PROVINCIAL COUNCIL

Colonist, Issue 43, 19 March 1858, Page 2

PROVINCIAL COUNCIL

Friday, sth March. .The'Council'met at eleven. o'clock, and the Speaker having taken the chair, : _ . '. DiV Monbo wished to adjourn' the.motion stand-1 ing in his name for the'adoption of a memorial to the General Assembly, "praying that the New Zealand Company's debt may be divided between the three provinces of the Middle Island, according; to an equitable consideration of the value of the New Zealand Company's estate."—-Granted. ; Dr. Monro moved, " That it be an instruction to the committee upon the Education Amendment Act, that they shall embody in' it the principle contained in the subjoined resolution :r—' That, whenever in any educational district a number, of the; ratepayers contributing not less than £50 per annum to the local rate shall, in writing, signifyto the Central Board their desire to be constituted a separate -body for educational purposes, it shall be the duty of the Central Board so to constitute them by some public notification; and the Central Board, upon being satisfied that a committee has been appointed to carry out the public objects of the body, and a sufficient school-house provided, shall, as soon as conveniently may be after the next term at which the rate is levied, pay over to such committee the; amount of rate collected from the persons comprising such body ; arid may also give such additional aid, in books!, school apparatus, and money, as*shall seem to the Central Board requisite: Provided always, that any school so constituted thall be subject1 to be visited by the Inspector, and" the condition Of its maintenance in relation to the Central Board shall be that a sUfiv cient amount of secular instruction is given."' .The Provincial Solicitor moved as an arnendmeht,-^-" To leave out all the words after the word ' that,' in line 2, and insert, 'wherever any school shall have heert established in any district coristif tuted under the Education Act, andahy number of ratepayers resident in such district shall be desirous of having the rate to be contributed by them appropriated to the support of any-such school, it shall be lawful'for the. Central Boards upon receiving a memorial to that effect, signed by such ratepayers, to pay the sum so to be con^tributed towards the maintenance of such school.: Provided always^ that'such schools shall be open to inspection in the samemanner as schools'estabr lished under the Education Act; and no 'such money shall be.paid over until a suitable schoolroom shall b^ i;erected^ and shall be paid so long only as such si^hbol shall impart secular instruction to the satisfaction of the Central Board.^f i ;•;

Mr. Wells seconded the amendment.

After considerable discussion, ~. . j The Provincial Solicitor would withdraw his amendment, and in place thereof move that in

| lines 0 and 4 the following words be omitted :—■« "Contributing not less than £50. per annum to the local rate." This amendment not having boon seconded, .The Provincial Soucitok then moved—That in the_ 10th and 11th lines, the words "and may also give such additional aid in -books, school apparatus, and'monej-, as shall seem to the Central .Board requisite,' be left out. : Mr. Parker seconded the amendment, and after some discussion, it was put and lost.- ' Mr. Saunoers then moved .'to'insert after tho last word in the original resolution, " and that no religious instruction shall be given, except at stated hours, of which the parent of every child shall have been duly informed, so as to give them an opportunity to withdraw any child from such religious teaching."—Carried. * ' ' •'The Provincial Solicitor moved for leave to* insert after the word "shall," in line 11, the words 'open to all children between the ages of five and fourteen years, and shiU;"—Agreed to. Mr. Sau-vders then moved to strike out the word "requisite" in line 11, and insert the words' " to be a fair amount of any educaii ,nal funds not derived from the rate."—Agreed to. £c ,M!' # Sacndebs moved to insert after the words "body in line 9, the words "minus the expense of collection.' —Agreed to. ■■ My. Eban moved "That at least the sum of* £oO shall be annually raised by such ratepayers." —Lost.

On division, thesubjoined resolution, as amended was carried:—" That it he an instruction to the Committee upon the Education Amendment Act" that they shall embody in it the principle contained in the subjoined resolution:—'That, whenever in any educational district a number of tho ratepayers, contributing noteless than £&0 wv annum to the local rate, shall, in writing, sinuftr to the Central Board their desire to be constituted a separate body for edueational-.purposes, it shall be the duty of the Central Board so to constitute ■them by some public notification; and the Central Board, upon being satisfied that a committee has been appointed to. carry out the public objects of the body, and a sufficient school-house provided, shall, as soon as conveniently may be after the next term at which the rate is levied, pay over to such committee the amount of rate collected from, the persons comprising such body, minus the expense of collection, and may also give such additional aid, in books, school apparatus, and money as shall seem to the Central Board to be a fan? amount of the educational funds not derived frcra the rate: Provided always, that any school so constituted shall be open to all children between the ages of 5 and 14 years, and shall be subject to.be visited by the Inspector, .and .the condition of its maintenance in relation to the Central Board shall be that a sufficient amount of secular instruction is given, and that no religious instruction shall be given, except at stated hours, of which the parent of every child shall have been .duly informed so as to give them an opportunity to withdraw any child trom such religious teaching."' Kellinq moved, "That Mn Sinclair ho added to the Country Road Committee, to represent the Wairau district."—Agreed to. The Provincial Solicitor moved, " That tho Council, at its rising, do adjourn-until Tuesday, 16th March. -

The Providcial .Solicitor moved the second reading of the Education Amendment Act. - - Mr. Sharp moved, that the bill be not read a second time until the proposed' amendments are printed.—Carried. • .. f ' Council adjourned until the 16th instant.