Jan. 21.] THE NEW ZEALAND GAZETTE. 285

Influence of position upon importance of towns, whether situated at mouths of rivers, at head of navigation of large rivers, on large lakes or natural harbours, on lines of communication, on coalfields, &c.

Geographical causes of the rise and importance of the British Empire.

Notable travellers and geographical discoveries.

The object of the course sketched out here is to show, as far as it is possible for the minds of the children to see it, the connection between natural conditions on the earth’s surface and the civilisation of man—i.e., between physical geography on the one hand, and political and commercial geography on the other. In the course of the lessons many names of places will be naturally introduced in order to illustrate the principle which it is sought to establish, but it is not intended that the lessons should be used as an exercise of the memory.

COURSE C.

43. Geography course C forms one of the additional subjects in Standards III. to VI. (See clause 32.)

The following course is set down as an indication of what is expected to be done, but the Inspector may accept any equivalent course if a syllabus of the work done in Standards III.—VI. be presented to him. A possible alternative course is indicated below.

Geography course C cannot be considered as fully dealt with if treated by the use of a reading-book only; there must be definite lessons given to the several classes by the teacher.

A four-years’ course in Geography C should embrace such subjects as the following (the geography of New Zealand and of the British Empire must in any case form part of the course) :—

Standard III.

Positions of the continents, oceans, and larger seas; the names and positions of the chief towns of New Zealand; leading products, according to locality; principal ports; interprovincial transit; principal objects of interest to tourists; names and positions of the Australian Colonies and their capitals; of well-known mountains and of celebrated rivers of the world.

Standard IV.

The oceans and great seas; chief ports and trading centres of the world; the most conspicuous geographical features of the several continents.

Australia: Chief physical features; characteristic plants and animals; chief natural productions; occupations of the people; lines of communication; chief towns and ports and their positions.

Countries and capitals of Europe.

Standard V.

Europe: Physical, political, and commercial geography in outline as indicated for Australia in Standard IV., with chief emphasis on the British Isles.

Revision of the map of the world as taken in Standards III. and IV.; the chief countries, and a few of the most important ports and towns of Asia, Africa, America, with most emphasis on the United States.

Standard VI.

The British Empire.

ALTERNATIVE COURSE C.

New Zealand: its position on the globe and with reference to other countries; its length, breadth, and area illustrated by reference to known distances and areas; its surface and coast features; chief towns: occupations of the people; leading products and industries according to locality; agriculture in its various branches; sheep-rearing (wool and frozen mutton); dairy farming; mining; fruit-growing; manufactures; gum-digging, &c.: principal ports; means of transit between different parts of New Zealand; the chief railways and the places they connect; steamer-routes; roads; objects of interest to tourists; chief telegraph-lines; climate; characteristic plants.

Australia: The names and positions of the several States with their chief towns and ports; intercolonial trade between New Zealand and Australia; the most important exports.

Great Britain and Ireland: Great ports and other chief towns; leading industries, imports and exports.

The countries and chief towns of Europe; the chief British colonies and possessions, with their capitals, ports, and leading products; the names and positions of other countries of the world; of well-known