Annual Report of the Southland Branch.

Office-Bearers, 1881-2.

President, Mr. John Hardie.

Secretary And Treasurer, Mr. E. W. Gurr.

We have the honour to submit to you the Annual Report for the year ending 31st March, 1882. During the year, ten meetings have been held, which have been latterly very fairly attended, and great interest seemed to have been taken in the meetings by those present. At the first meeting the election of the officers for the year took place. Mr. John Gurr was chosen to read a paper on behalf of the Branch at the Annual Conference, and Mr. Duncan, of Green Island, the Branch's Representative on the General Committee. The following members gave papers on the subjects connected with their names:—Mr. John Gurr, on "The Standards and how to meet them;" Mr. Hardie, on "The Teaching of Geography;" Mr. Orr, on "Composition related to Grammar;" Mr. Neill, on "A Country Teacher's Difficulties, and how to meet them;" Mr. Bennett, on "The Teacher's Aim;" Mr Southwick, on "The Teaching of Elementary Science;" Mr. Von Tonzulman, on "Notes on Dr. Trench's English, past and present."

Several other matters of importance engaged the attention of the Branch during the year. Abbott's "How to Parse," was pronounced a most unsuitable text book for pupil-teachers on the subject. It was considered that "bonuses on classification" should be distributed from the Central Department, and not from the several Boards, as at present. Early in the year a desire to separate from the Institute was manifested on the part of some of the members, but after the Conference, which many of the Teachers attended, it was considered best to maintain the connection already existing.