is 7d. Tho Chairman, in moving the adoption of the report, said that the Committee of Management had been blamed for holding '.he annual meeting ac this particular time, but he would like to point out that at last annual meeting it was decided to hold it hi &how week. For some reason the Agricxiilui-a! Society, who usually held the show about the last week in June, decided to hold it in May this year, and the committee had no course open to them but to hold their meeting a^ had been arranged. There nas little in the report that needed reference on his part, and he moved its adoption. Mr Jeffery seconded ll'o motion. Mr A. 1!. Barnett brought up the Eongahere case, and read from the report a r.iimite of last annual meeting, when the institute had signified iU willingness to asaisfc teachers financially "\\heii placed in positions requiring such support. lie wanted +o know what the Committee of Management had clone in the matter. The Chairman replied that the question came up at the meeting of (.he committee from | the Lawrence branch. They ssnt out a circular to all their branches asking- for subscriptions in favour of Miss Annai. Mr Barnett, speaking warmly, said that the young woman was brutally treated and driven from her home. She was removed to a position where she was no better off. and had lost £50 worth of furniture in the fire that destroyed her home. If 400 teachers had given two shillings each it would have been nothing to them, and 3 r ei they allowed a girl to suffer for religion's sake. They boasted of their secular education, but if some of those present had known what it was to suffer for either blood or religion they might feel differently. All that had been collected was boriie £". — about £3 19s 6:1 from the Lawrence branch and 15s 6cl from the Bruce-Clutha branch. Mr Jeffery ,«aid that he was not inclined to let matters pass in this way. He pointed out that the institute would have been quite willing to spend its funds in bringing the author of the offence to justice, but it was another matter for them \o undertake io replace the lobs a teacher might sustain from lire. It' 'teachers exercised "'ordinary ("orctlvougho ouci providence they would injure their properly against fire. There was no luck of sympathy, but the institute was a public body, and ils funds had to be regarded accordingly-. Mr Davidson also apokc J < o the que=tion. Mr Matliew:! allied if the committee bad taken into consideration the matter of d':lcgaies' travelling expense?. In reply, the Chairman said that tho matter had never come before the- committee, because hitherto no count ly member had claimed his expenses, otherwise it would have received attention. "Mr Moir (Kaitangata^ faid that country teachers were waiting to soe wha-t was to he done. They certainly expected thai, if tl.'y were to attend meetings in town 0.-oa a month, they ought to be as^is^d in some waj". Mr Jeffery Faid that in past years the institute had been severely crippled for funds, and held that tliev were not in a position to grant the concession. After .some fiuther discussion, the report and balance sheet; vrore unanimously adopted. OrFTCE-SEABERS. The following office-bearers were elected: — President, Mr G. W. Macdonald; vice-presi-dents—Messrs'J. H. Moir (Kaitangata), and J. Moir (Pukeuri) : librarian, Mr Jeffery ; auditor, Mr J. R. Rutherford. The election of secretary was postponed until to-day. Aftehxooint Sitting. The institute resumed at 2 o'clock, the President in the chair;, while the attendance was largely increased. -AITOIXTMEXT OF TEACHERS. Mr C. H. Smith (Stirling) opened a discussion on the appointment of teachers. He condemned generally the present system of appointing teachers, and said the Education Boar.fl did not do the teachers justice. He also held that the school committees were not competent to decide on the merits of a teacher. They could not be expected to understand the value of a teacher's testimonials, inspectorial reports, training college reports, and university certificates. Committees often appointed teach ero on their proficiency in such .subjects as singing, or even on account of their religious beliefs. Again, there was the buttonholing process, when applicants endea\ oured to bring influence to bear on committees. The board had been.shirki»g its re»-po"u,?ibili-ties in submitting a number of names and allowing the committees to make their own appointment*. The final selection should not be with the inferior body, but with ihe board. Teachers were entitled to look to the board for justice, and he urged those present, to support the Bruce-Clutha