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at certain schools. Of course, such a proceeding was not contemplated by the regulations, which we understand to be intended to provide for exceptional cases only. If the subject were thoroughly taught from the beginning of a child's school course, there is no reason why any considerable proportion of a class should fall behind. Experience entirely favours this view. We may here express the hope that the recommendation of the Inspectors' Conference that the syllabus of arithmetic should be reduced may be carried into effect. Teachers would then find time to teach the subject as a science. As an art, the handling of the subject, in the great majority of our schools, leaves little to be desired. With regard to the class-subjects, we have little to say beyond noting the fact that the quality of neither geography nor drawing deteriorated to any very appreciable extent through being transferred from the pass- to the class-list. The additional subjects have been taken up with great zest in the great majority of our schools. It is exceptional to find a school in which singing is not taught, and for the most part well taught. We embrace the opportunity of again recommending the Board to take steps to place the military drill of the town boys on the best possible footing. We are, &c, James Hbndy, ) t . The Secretary, Southland Education Board. Gbo. D. Bbaik, j spe °

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