HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

Inangahua Times, Volume IV, Issue 47, 27 July 1877, Page 2

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

Wellington, July 24 The House met at 2.30. A number of petitions were presented, and notices of motions given. Among them is one by Mr Fox, to ask leave to introduce a Bill amending the Licensing Laws. r Tbe Speaker announced that the

Sergeant-at-Arms had" resigned ; and Major Pane was appointed in his place. Mr Travers was sworn in. It was notified that the Kegistration of Electors Act would be amended so as to throw onus of proof on the objector. Mr Reid, said, in reply v to a question, ;that the appointment of Minister of Mines for the West Coast of the Middle Island depended on the County Councils. A general Harbor Board Bill is to be introduced. The House will to-morrow consider granting Supply. The most, important business of the sitting was the introduction of the Education Bill by Mr Bowen, who made a ions and eloquent speech explaining the principles of the Bill the reasons actuating the Government in drawing up its various clauses. He. was loudly aplauded on conclusion; The Bill will be read a second time next Tuesday, though considerable opposition was manifested on the ground that it was too soon for so important a measure. After some routine business, the House adjourned at 4.45. till to-morrow. The principal points in the Bill are:— No distinction of sex and franchise; male and female both vote. The Bill pomes, into operation on the Ist i January, 1878, , and repeals all previous Educational Acts. There will be a Minister of Education, and a Board for each District, the Colony being divided in|o twelve Boards, which kppbmtfov" remove teachers, establish llcholarships, ■sbh|ol libra%\s,*'school cotnipittees for each sfiffool/^ajid. wiH ip.anjage 111 l educational matters.^Theyw|lf?lfvy^ tax on each family u|( tojfour, beyond which number there will bo. no -gylpitation tax. IpTbe Committee have power of expending capitation revenue, but must recount for it to the Board. To induce attendance, any child not being absent in twelve month,3 shall be exempt from qapitaljion for one year; if not absent more than fi,ve times, to get a remittance of six months' caplitation. The Committee may r,emit capitation in cases of extreme' poverty. •No, child need learn History, if parent or guardian object. fchool to, be opened ev,ery morning by the Lord's Prayer and Bible, without comment, but no child required. to v attend whose parents object. Compulsory attendance required of every child above seven and under thirteen. Exemptions, sickness, ffl^ii-nl instruction, and impassable na,tin'c o r ad to school. Proceedings) may l/$. takyu to enforce attendance. Five per centage of waste lmds i-i the North Island ip. beset apart lor Education. July S)6. There was a very light Order pripn* today,/ Government, replying to a question declined to put a sum of money on the estimates' for distribution among the Agricultural Societies, to promote the gricultural and pastoral interests. It had been tried in Otago, and found to have a pernicious effect, A return has been prepared regarding details of tenders for nil rolling stock in the Colony ; also, a return of all payments made to those who have held the office of Superintendents^of Provinces, and members of Jrr^w^jfllijJliXecutives, and the nature of se"r^^^p|lwhich pay« nient was made. ... •^fpfiir ,3