branch in endeavouringto get this reform. He moved the followingmotion: — " Thai the board be respectfully asked to recast its system of appointment of teachers on the lines of that at present in force in Southland, so that it may have opportunity to effect promotions." Mr W. M'Elrea (Balelutha) seconded the motion. He said that a great many teachers thought that there was next to no opportunity for promotion, and consequently they felt that they were wasting their lives to a great extent for a body that failed to do justice to them in the way of seeing that they got the promotion they deserved. The difficulty in changing the system lay, to a great extent, in Ihe fact thai the committees had the appointing, and members of the board thought that it was their duty io carry out the wishes of the committee. Ho knew, however, that many committee men in. th^ country did not

desire to have thrown on them the onus of appointing the teachers of the district. Mr A. M. Barnett spoke to the question. Mr Jeffery proceeded to detail his experiences in applying for positions when the meeting went into committee, on the suggestion of Mr Davidson, Mr Jeffery himself dissenting to the proposal to go ito committee. When the meeting resumed in open discussion, Mr G. W. Macdonald had the floor, and was expressing the opinion that the proposed alteration would not improve the condition of things; very much. He was in favour of centralisation, and would have a board of experts to appoint the teachers for the whole of the colony. Messrs J. Reid (Otepopo), F. Hilgendorf (Oamaru), A. Mathews (Shpg Point), J. H. Moir (Kaitangata), A. Marshall (Normal School), Ja«. Grant (Maheno), J. N. Stewart (Clinton) , also addressed the meeting, and, Mr Smith having replied, the motion was put and carried unanimously. delegates' travellixg expenses. Mr Davidson moved—" That the question of the payment of travelling expenses of country members' attending meetings of the Committee of Management be considered." Pie thought it was a? little as they could do, as well as much as they could do. at the present time. Perhaps the time would come when they could pa 3* the whole of delegates' expanses. It had been the object of the Committee of Management to bring the country branches as closely into touch with the parent branch as possible. Mr C. R. Smith seconded the motiou, and said that he would like to know if Mr Davidson had gone into the question as to whether their funds could stand the strain. Mr Jeffery opposed the motio-.i on the ground that the finances of the institute would not stand it. Mr Davidson then agreed to add to his motion, making it read—" That half the travelling expenses of country members attending meetings of the .Committou of Management be paid, so long as the balano° in the hands of the treasurer is not le?s than £20."' The motion was thru put and curried unaiiiTfi.ni<!j-. IHE SALATUBS QUES TJO". "Ylr J. I). Burnard (Taieri Booch) moved — '' That the regulation by which a teacher's salary drops from £V,O to £100 is very unfair, and ought to be amended, and that the question be referred to the Committee of Management." Speaking to ihe motion, he said perhaps some of them were even unaware of this regulation. A teacher might be getting £14-0, and if his attendance dropped onetenth of a scholar, or came down to* 30.5 his salary came down to £100. To a man who had a large family to maintain this was very hard, especially if he had spent 20 or 30 years of hi' life in teaching. He thought as things weie going on at present that in 50 years' time there would not be a gentleman teacher left in the service. ilr J. N. Stewart seconded the motion, which was carried after some discussion. On the motion of Mr G. W. Macdonald, it wss resolved — " That the time for the annual meeting- be left to the Committee of Management to decide after consultation with the district branches." On the motion of Mr J. N. Stewart, it war resolved — " Tiiat the following remit be sent to the Council of the New Zealand Educational Institute— ' That the Minister of Education be approached with a view to allowing teachers to qualify for G and B certificates fey passing subjects singly." " Evening Sitting. ! The institute resumed at 8 o'clock, when ' there wore- about 60 present, and the President j (Mi* "Kudev) was in the chair, j Mr' J. W. Smith read a paper on " Physical •Education,"' in which he said that in this part of the colony the system of physical culture was up-to-date, and thanks were due to Instructor Hanua- for the system he had introduced. Mr Smith spiel the special claims of , plsvbH al training