PARLIAMENT.

Wellington Independent, Volume XXVI, Issue 3295, 6 September 1871, Page 2

PARLIAMENT.

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. Tuesday, Septembebs. Tho Speaker took tho chair at half-past two o'clock. AUCKLAND GAS COMPANY'S BILL. Tho Hoiiso having considered tho roport of tho committee on this bill, it was adopted, and the third reading of tho bill fixed for to-morrow. NEW MEMBER, Mr W. H. Cat/deb, member for Invorcargill, took the oath and his seat. PETITIONS. Mv CLARK presented two petitions from tho inhabitants of the Province of Auckland praying for the passing of a bill containing tho provisions of the Permissive Bill, Mv IIALL presented a petition from certain inhabitants of Canterbury, praying for the imposition of a protective duty on coin. Mr BATHGATE presonted a potition from tho Corporation of Dunedin against the passage of tho Dunedin Waterworks Bill j also a petition from 1000 inhabitants of that city to the same effect ; also, a petition from 2GI working men, praying for tho passing of a law 1.0 enforce weekly payments by contractors ; also a petition from John Dick, printer and proprietor of the " Echo" newspaper, praying for a shave of Government advertisements, and complaining of tho unfair manner in which tho Government advertising had beon distritcd in Dunedin. Mr WHITE presented a petition from 419 Roman Catholics of Hokitika-, with rofcrenco to education. Mr REID presented a petition from. 2050 inhabitants of Otngo with reference to education. Mr REYNOLDS presented a petition from certain inhabitants of Dunedin praying that no additional tax be imposed on furniture. Mr REEVES presonted a petition from 3-iO inhabitants of Cbriatcburoh requesting the pa?snge of a bill containing the provisions of what, is- known as the Permissive Bill. Mr RICHARDSON presented a similar petition from 671 male inhabitants of Christchurch. Mr MAC ANDREW presented a petition from tho Roman Catholics of Port Chalmers with reference to oducafcion. Tho petitions were ordered to lie on the table. i papers. Mr M'LEAN, Mr Gisborne, and Mr Yogel, laid on tho table a number of papers. PUBLIC PETITIONS COMMITTEE. Mv KELLY brought up the report of the Petitions Committee on the petition of the Roman Catholic inhabitants of Naseby, Hjde, Sfc Bathnn's, Tuapeka, and Teviofc, province of Outgo, with reference to education j the committee regretted that as the Government had already taken steps in the matter thoy could not recommend the matter of tho petitions to the consideration of tho House Also, the roport of the committee on the petition of tho Presbytery of Wellington, held at Wanganui, in favor of a Permissive Bill ; and. on the petition of 175 residents at the Hutt on the sumo subject ; and on the petition of 215 residents of Hbkitiku, praying for the repeal of the Westland Publichoueo Ordinance Amendment Act, 1869, and for tho passing of another act containing certain suggested provisions ; the committee did not consider it within their province to report on the petitions,- but recommended the taking of measures for tho better regulation of tho sale of spirituous liquors. Also, tho report of the committee on tho petition of gold miners and other residents on tho goldfields of Otago, for a repeal of tho gold duty ; the committee declined to make any recommendation. Also, the report of tLo committee ou the petition of 52 settlers of Moeraki, setting forth the need of jetty accommodation at tho port of Mooraki j the committee reported that as the petition involvod a question of public policy thoy must loavo the matter to the consideration of the House Also, tho report of tho committee on the petition of Dr &. Smith, of Hamilton, Waikuto, and of R. R. Hooper, of Auckland, praying" that steps should bo taken to have their names placed on tho list of registered practitioners under the Medical Practitioners Act, 1867, which at present they are unable to do ; tho committee recommended the amendment of some special clauses of tho act, with a view to afford some relief to tho petitioners. Also, tho report of the committee on the petition of Edward Croker, late resident magistrate and warden at Tuapeka, praying for an inquiry into tho causes which led to his being deprived of that appointment ; the committee could not recommend that the action of the Executive, in dismissing tho petitioner, should bo interfered with, and could not recommend the petition to tho consideration of the House. REPORTS. Mr G-ILLIES brought up the report of tho Waste Lands Committee on the Nelson Leasing Bill, which was ordered to be considored to-morrow. Mr FITZHERBERT brought up tho report of the Solect Committee on the Wellington Waste Lands Bill, which was ordoi'od to bo considered to-morrow. THE JIOTUEEA CASE.Tho Committee in this case obtained loavo to adjourn till Thursday, in consequence* o( tho counsel for tho petitioner being ongaged in a very important case in the Supremo Court. WELLINGTON WATER "WORKS. Tho Committeo on this bill were granted an extension of time for a fortnight in which to prepare their report. THE TELEGRAPH. Mr INGLES asked the Commissioner of Telegraphs whether the telegraph wero used without payment by Mr Maoandrew, during his late election for the superintency ; also during tho election of members of tho Houso of Representatives in the province of Otago. Siuco he hud placed the motion on the papor it had occurred to him that it might be looked upon in the light of an aggresatvo one. He only hopod that tho hon gpntlonun would not put him clown as ono of those fashionable aggressors. Ho had asked tho question in conseqnenco of tho remarks thathnd been circulating intho country for some some timo, and because ho thought it desirable that ministers shouldhavesome chance of refuting these calumnies — if calumnies they wore. Ho hoped ministers would appreciate tho kindness ho had done thorn by giving them an opportunity of turning over a now leaf. Ifr YOGEL said he did regard the quostiou as an aggressive one, and he would endeavor, so far as 4ie wbb able, to answer the hon gentleman. Ml- llaoaiitlrew, so for ho was awavo, positivoly had never receired any authority to nso tho tolegraph wires froe — he was speaking of him as a private individual. Speaking of him as tho Superintendent of Otago, ho would Bay that ho waa Superintendent of Otago beforo tho general elections, and tho practice that prevailed with regard to Superintendents was this :— Whonauymossago was arnt officially by tho Colonial Secretary to any Superintendent tho Superintendent had a right to reply free of chargo ; that was the whole oxtent to which Superintendents wcro permitted to uso tho wires free of charge. According to a memorandum observed by tho department, Provincial Government messages wero in all respects privato telegrams and were no pair] for. The question would load to tho inference that it was in tho power of Mr Macandrew, free of personal expense to himself, to forward telegrams by franking them as provincial business. In giving a reply he thought it only a matter of common fairness and courtesy to put tho question to tho hon member (Mr Macandrew) whother ho had used the power for sending private messages, and ho had authorised him (Mr Yogel) to say that ho had beon very particular to avoid, iv every case, using the power of franking provincial telegrams for private purposes. Mr MAOANDREW said ho could give the hon member a very decided answer. He might say that during the late eleotion as Superintendent the telegraph wires wero used

