B.—lo

5

Mr. Fitzgerald moved, as an amendment, " That the words ' two hours a week' be struck out, and the words ' sufficient time ' inserted." After discussion, the amendment was carried by 23 votes to 4. Mr. Wood then moved a further amendment, " That the words ' science and of singing' be omitted, and the words 'the fundamental subjects of the syllabus' inserted." The Conference here adjourned (1.5 p.m.). The Conference resumed at 2.40 p.m. Mr. Wood's amendment was carried on the voices. Leave was given Mr. Petrie to withdraw the words "oral or other," in section (b) of his motion. Section (a) and section (b), with the omission of the words named, passed on the voices. Section (c) was agreed to, on a division, by 16 votes to 10. Mr. Spencer proposed, as an amendment to section (d) of the motion, "That the words ' Standards IV. and.' be omitted, and the word ' Standard' inserted.—Lost: 6 votes to 20. Section (d) was put, and declared lost on the voices. Mr. Purdie then moved, " That the syllabus should be materially lightened in the case of schools in charge of a sole teacher."—Carried. Mr. Harkness moved, "That the number of class-subjects be reduced, and the number of additional correspondingly increased, with a view to lessen the burden of subjects taught by sole teachers."—Seconded by Mr. Bichardson. Mr. Braik moved, as an amendment, " That the motion read as follows : ' That the number of class-subjects may be reduced in country schools by allowing teachers to leave out, at the discretion of the Inspector, one or more of these subjects in proportion to the size and circumstances of the school.' " —Amendment carried. A motion by Dr. Anderson, "That the Conference proceed to discuss Motion No. 12 on the Order Paper," was lost. Leave was given Mr. Crowe to withdraw Motion No. 7, standing in his name. Mr. Spencer moved, " That the syllabus in composition be mpdified, and that from Standard 11. to Standard VI. a better graduated scheme of work be adopted.; that only so much grammar as is necessary to give a rational comprehension of the principles of composition be taught."—Carried. Leave was given to Mr. Morton to mov6 Motion No. 9 in the following form : " That in the classes receiving instruction in the subject grammar be included with the subjects forming the basis of promotion."-—Carried. Leave was given to Mr. Petrie to move Motion No. 10 on the Order Paper as follows : " That the Minister be asked to adopt some such scheme for instruction in grammar as the following:— " Standard III.: To point out the parts of speech in a simple sentence, and to know the function of each word, and the subject and predicate of the sentence. " Standard IV.: To point out all the parts of speech and the adjective and adverb phrases in an easy sentence, to know the functions of the words, to point out the clauses and the joining words, and to know the case, number, and person of nouns and pronouns. " Standard V.: The parsing of nouns, pronouns, and adjectives, and the tense, number, and person of verbs; also to know the connection and functions of the clauses, and the usual positions of clauses and phrases in a sentence. Sentences used as a test to contain not more than three clauses, and their sense to be quite plain. " Standard VI.: The complete parsing and analysis of sentences of ordinary difficulty, and knowledge of the order of words, phrases, and clauses, and of the common figures of speech." Motion moved by Mr. Petrie accordingly; seconded by Mr. Spencer. The Conference adjourned at 5.5 p.m.

Wednesday, 30th Januaey, 1901. The Conference resumed at 9.30 a.m., with the same attendance as before. The adjourned debate on Mr. Petrie's motion was proceeded with. Mr. Fitzgerald moved, as an amendment, "That the scheme of applied grammar include the following: (1.) The structure of simple, compound, and easy complex sentences of not more than three members of plain build, treated by way of analysis and of synthesis. (2.) The recognition of the parts of speech in such sentences. (3.) Exercises in the blending of sentences and clauses, and in the conversion of phrases, clauses, and sentences into equivalent constructions. (4.) Such inflexions of words as are necessary for the purposes of composition. (5.) Practice in correcting wrong sentence forms, with special reference at the lower stages to common colloquial errors." Mr. Purdie moved to amend clause (2) of Mr. Fitzgerald's amendment by adding the words " with a knowledge of their functions."—Carried. Mr. Fitzgerald's amendment, with this alteration, was then passed. Mr. Hill moved, " That the syllabus of instruction be differentiated for the colony."—Seconded by Mr. Bakewell. Mr. Bossence, seconded by Mr. Purdie, moved, as an amendment, " That the syllabus of instruction be differentiated for large and small schools, and that the number of subjects be determined by the class of school, the class to be determined by the numerical strength of the staff."—Amendment carried. Mr. Hill was then given leave to withdraw sections 2, 3, 4, and 5 of the motion standing in his name. Mr. Goyen moved, " That the second paragraph of Eegulation 2, the whole of Regulations 3, i, and 7, and Regulation 6 from ' and he,' second line, to end, be cancelled.