as an educational factor were 1 --(1) Its influence as an aid to discipline, and j (2j its influence as a means of making the I ficholar* better fitted physically to contend | "with, the work they have to do. As to the ! time to be devoted to physical exercises, Mr I Smith said : In my own school five minutes, morning and afternoon, are set apart each day j "for the ordinary class^physical exercises ; while [ at least 40 minutes are set apart once a week for tho-<e movements that a gymnastic course require-;. These are necessarily of an advanced nature, and include, besides dumb bell and wand work, movements on the backboards, rings, horse, parallel bars, etc. In order that the work may be popular, it should be free from compulsion, and should be accompanied by music. At least all the standing and marching exercises should, as it has a brightening and enlivening effect on the minds of the pupils, and causes them to enter into their performance with redoubled interest and vigour. To overt-ake these exercises, and especially the gymnastic work, it is, of eovirse, necessary to lessen the time hitherto given to some of the subjects forming part of the day's work. The paper went on to speak of ihe improvement visible after physical exercise had been cairied on for a time, and mentioned that drill was, of course, closely connected with the physical education, as was also a variety of field sports. Mr Barnett proposed a vote of thanks to Mr Smith for the excellent paper he had read, and thought very few would dispute the necessity for physical training. He made passing reference to the advisableness of altering the seating accommodation for the pupils so as to give more ease for the back. Mr Davidson wished to thank Mr Smith personally for bringing the subject of physical education prominently before the teachers of Otago. He thought physical education had been very much neglected. Not that it had been the fault of the teachers so much as the fault of those who had had the drawing tip of the syllabus. So much was demanded from teachei-s that they felt they had not sufficient time \o give to physical education. He thought that if fhe minutes were spent each day before school hours both teachers- and pupils would begin their work better. Physical exercise was more necessary for girls than for boys, but where were teachers' to find the time? He considered t^at at least one hour a week should be given to the gymnasium. Wot. it not possible, he asked, to reduce the time given to sewing? — (Ladies' voices : " No.") He thought that many things taught in the way of sewing were unnecessary, because, when the pupils left the school, a

1 great deal of what they had learnt was done on the sewing machine. Were women now growing up with the same stamina as their mothers possessed? If they were, then by physical training- and the gymnasium they would be very much superior to their mothers in this respect.' Mr Tyndall, while agreeing with the vote of thanks to Mr Smith, did not think that the best plan for securing a physical edu6a-' tion had been adopted. They had to build! certain places called gymnasiums and get apparatus. The girls came there, and ha feared the whole thing was more or less absurd. He thought if the children had some time given them in which to play that they would look after their physical education, themselves. They knew that gymnasium instruction was a modern invention, and if the mothers in the past were better physically than girls at the present time, it went to prove that the present physical education had, been a failure. ' Although the thing might be good, the same as medicine might be good, he did not think they needed the thing in the way suggested outside the playground. Mr Jeffrey, referring to physical training, said he considered they led the whole of Australasia in the matter, and that in Dunedin it would have a very far-reaching effect. He went on to refer to the necessity of junior volunteer training, one good effect of which would be to give the boys disciplinary cxer- ( oiso, in drill, and the outcome would he a' cadet corps ' from which' a volunteer- corps would h& recruited. in the near future there would have to be a far larger percentage of the -population trained in arms. Mr G. Macdonald said Lord Wolseley had given the opinion that the "British soldier was' deteriorating, and he advocated - ihe establishment of "gymnasia in all the large ravens in the British Empire. The sunees^ of the Germans stains' Xapoleon \vab regarded as being due to the naming- they received. '5 hey were prepared to stand the fatigues and hardships of a soldier's life. He (Mr Macdouald) mentioned that the children in the country districts got a good deal move physical exercise than those in towns. 