EAST TAIERI.

Otago Witness, Issue 399, 23 July 1859, Page 3

EAST TAIERI.

A public meeting of the settlers of East Taieri district, called by the School Committee to consider the new Education Bill, was held in the School-room on the evening of the 11th in&t. The attendance was considerable, there being about 40 persons present. The Rev. Mr. Will was unanimously called to the chair. i fter briefly explaining the object for which the meeting had been called, the chairman adverted to the opinions entertained by the School Committee, and the resolutions unanimously adopted by them, in reference to the new Education BUI, which were decidedly unfavourable to'the scheme proposed "by the Government, and concluded by suggesting that Messrs. Burns and ■Stevenson, two of the' Re , presontatives for this district, might be willing to favour the meeting with an expression' of their views. Uv. Burns reviewed at some length the leading provisions of the new Bill, and expressed his most unqualified disnpprobation of tho whole scheme. ■ Mr. Stevenson expressed himself in a somewhat guarded manner. His experience as a member of the General Board of Education had forced upon ibim the conviction that the business would be more efficiently and satis- : iactoiily conducted hy'a'comnjibsion, or similar body, but lie was most decidedly opposed to the mode of appointment proposed by the-new Bui. Ho was , further of opinion that the people were in duty bound to provide to the

utmost of their ability for the education of their children, but that in the present circumstances of the country it was necessary for the Government to bear a portion of the expense. Tn answer to a question Mr. Stevenson stated that he did not at all approve of the clause providing for the repayment of half the cost of the school buildings, &c., already erected by the General Board. After an animated and protracted discussion, in the course of which the working cf the existing Ordinance, and also the provisions of the new JL3III, were somewhat severely criticised, and the subject of Education in several of its aspects very fully considered both in reference to general principles and as a politicofinancial question, the following resolutions were severally proposed and carried, viz. : — • " 1. That a sound and efficient system of Public School Instruction being the be;>t possible guarantee for the promotion and preservation in any eountryof religion, morality, and knowledge, so necessary to the good government and happiness of mankind, any scheme best fitted to bring ,i common school education within the reach of the greatest passible number of the youth of this country, is well deserving of the encouragement and the liberal 'suppoit of both the Government and the people. ' " 2. That the Education Oidinance of 18-jC, in its leading fundamental principles, subject to such modification of details as the experience of the last three years may luve shown to be neceas,.irj and dcsiiabip, is well fitted to accomplish the object specified in the foregoing resolution, pn:l is in many respects well adapted to the present circumstances and requirements of the countiy. " 3. That the new Education Bill prepared by the Proviiici.il Government is unsound and objectionable in principle as well as unjust and impiiicticable in scvoial of its details, and is therefore doscning of unqualified disappiobation ; that the pioposil to substitute for the existing General iJoaul of Education a Board of Commissioners, to ba appointed by, and to hod office during the pleasure of, the Supeiintendent and his Executive Council, is especially objectionable in principle, and is an arrangement which would entirely foil to secii'e the confidence of the public; — that the proposed Cojnmihsionprs, from the nature of their appointment and the teniue of their office, would | in some instances beco-ne liable to sink into the position of meie political paitizans, and wonM be unable at all times to follow out a course of free and independent action, whereby all ie.il power in educational matters would virtually become vested in the Superintendent and Id's advisers ; — that the proposal to impose a tax on the different districts to defray one-half of the first cost of school buildings, &*c., is equally objectionable, being, in the present circumstances of the countiy, quite unnecessary and entirely uncalled ior, and. if en- | forced, would undoubtedly b? attended with qousej quences highly piejudicial to the cause and proI gress of Education ; while in thobc cases where I school buildings, &c, have a'rendy been provided | in accordance with the e&isting iuw, any enactment j made to enfoico repayment of one-half of the cost of the same would be manifestly unjust. " 4. Tint a comprehensive and liberally derised iehame should forthwith be initiated for the puipose of leserving suitable portions of the public lands in the difleient districts throughout the Piovince, to lonn a peunanent and sufficient endowment for the suppoit of the common schools, as well as of the higher seminaries of learning which may from time to time be established in the Province; and that, in the meanwhile, the en'iie first cost of the school buildings, &c, ,and a proportion of ihe teachers' salaries and of the ordinary current expenditure on schools should be defrayed by the Government ;— this meeting being most decidedly of opinion that a small portion of the revenue at picscnt so largely derived from tlie sale cf the public lands could not be appropiiated to a more advantageous, reproductive, and legitimate purpose. " 5. That this meeting, although fully confident that the settleis in this and 'the other "districts of Ougo aie in general quite willing and prepared to pay directly <i reasonable pioportion of the teachers' saLuies, and of the othci oidinary curicnl expenditure on the means of Education within their respective localities, is yet of opinion that any amendment of the existing Education Ordinance | that may be found necessary and desirable will be j considered and effected under more advantageous circumstances by the new Provincial Council that will ere long require to be chosen; than by the present Council now on the eve of dissolution j and that it is therefore unnecessary and inexpedient to offer at present any opinion respecting such details. " 6. That a copy of these* resolutions, signed by the chairman, be sent to his Honor the Superintendent, and also to the provincial newspapers." The first and second of the foregoing resolutions were originally proposed as one resolution, hut a motion having been made, and carried by a majority, " that the portion relating to the Education Ordinance of 1856 be considered separately," the first resolution, as given above, was unanimously adopted. On the secoud resolution being prbpssed and seconded, an amendment was moved and seconded to the 'effect "that' it do' nql pass;" but on a shew' of hands lieing taken, the resolution was carried by a majority of four. The third resolution, as originally proposed, stood as follows •-— " That the new Education Bill prepared. fbythe ProvineiabG&vernmeiit '«'*» present efceumstances quite ivncalled-f or and unnecessary, is unsound and objectionable," &c. But in. order to meet, the views of a number present who were of opinion that a ucw or amended .Ordinance ja greatly needed, though not ,in the, direction jjroposed by the Government, tlie words pruned in ila{hs were expunged, and the resolution as amended vras unanimously agreed -to.-,, TheaiiaUoiifor. the doption of l\\e fourth resolution, gave' ri^to

an animated aiid lengthened discussion on the subject of Endowments both in reference to general principles , and also viewed as a question of expediency- and ,of financial policy. There being, however, no amendment proposed, the resolution was adopted by the meeting. The fifth and sixth resolutions were al3o carried without amendment. After a vote of thanks t,0 t Mr. Will for his conduct in the chair, the. meeting quietly separated.