E.—lc.

classes are grouped for instruction, and, if so, how they are grouped, and by what teacher each class is taught, describing each teacher by his position in the school as ' sole teacher,' ' head teacher, , 'mistress,' 'first assistant,' 'third-year pupil-teacher,' or as the case may be. Any section except Sections I. and XI. may, if the Inspector so choose, consist of the appropriate number and of a single word, such as ' Satisfactory.' " On the motion of Mr. Hill, it was agreed to insert " and sufficiency" before " school material." Mr. Petrie moved, and Mr. Braik seconded, to strike out " XIII. Method, quality and efficiency of the instruction given to pupil-teachers," with the view of inserting " XIII. The instruction and training of pupil-teachers." Agreed to. The Conference adjourned at 5.20 p.m.

Thursday, 4th February, 1904. The Conference resumed at 9.30 a.m. Mr. Eichardson moved, and Mr. Hill seconded, "That this Conference place on record its very high appreciation of the valuable services rendered to the cause of education in this colony by Mr. James H. Pope, for upwards of twenty-four years Inspector of Native Schools; and by Mr. Robert Lee, for twenty-eight years Chief Inspector of Schools in the Wellington District." The resolution was carried unanimously. The Chairman read a telegram from Mr. Lee thanking the Conference for the honour it had done him in inviting him to attend its meetings. Mr. Pope thanked the Conference for the resolution it'had passed. The Chairman announced that he had received a communication from Mr. ,J. Smith stating that a somewhat severe indisposition compelled him to discontinue his attendance at the Conference. Regulations for Inspection and Examination of Schools. The Conference resumed, in committee, its consideration of these regulations. " 16. The inspection report shall relate to such topics as the following : I. List of classes and teachers. 11. Organization, as shown under topic I. 111. Suitability of time-tables; marking and keeping of registers. IV. Method and quality of the instruction in general or in detail. V. Order and discipline, and the tone of the school with respect to diligence, alacrity, obedience, and honour. VI. Supervision in recess. VII. Manners and general behaviour of the pupils. VIII. State of buildings, ground, and fences. IX. Sufficiency of school accommodation. X. Cleanliness and tidiness of rooms and premises, including outside offices; condition of school material and apparatus; ventilation and warming. XI. List of class-books used in the school. XII. Special circumstances affecting the work of the school. XIII. Method, quality, and efficiency of the instruction given to pupil-teachers. XIV. Other topics. "The report shall be divided into sections, and the section relating to any topic in the foregoing list shall bear the number assigned to that topic in the list. Section I. shall show what classes within the meaning of clause 2 of these regulations there are in the school, whether the classes are grouped for instruction, and, if so, how they are grouped, and by what teacher each class is taught, describing each teacher by his position in the school as ' sole teacher,' ' head teacher,' ' mistress,' ' first assistant,' ' third-year pupil-teacher,' or as the case may be. Any section except Sections I. and XL may, if the Inspector so choose, consist of the appropriate number and of a single word, such as ' Satisfactory.' " On the motion of Mr. Braik, it was agreed, " That the matter of attendance be assigned a separate number in the inspection report." On the motion of Dr. Anderson, seconded by Mr. Wood, it was resolved, " That the marking and keeping of registers and other school records be assigned a separate number." On the motion of Mr. Fitzgerald, it was agreed, " That the words ' be omitted, or ' be inserted after the word ' choose.' " It was resolved, " That the regulations be considered clause by clause, and that all amendments on any clause be taken in order until the clause is disposed of." On the motion of Mr. Purdie, seconded by Mr. Strachan, it was agreed, " That the standing orders be suspended in order that clause 16 be again referred to." Dr. Anderson moved, " That the regulation be amended by the omission of all the words ' whether the classes are grouped for instruction, and, if so, how they are grouped.' " Motion negatived. Mr. Hill moved, and Mr. Gray seconded, " That an Inspector may omit a report on a school after his inspection visit if he deems the circumstances warrant such a course." After discussion, the motion was, by leave, withdrawn. Eegulations as amended agreed to. " 13. The annual report shall show the number of pupils in each class, the number present, and the Inspector's judgment of the quality of the work done in the compulsory subjects, the quantity and quality of the work in the additional subjects, and the efficiency of the instruction in Class P; the degree of discretion displayed in the classification of the pupils, in the determining of the promotions from class to class, and the organization of the school in other respects— e.g., in regard to the average number of children present at any one time under the instruction of any teacher or teachers. (Subject to the conditions of classification, and the suitability of the several teachers for the various classes of the school, the average number under the instruction of any

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