'and referred lo the slouching way bows and girls went aboul. This he considered could be got over by five or six minute/ drill every day. Mr AlLvutt sakl that, tinder the present circumstances they could carry out physical work in connection with their classes. What was wanted was a reduction of work entailed by the syllabus. Medsr.s BottijiG; and Hodge also spoke. Miss Wilkinson, in referring to the teach- ■ ing of S2wing in the schools, faid there were many things tho sewing machine could not do, and the girls must be taught to do those tilings. If time for physical training was to be taken off their school hour?, when were lliev to learn tewing, for the majority of c,irls in the town schools would never learn in ihoir home-?. They had not the chance. F^he thought they gave too little time lo sewing. Tho girls uot barely two houre, and she considered il would be better iE they did not get po much arithmetic and had more sewing-. The motion, on being put, was carried - ! unanimously, and Mr Smith then replied. MABSSMAXBHIF IX OVB SCHOOLS. Mr A. W. Tyndall (Blnespur) read a paper entitled '' Marksmanship in Our Schools." He claimed that boys had an undoubted leaning ; to the study of marksmanship, whiciv- only | needed to be properly supervised and directed I in order to become an addition to Iheir <uocic of useful arts. Speaking with the modesty j that military men expected from mere civilians when t>>e latter trenched on their special province of knowledge, he ventured the opinion that one of the naost -important lessons to be gained from the present war was the predominating importance of marksmanship and mobility over drill and solidarity. It had been proved that small bodies of men, covered by entrenchments placed at easy distance from one another, armed with modern rifles, and acting in concert, might advontageously resist the assault of the best regiments of the best regulated army in the world, without the assistance of regular discipline and drill. In New Zealand, from the rugged nature of the country, the same tactics used by the Boers with such remarkable success, would be those chosen by us should we be compelled to resist foreign invasion. Thus it was our bounden duty not to make ourselves a military nation, but a nation of marksmen. Put a firstI class magazine rifle in the hands of every man, make him a perfect master of his weapon, give him an unlimited supply of ammunition, said Mr Tyndall, and our country, like a, gigantic porcupine, with rifle barrels sticking out in all directions, could bid defiance to all the dogs of war the greatest military nations might let loose upon her. The goose step, forming fours, squad drill, com- [ pany drill, and all the other military devices which tend to make men mere automata, might here and there be retained for purely ornamental purposes ; but the real defence of New Zealand would devolve upon her civilian marksmen, endowed with an educated, intelligence, which, without' much specially devised discipline, would render them as capable of obedience to orders as independent of initiative when circumstances required it.Mr Tyndall went on in this strain for a little, and then went on to deal with the methods o£ getting musketry taught in schools; but he was emphatic on the point that it could not be entertained as long" as the present syllabus was in vogue. Mr G. W. Macdonald proposed a vote of thanks to Mr Tyndall for his paper, and said that of course in this, as in other subjects'. Mr Tyndall was quite heterodox. _ He did not agree with that gentleman's idea that drill ought to be abolished. There was no [ doubt that if we wanted combined movements there must be a certain amount of i training, and this had also been prov.ed. 'in the present war. If the Boers had. had the training which Mr Tyndall condemned, he doubted very much if we ■would! be celebrating the relief of Mafeking. Mr Macdonald went on to criticise the present system of training men in marksmanship, which, with its nicely-painted targets, measured distances, and comfortable positions for the rifleman, was hardly calculated to make men good shots in the field. He said! that this year in the company to which he belonged (the N.0.M.5,.) they had decided to try a method in which the trooper, after galloping a certain distance, dismounted and! fired three shots. He then remounted, galloped a certain distance, and fired again. He