by him to a very groat extent He was a very largo customer. Ho was in the habit of receiving and answering a largo number of telegrams day by day, and these were all at the expense of the province. He had never used thorn on election business without paying for them, and as to the use of the wires during the elections for the House ho had never any occasion to use them. He would not say whether the question wa3 an aggressive one, but ho would say that it wns a very paltry one t OTAGO SPECIAL SETTLEMENTS BILL. The House agreed to the second reading of this bill, and its committal was ordered for next .day. J)I3 EASED CATTLE ACT AMENDMENT BILL. The' committal of this bill was deferred until to-morrow. iIR MACANDBEW's RESOLTJTJONS. Mr MACANDREW said that as this was a Government day, and the discussion of his resolutions was not liltoly to come on till a late hour, ho would prefer to postpone them so as to make his motion the first order for to-moi'-row. The House agreed to this course. AUCKLAND BURIAL GROUNDS BILL. This bill was read a second timo and ordered to bo committed tomorrow. AGRICULTURAL LFEN ACT. The second reading of this bill was postponed until Tuesday week. ARMS BILL This bill was read a second fcitne, and ordered to be committed on Thursday. OTAGO EDUCATION RE3EBVE6. The House wont iutj committee on this bill, and the Chairman reported the bill with amendments. The bill was road a third time and passed. GISBOENE LAND ACT AMENDMENT BILL. This bill wns read a third time and passed. JUSTICES PROTECTION AOr AMENDMENT BILL. The consideration of the report of the committee by the House on this bill was postponed until to-morrow. Mr FOX then moved the House into committee for the consideration of clause three, which had been ro-framod so a* to affjrd greater justice to both sides — enabling a person aggrieved to call upon the magistrate to furnish security for costs in actions brought, and vice versa. A motion that the consideration of tho clause bo postponed wa3 agreed to, and leavo given to the committee to sit again on Thursday. CONVICTS TOBPEITUBES BILL. Mr GI3BORNE, in moving the second reading of this bill, said that hitherto the law had been to confiscate tho property of^convicted felons, but the bill he now proposed to introduce would vest tho proporty of such persons in the hands of an administrator for the benefit of the wives and families of such persons. It was hard, enough that innocent persons — their wives and children, and in many cases their aged parents — should suffer tho loss of their earnings as a means of support, but it was. harder still that they< should bo deprived of what little proporty they might lie possessed at tho time of their conviction. The bill was introduced with a view of removing such an injustice to innocent persons. The bill was read a second time, and ordered to be committed on Friday. VACCINATION BILL Mr GISBORNE moved tho second reading of this bill. Last year the Government brought in a similar bill, and after several days discussion ife wns referred to a solect committee, who recommended that the bill should bo dropped, and another bill introduced in the present session. This Bill was founded on the recommendation of that committee, and it remnined for the House to give effect to tho measure. With reference to the ddmission of children into schools, the report of the committee recommended that children not vaccinated should not bo admitted ; but the Government thought it better to say that every child admitted into tho school should be immediately vaccinated by a public vaccinator, because if that principle had been introduced into the bill and been agreed to by. the House, it would have been a reasonable cause to be urged by parents for children not being sent to school. Mr T.KELLY was glad the Government had thought it better to confine their action in this matter to what was possible. For these and other reasons ho would support the bill. Mr BUOKLAND supported the motion, although he hoped the Government, before they attempt to enforce the provision of the bill, would ensure that puro lymph should bo provided. Much of the sioknoss which raged to such an extent among children was caused bj the uso of impure lymph. Mr TRIBE pointed out a weakness in tho bill, which did not make vaccination compulsory. Although, like a great many acts of last session, it created a number of peripatetic officials, he could not see that any effective compulsory measures were taken to stamp out the disease. Mr POX said, with reference to the use of impure lymph, that be had observed from the expressed opinions of eminent men in tho old country that no disease was ever transmitted by vaccination. Mr BUNNF said thore was a very strong impression that ninny of the diseases among children had been induced by the uae of impure lymph, and ho thought in this respect tho bill was a great improvement on the one of last session. He would like to see many of the latter clanses left out; they were too much of tho nature of religious tests. It was not right to say that a person was disqualified to hold this office or that office beoause ho had not been vaccinated. Mr GI3BORNE said the clauses had been inserted with a view to invite discussion, and could be amended or omitted in committee. The bill was read a second time and ordered to be committed on Thursday. PETITION OF MBS, DAVIS. The House then wont into committee to consider an address to His Excellency the Governor, requesting him to cause to be placed on the Estimates such a sum as will give effect to tho recomendation of the Public Petitions Committee in the case of Lucy C. Davis. On the House resuming, Mr O'NEILL moved tho adoption of the resolution. Mr GISBORNE said the Government did not object to tho motion. The present case was a special ono. Mr Davis was a scientific officer of great value to tho geological department, and was engaged on aotive arid dangerous services with reference (o certain geological work when he was unfortunately drowned while attempting to cross a river. Tho Government wished to give as much aa ! possible to Mrs Davn, but were limited by tho ! terms of tho Civil Service Aot, which permitted them to allow six months pny only. If the committee passed the vote tho Government, would bo happy to advise His Excellency to consent to such a vote. Tho resolution was agreed to and ordered to be committed to- morrow, MABMKD WOMEN'S PROPERTY, Mr FOX moved for leave to introduce ft a bill intituled an Act to amend the law relating to the Property of Married Women. Tho first reading was agreed to, and the second reading ordored for Friday, TRTJST ESTATES. Mr FOX uiorod for leave to introduce a bill intituled an Act for securing the duo ad- ' ministration of religious, educational, and charitable trust estates. Tho bill was read a first time, and tho second. reading ordered for Tuesday next. UNIVERSITY. Mr FOX moved that the name of Mr Reynolds bo added to the committee on the New Zealand University. Agreed to. HIGHWAY BOABD3. Mr GISBORNE moved for leare to introduce a bill intituled an act to confer on highway boards constituted under provincial laws certain powers which oannofc be conferred by provincial legislatures, and for other purposes. The bill was read a first time, and the second reading ordered for Friday. THE NORTH OS AUCKLAND. ' Mr FAR.NALL moved that jt is desirable that the money available for expenditure

