"E.—lo

6

Western. Noes, 11 : Messrs. Aitken, Dempsey, Garrow, Goyen, Grundy, Johnson, Ladley, Lee, McAlister, Scott, Talbot. (b.) Dr. Anderson moved clause 8. Mr. Weston seconded. Withdrawn. (c.) Dr. Anderson moved, and Mr. Bindon seconded, section 9. Amendment: Mr. Grundy moved, and Mr. Goyen seconded, "That the above subjects be regarded as obligatory in every school." Carriod by 19 to 2. (d.) Dr. Anderson moved section 10. Seconded by Mr. Weston. Carried. (c.) Dr. Anderson moved section 11. Seconded by Mr. Bindon. Carried. (/.) Dr. Anderson moved section 12. Seconded by Mr. Weston. Carried. Proposals of the Wanganui Board. —l. The Chairman moved, " That there be only two series of reading-books for the colony." Seconded by Mr. Gill. Lost by 6to 16. Habens Memorial Fund. —Mr. Hogben, Inspector-General, brought before the Conference the question of raising funds to establish a scholarship to commemorate the life and work of the late Mr. Habens. It was suggested that the scholarship should be open to the pupil-teachers of the colony, and be sufficient in amount to meet the cost of a University course. Mr. Smith moved, and Mr. Morton seconded, " That the Conference heartily approves of the proposal suggested by the Inspector-General with regard to the establishment of a scholarship to perpetuate the memory of the late Mr. William James Habens." Carried unanimously, members standing as a mark of respect to the late Mr. Habens. On the motion of Mr. Weston, the Conference adjourned till 7.30 p.m.

Seventh Session. The Conference resumed at 7.30 p.m. Minutes were read and confirmed. Proposals of the Wanganui Board. —2. The Chairman moved, " That reading unprepared passages from some reading-book not so difficult as the book prescribed for standards may be used as the Inspector's test." Mr. Goyen seconded. Carried. 3. Proposed by Mr. Bridge, and seconded by Mr. Aitken, " That reading-books contain at least six lessons on physical and economic effects of the use of alcohol." Motion lost. Ayes, 3: Messrs. Aitken, Bridge, Talbot. Noes, 19: Messrs. Anderson, Barclay, Bindon, Bird, Dempsey, Fetch, Grill, Gow, Goyen, Grundy, Hendry, Johnson, Ladley, McAlister, MacGregor, Morton, Petrie, Scott, Weston. 4. Proposed by Mr. Bridge, and seconded by Eev. G.Barclay, " That effects of use of alcohol on body and mind be included in science for Standards IV., V., and VI." Lost by sto 15. 5. Proposed by Mr. Bridge, and seconded by Mr. Bindon, " That it be a recommendation to the' Minister to prescribe the use of two reading-books for each standard, one of which should be as far as possible selected for the interest of its matter, and in Standards V. and VI. sustaining the interest throughout by continuous narrative, the second book to be chosen by the teacher, with the approval of the Board." Carried. 6. Proposed by Mr. Bridge, and seconded by Mr. Talbot, "That the elements of book-keeping be included in arithmetic for Standards IV., V., and VI.; Standard IV. to be omitted if the standard of exemption is raised to Standard V." Amendment: Proposed by Mr. Morton, and seconded by Mr. Fetch, " That familiarity with some very elementary notion of book-keeping be encouraged by the use of a cash-book for the purpose of a writing exercise in Standards V. and VI." Lost on the voices. Motion lost. Ayes, 9: Messrs. Barclay, Bridge, Fetch, Ladley, McAlister, McWhirter, Morton, Petrie, Talbot. Noes, 15 : Messrs. Aitken, Anderson, Bindon, Bird, Dempsey, Garrow, Gill, Goyen, Gow, Grundy, Hendry, Johnson, MacGregor, Scott, Weston. 7. " That drill be a class-subject, except in schools officered by one teacher." Moved by Mr. Bridge, seconded by Mr. Petrie. Carried. 8. Mr. Bridge moved, " That the department be requested to revise the syllabus for arithmetic, history, and geography." Seconded by Mr. Bindon. Carried. Notice of Motion by Dr. Anderson. —" That the attention of the Hon. the Minister of Education be called to the inequality at present existing between the two different modes by which teachers obtain a D certificate, and that he be recommended either to establish a uniform system of examination or to co-ordinate more closely the present methods of obtaining a certificate." The Chairman intimated that he would not be able to attend further meetings of the Conference. Vote of Thanks. —Dr. Anderson proposed a hearty vote of thanks to the Chairman. Seconded by Mr. Weston, and carried by acclamation. On the motion of Mr. Goyen, seconded by Mr. J. Barclay, Mr. Weston was appointed Chairman. Deputation to the Minister.— -It was moved and carried that a deputation of members wait on the Hon. the Minister of Education at 12 noon on Friday, the 21st instant. Model Rifle. —The Inspector-General exhibited to the Conference a model rifle, two thousand of which had been ordered by the department. The Conference adjourned till 9.30 on Friday, the 21st instant.

Sights Session.—Fbiday, 21s? July, 1899. The Conference resumed at 9.30 a.m. Minutes read and confirmed. , ( Correspondence. —(1.) From the Secretary Canterbury Women's Institute, containing motions passed at their meeting on the 14th July. (2.) Secretary Canterbury Children's Aid Society,