did not know the distance lie was firing, and this would fit him for a tims of war. Mr Tyndall's paper was in the right direction, and he had much pleasure in moving the- vote of thanks. . Mr O. J. Hodge and Mr J. Mathews also fepoke on the svibject, and after passing the Vote the meeting adjourned till this morning. THIBD DAT' — •WEDXKSTXVSr.^ MOBKIKG SITTIKG. The Educational Institute resumed on-Wed-nesday morning at 11 o'clock in the Normal School. Mr Eudey presided, and there was a large attendance of members. Mr J. I". Arnold, M.H.R., was also present. APPOINTIIEXT OF SECRETARY. Mr O- D. Flamank (Sawyers' Bay) was fleeted secretary anil treasurer to the institute. REPORTS OF DELEGATE^. . The delegates to the council meeting at Timaru in January last (Messrs G. W. Macdonald, W. Davidson, J. Jeffery, A. "W. Tyndall, and "W. Eudey) gave verbal reports of the work done by the council. Mr D. R. "White moved a vote of thanks to the delegates, which was seconded by Mr J. W. Smith, and carried unanimously. DBAIT OOKSTITUTION FOB BISTHICT - •- • INSTITUTES... The draft constitution for district institutes prepared by the direction of the Council of the New Zealand Educational Institute v.as then considered, and taken clause by clause %,nd finally adopted. « , ' * Aftebxoon Sittixg. There was a very good attendance at the afternoon sitting, a large number of those present being ladies. Mr O. Maiuank moved— "That as in the great majority of our schools, representing the great majority of cur pupils, Standards V and VI are combined for the study of English, the Education Board be asked to amend the English syllabus for the junior scholarship examination so that Standard V and VI boo'cs may be used alternately, the Fifth book io be used for the eiramination of 1901." Mr Flamank, in speaking to the motion, pointed out that in the country it often happened that the Standards V and VI were combined, and the reader of one of the standards was used. The junior Echolarslirp examination paper was sometimes taken from the reader cf the other standard, and the pupils irere consequently at a disadvantage. It might be ur^ed that the Sixth Standard book vras too hard' for the Fifth Standard, but this would arsply equally to all schools. Mr Tyndall seconded the motion, which was carried. _Mr TyndaJl moved — " That it be annnstriiction to the Committee of Management to send the number polled respectively by each candidate for a seat on the council to each si'bbranch as soon as possible ofter the votes gre counted." Mr J. Jeffery seconded the mbfcicrn prn forma, which, after discussion, was carried. OOLOKIAI, SCALE OF SAL iBIBS. _ The Chairman then intimated thai a petition to the Houses of Parliament in regard to a colonial scale of 'salaries was there for signature. The following is the full text of the petition : — 1. I'hat it has. been long felt as a giievance ■by your petitioners that the scale of salaries of school teachers fn the different education districts is anomalous, and that great injustice is done to many teachers in consequence. 2. That it seem.3 to your petitioneis that there „ should be as nearly as possible a uniform rate of pay throughout the colouy for persons engaged in teaching under the Education Act, seeing that their duties are to all intents and purposes identical. 3. That in addition to the nipqualities of salaries there is the uncertainty whether existing salaries will be maintained, the Educaf on Boards having the power at any time to reduce salaries by giving three" months' notice, which power has .been exercised in some education districts, and may at any time ba extended to other districts. 4. That jour petitioners believe that the want of uniformity m regard to teachers' salaries and the liability to reduction of such salaries tend to deter young persons from entering on the profession of teachers. 5. That it is a? matter oi vital importance that the best talent that is available in the colony should bt brought into the ranks of teachers from the youth of the country by a liberal scale of pay free from such uncertainty as at present exists. Your petitioners therefore, humbly pray that yova honourable House will take stich measures as may seem fife to establish a uniform raxe of teachers' pay throughout the colony, htA to jjrotect them from such general reductions in their salaries as they are now liable to. And your petitioners, as in dvity bound, will ever pray. The Chairman having invited discussion on the petition, Mr A. W. Tyndail said it fully embodied their opinions on the matter, and he thought it unnecessary to dteeuss ii. Mr (i. W. Macdonald thought they might pass a resolution fixing a minimum wage. So as to permit of a. discussion on the point, lie would move that it be fixed at £85 per annum. Mr ' Barnard had pleasure in seconding the motion. As far as a colonial scale of salaries ■was concerned he did not think the position of teachers under it could be any worse than now. His experience of the changes made during the last 16 years v.'as thai they were all for*the worse.