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[Enclosobe.] Sib, — Education Department, Wellington, 24th October, 1900. . I have the honour by direction of the Minister of Education to invite you to attend a conference of Inspectors of Schools, meeting at Wellington, on Monday, the 28th January, 1901, at 2 p.m., to consider, inter alia, — (1.) The syllabus, (2.) Scholarship regulations, (3.) Pupil-teacher regulations, (4.) Teachers' certificates, (5.) Higher instruction in primary schools and district high schools, (6.) Handwork in primary schools, (7.) School attendance, (8.) Continuation schools, (9.) Examination of private schools, — and other subjects, if any, that may be admitted. I shall be glad, to receive suggestions for additional subjects. I have, &c. , Inspector of Schools. George Hogbbn, Secretary for Education.

Distbict High Schools. (Circular Memorandum to Secretaries of Education Boards.) Education Department, Wellington, Bth January, 1901. I am directed to inform you that the vote of £550 (one quarter) for district high schools will be distributed on the following conditions : — 1. That the secondary subjects be taught in separate classes and by a teacher or teachers specially qualified to teach secondary subjects. 2. That the rest of the school be fully staffed as for any other public school with the same average attendance. 3. That the secondary pupils take arithmetic to a standard at least as high as that of the arithmetic for Standard VI. 4. That English be taken by all secondary pupils, and include the study of a work or works of some standard author, not less than 800 lines of poetry or 200 pages of prose. 5. That, in addition to the statutory capitation, there be paid £2 per annum for each pupil who has passed Standard VI., and is taking three or more of the following subjects, or 10s. per annum for each such pupil taking one subject, or £1 per annum for each such pupil taking two subjects : — 1. Latin. 6.* Elementary mechanics. 11. Book-keeping. 2. French. 7.* Physics. 12. Shorthand. 3. Euclid. B.* Chemistry. 13.* Agricultural chemistry. 4. Algebra. 9.* Botany. 14.* Physiology. 5. Trigonometry. 10.* Mechanical drawing. * The work for these subjeots must chow an advance beyond what is offered or required for Standard VI. if the same subject is taken in Standard VI. 6. That, further, £4 per annum be paid on account of each free pupil who has passed Standard VI. and is attending not less than three secondary classes in addition to English and arithmetic. 7. That, in addition to the extra capitation already named, £30 per annum be paid to each district high school having not less than twelve pupils who have passed Standard VI. and are taking three or more secondary classes in addition to English and arithmetic. 8. That these allowances be paid quarterly to the Boards. 9. That the whole of such allowances be paid as salaries to the secondary-school teachers or as additions to salaries of the other teachers as the Board may determine. It is proposed that the first payments shall be made early in April next— i.e., as soon as possible after returns based upon the quarter ending 31st March, 1901, have been received. Geokge Hogben, Secretary.

Tbachebs' Salaeies. (Circular Memorandum to Secretaries of Education Boards.) Education Department, Wellington, 9th January, 1901. I have the honour, by the direction of the Minister of Education, to communicate with you for the purpose of consultation with your Board, in terms of section 2 of " The Public-school Teachers' Salaries Act, 1900," in regard to the distribution of the item voted last session—" Addition to statutory capitation, teachers' salaries only, as directed by the Minister of Education, £8,250." The list of teachers and salaries forwarded by you shows that those whose names appear on the accompanying list are in receipt of salaries that, in the opinion of the Government, are below what should be paid upon a uniform scale to teachers holding the positions most nearly corresponding