Conference.

This Conference commenced its first session at the Girls' College, Nelson, on Monday, Jan. 9, at 10 a.m., when there were present:—The Headmaster of Auckland College and Grammar School, Mr C. F. Bourne. M.A.; the Principal of the Girls' High School, Wellington, Miss Hamilton; the Principal of the Nelson College for Girls, Miss Edger, M.A.; the Principal of the Bishop's School, Nelson, Mr J. H. Harkness; the Headmaster of Christchurch High School, Mr. Bevan-Brown, M.A.; the Headmaster of Akaroa High School, Mr. W. Walton, B.A.; the Hector of Timarn High School, Mr. A. L. Halkett-Dawson, M.A.; the Rector of Waitaki High School, Mr. J. Harkness, M.A.; the Rector of Dunedin High School, the Rev. Henry Belcher, M.A., L.L.D., and the Principal of the Otago High School for Girls, Mr. Alex. Wilson, M.A.

Mr. Halkett-Dawson was, on the motion of Mr. Bourne, seconded by Mr. Bevan-Brown, unanimously elected Chairman, and on taking the chair, spoke as follows:—

I return thanks for the honor you have conferred on me in electing me President of the first High Schools Conference. I trust this will be the beginning of a series of similar meetings whoso business it will be to look after the interests of higher education in this colony. I trust this meeting in its results will promote the interests we all have at heart. In New Zealand, with its scattered communities, there has been little or no association among teachers in our High Schools, we have been separated from each other by the natural barriers of chains of alpine mountains and silver streaks of sea. It may be that mutual jealousy has existed in some few cases—remnauts of the old provincial rivalries and antipathies; but the natural barriers have been surmounted by the railroad and steamboat, and mere provincial rivalry is merged in a common national struggle. The question is, not whether Auckland is to have the mastery over Otago, but whether in higher education we are to hold our own against the world. Hence the need for combination among the head masters is very great. Here and there, in this and that centre, certain steps in page 4 the right direction may be taken, but for lack of communication there has never been anything like progress all along the line. Since coming to Kelson I have heard old Æsop quoted very frequently. May I follow suit? May I say that hitherto we have been like the single sticks in the fable? This Conference will bind the separate sticks into a bundle. When some improvement has been effected in one centre now, it will, by means of this Association, be quickly passed round. Hitherto, opinions of the right sort have grown very slowly. Questions raised in Auckland may not be even so much as heard of in Canterbury or Otago. The necessity for association has long been felt. Ideas and circumstances were gradually maturing towards the realisation of this end whey the circular of the Education Department was sent down to us some six months ago. It was then felt that concerted action was necessary, and that at a Conference we could better discuss matters that interest us and are vital to the progress of higher education. This Conference then has grown out of the circumstances of the case. It is no mere combination for selfish ends, nor is it a Conference whose work will end with the results of owl deliberations on this occasion. So long as the present system of High School education exists, so long will it be necessary to meet to exchange ideas and form such opinions as will result eventually in the promotion of the cause of higher education. It is true that we are only a consultative body. We cannot carry into effect our views directly, us can a governing body, but we can do what is perhaps a safer and more beneficial thing for the public; we ear disseminate our views, we can put them into the crucible of public criticism, and, as in these days we have Government by opinion we shall ultimately get our views carried out if only they find general acceptance. In this we have a certain superiority over law-making body like the Senate of the University, an Education Board, or a Board of Governors. We may do something rashly we may pass resolutions that afterthought will prove to us are foolish, but no harm will come of such resolutions, as they will not be followed by immediate action. Some may say, let them talk they cannot follow up their talk by action. But herein lie our strongest point. We seek the general good; we shall deliberated for the welfare of higher education; we shall formulate doctrine that will find general acceptance because they are for the general good; we shall create a body of public opinion respecting higher education in New Zealand which will gradually find its way [unclear: ist] the by-laws of every educational authority in the colony. This [unclear: dso] all we want, this is all we aspire to. I should like to say here [unclear: the] personally I think our system of local government in New Zealand is wonderfully good, all things considered. I believe that, as a [unclear: rub] speaking of that branch of local government which is [unclear: concer] with Education, our local bodies are extremely anxious to do [unclear: whe] is right and best for the community. If they err it is because of [unclear: lac] page 5 of knowledge, and I believe they will be most happy to profit by our deliberations. Here we are, a body of experts whom the colony has imported, and whose best services the colony is entitled to. How can we better do our adopted country service than in taking part in such conferences? How can we better do ourselves good than in meeting together to discuss difficulties, to suggest improvements, and to influence the department and the whole educational machinery of the colony? We are all working with a common aim, and I believe such meetings as these will result in great good to all. But, ladies and gentlemen, it is unnecessary to further vindicate our meeting this day. I may say in a word that the progress of association is the progress of civilization. In union there is strength, in disunion weakness, in the multitude of counsellors there is safety. Chief among the subjects that will engage our attention this time will be the relation of Secondary Schools to the University. This is a very wide subject, and we are determined to have a say in several matters which hitherto have been managed without much outside criticism, and without any suggestions from an important and competent body of men like ourselves. We are the feeders and the tributaries of the University, and as such we are most deeply interested in their regulations for entrance examinations. We want to tell the Senate what effect some of these regulations have on our work. We want to suggest certain improvements. We have every reason to know that the Senate will be ready to give full consideration to our wishes. We do not want to imitate Melbourne in having a preponderating influence of headmasters on the governing body of the University, but we must contrive to get ourselves effectively represented there. Then we shall discuss our own schools, their curricula, and the means of examination, and, lastly, we shall consider some few topics connected with the relation between the High Schools and the Primary Schools of the Colony. I shall not detain you longer by any further remarks, but simply express a hope that our deliberations will be conducive to the best interests of the sacred cause of education.

The Conference then proceeded to the election of a Secretary and Treasurer. On the motion of Mr. Wilson, seconded by Mr Harkness, it was resolved that Mr. William Walton, of Akaroa High School, be appointed to these offices.

The Conference then resolved itself into Committee to consider the Order of Procedure, agenda paper, See.

On resuming, the following resolutions were adopted:—

Moved by Mr. Wilson, seconded by Mr. J. Harkness (Waitaki), "That the Standing Orders of the Convocatiou of the University of New Zealand be adopted as the Standing Orders of this Conference."

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Moved by the Rev. Dr. Belcher, seconded by Mr. Wilson, "That this Conference proceed to discuss the questions raised in the order suggested by the Committee."

The Conference then went into Committee to consider its constitution, and on resuming at 12.30 p.m., adjourned till 2.30 p.m.