— (Hear, hear.) He pointed" out some glaring anomalies in the present eystem, and instanced eases where teacher/ salaries had been reduced through no fault of theirs. When the attendance of -a school went down the board should not reduce the ■wags of the teacher, but should endeavour to transfer him to some other placs. Mr Davidson thought everyone present should sign the petition. Every year thk question of salaries was raised. The idea had become prevalent that the Fclieme as regards teachers' salaries propounded by Mr Habens was likely to come into force, and many teachers, particularly ladies, were inclined to oppose the colonial scale. Mr Habens, however, had nothing to do with the scheme formulated at the present time. The Hon. Mi 1 Walker, Minister of Education, had promised to communicate with all the Education Boards and branches of the New Zealand Educational Institute inviting suggestions on the matter, and when thef3 suggestions were received he would probably set up a small commission to form a scale satisfactory to the colony. Ho thought, in the matter of salary, tho lady teacher had a lot to complain of. and mentioned the oase of a lady in Auckland holding an Al certificate, and teaching Sixth and Seventh Standard?, receiving- in return £90 a year. The present fctate of things was disgraceful. Mr Tyndall: There is a lady head teacher in Marlborovigh getting £10.--(L".ughlcr.) £70 a year u-as too lilcle lac a lady vcnl to tli3 country. It wa^ pweating, ard nothing else; £85 it was perhaps not possible io gyt. but he thought £85 rfiould be Ji-> minimum. The disparity between the salaries, ot men «i, jWQSiea wag too high, and he advised the

lady teachers to look into the matter and stand up for their rights. He would move — " That this meeting affirms the principle of a colonial staff of salaries, and that a copy of the resolution be sent, through the executive of the New Zealand Educational institute, to the Mini&tei' of Education. Mr Macdonald consenting to his motion being allowed to stand aside, Mr Tyudall seconded Mr Davidson's motion. Mi 1 Tyndall said -he had been absolutely astounded at some of the disparities between male and female teachers. Sometimes the male teacher suffered the injustice, and quoted an example where a lady teacher, with fewer pupils than a male teacher, received a higher wa^e. The fixing of salaries ought to be oaken out of the hands of Education Boards and put into that of the Minister of Education. Mr Mark Cohen entered the meeting at this stage, and was heartily applauded. The GKairman, on behalf of the meeting, welcomed Mr Cohen, and, after stating the business in hand, invited his opinion on the subject. Mr Cohen said he had come to listen to, and not to takepart in, the discussion. Ke hoped the motion woiild be carried unanimously. He corroborated the reme-vlcs made by Mr Davidson concerning Mr Habens's scheme, and paid the Minister of Education, having regard to. the finances of the colony, and aho to the necessities of the teacher, would, lie believed, try to do justice all round. —(Hear, hear). He advised tlie meeting not to ask for too much. Mr Davidson's motion was put, and carried unanimously." Mr Macdoiiald's motion was then reconsidered. > Mv Davidson moved —"" That the minimum wage be mads £20." Mr Tyndall seconded the amendment. Mr Jeffery preferred its, being kept at £85. The amendment was lost. Mr Davidson thereupon moved, as a further amendment- —" That the sum be not fixed, but that the amount be left to the Minister of. Education." This, amendment was also lost. Tlie motion was then put, and carried by a large majority. TH4XKS. Votes of thanks were then moved to the retiring officer^, and especially Messrs Endey and Garrow; to Mr Rilgeiu'orf, for having undertaken secretarial woik; to tho AtheTifeum Committee, for the u;e of their rooms: the Education Board, for the use of the Normal School, and for hiving sent out circulars to the schools i'd closing al s'iow time; and to the prey. Mr Eudy then vacated the chair, and Mr Macdonald, the president for the ensr.ing 12 months, took it. In honour of the Queen's Birthday, the company sang- a verse of the National Anthem, and the session then terminated.