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E.—lc

Mr. Lee moved, " That a list of class-books and text-books authorised for use in schools be issued by the Education Department once a year, and that headmasters may select any of such books for use in their schools."—Seconded by Mr. Hill, and lost: 9 votes to 17. Mr. Lee moved, " That the school year be divided into three terms, with intervals of recess between them."—Withdrawn by leave of the Conference. Mr. Lee moved, " That this Conference is of opinion that the success of any system of education depends as much on the personal influence of its teachers as on their scholastic qualifications ; and that the cause of true education will be immensely benefited by a more careful selection of teachers capable of exercising such elevating-influence over their pupils."—Seconded by Dr. Anderson, and carried unanimously. Mr. Braik moved, " That it is imperative on the Inspector at his annual visit to devote the major portion of his time to an investigation of the character of the teaching, and of the degree to which the general intelligence of the pupils has been developed; and that, pursuant to this end, one at least of the arithmetical questions be a question on principles." Leave was given to strike out all words after " developed." Motion seconded by Mr. Ritchie,'and carried. Mr. Braik moved, seconded by Mr. Richardson, " That, to secure continuity of progress and solidarity of interest in matters educational, the Inspectors meet in conference triennially, and that papers there be read and reports presented." After discussion, all words after " triennially " were withdrawn, and motion carried with this omission. A letter was read from the Minister of Education regretting his inability to give the Conference information concerning the proposed scale of salaries. The Conference adjourned at 1 p.m. The Conference resumed at 2.30 p.m. Mr. Braik moved, " That this Conference appoint Inspectors or committees of Inspectors to study, collect information, and periodically report concerning— (a) Methods of teaching the subjects of instruction; (b) the general principles of education; (c) educational tendencies in other countries ; (d) educational needs of this colony."—-Seconded by Mr. Bitchie, and lost. Mr. Petrie moved (in place of Mr. Braik), " That this Conference take into consideration the question of the uniform staffing of the schools of the colony."—Seconded by Mr. Goyen, and carried. Mr. Petrie moved, " That it is desirable there should be a uniform scale of staff for the colony." —Carried. Mr. Crowe moved (in Mr. Hill's absence), " (1.) That this Conference suggests the desirability of establishing a pension scheme for teachers and Inspectors."—Carried. Mr. Lee moved (in absence of Mr. Hill), " (2.) That, in order to foster an acquaintance with the fauna and flora of New Zealand, diagrams be prepared for use in the public schools ; and that the study of the natural products of the country be more encouraged in the scheme of public instruction." Mr. Petrie moved, as an amendment, the omission of all words after " schools."—Seconded by Dr. Anderson, and carried. Mr. Morton (in Mr. Hill's absence) moved, " (3.) That a map of New Zealand be constructed for the use of schools, such map to show the more important physical features, the tourist resorts, and the characteristic natural products of each district." —Seconded by Mr. Goyen. The following amendments were agreed to: Insertion of word "relief" before "map"; the insertion of " and geological " after " physical " ; and the omission of words " such map," replacing them by the words " and maps." With these amendments, the motion was carried. Mr. Pope moved, " That, in consideration of the fact that teachers in isolated districts are not unfrequently seriously troubled by irritating and unjust charges (easy to make and hard to repel), it is desirable that no teacher should be asked to take what is, practically, the most important part in the process of assessing his own salary—viz., the furnishing of the actual data on which the amount of it depends. In other words, the same motion might read thus : That it is undesirable that any part of a teacher's salary should be directly determined by the ordinary school registers." —Seconded by Mr. Hill, and lost. Mr. Bossence moved, seconded by Mr. Morton, " That the Minister of Education be requested to appropriate a sufficient sum to enable Education Boards to make adequate provision for the inspection and examination of schools." Leave was given to amend the motion by adding, after the word " sum," " outside the statutory capitation grant." Motion amended accordingly, and carried. Mr. Hill moved, " That, for the better protection of the interests of the country, the examination of private schools by public-school Inspectors is desirable." —Mr. Smith seconded. Leave was given to amend the motion as follows : The insertion of words " and inspection " after "examination," and, at end, the addition of the words "and that standard certificates be issued to those children who satisfy the requirements." Motion, as amended, was passed by 19 votes to 4. Mr. Wood moved, " That it is undesirable that certificates of competency in the requirements of the various standards be issued by the authority of persons other than Inspectors as defined by the Education Act." —Seconded by Mr. Goyen, and carried. Mr. Spencer moved, and Mr. Wood seconded, " That this Conference strongly affirms the desirability of establishing training-colleges at one or more centres, as indicated in the Chairman's opening address."

2—E. 10.