under the Public Works and Immigration Loan Act, 1870, should be so distributed that tho settlers and aboriginal natives to the north of Auckland may participate in tho benefit of such expenditure ; and that this House will, on Wednesday, 6(h September, reeolvo itself into a committee of the wholo to consider of an address to His Excellency the Governor, praying him to recommend for appropriation by this House a sum of £100,000, to be expended at the rate of not less than £20,000 in any one year, in opening up tho electoral districts of Mongonui and Bay of Islands, Mar&tfen, Rodney, .and Waitemala, and connecting 1 the scattered settlements in those districts, by mean.s of road? and bridges, with tho city of Auckland. Tho hon member advocated his motion with sprue _ forcible argument and ultimately the discussion upon ifc was postponed until to-morrow.

THE IKUCATION UILTi. The adjourned debute on this bill was resumed.

ilv HARRISOX said ho' was glad the Government had not brought down any castiron scheme that would be found unworkable. Se did not think it at all desirable that rcligous teaching should bo given in schools. iPfcere was a proper means for giving religious teaching He entirely approved of the introduction of a system of aiding schools, and lie thought the Government deserved the hi«heet credit for having introduced such a Fy?tem. With reference to the lax lie thought thero would be great difficulty in collecting it, and he did not think it was a wise mode of raising a revenue. "With regard to the penal chaise, he thought it would be found impossible to carryifoul, in addition to which it was very loose%worded ; it might bo evaded in many Tvaya."^ But another objection was that members of ■ the Echool committees should be prosecutors. He nlt.tige{.hoi' objected (.0 tho constitution of the boards, but on tho understanding that amendments would be made in committee he would support the second

reading. Mr M'GIILIVRAY said (lie troubles of government generally arose from the ignorance of communities. He thought the effects of religion and learning should go together ; while learning was none the worse for religion, knowledge was the better of religion, for what better was an educated heathen than an uneducated savage. What had all the teachings of tho philosophers dono for tho ancient city of Corinth ; it had brought about a moial pollution that had made the nume of Grecian women synonomous with something thut whb not very respectable. He wholly agreed with the compulsory portion of the bill. He thought the hou member for Nelson threw out some vory valuable hints, which no doubt would be availed of committee. Ho did not think it desirabls to make educational district? conterminous with provincial districts . He altogether agreed with the hon member for Grey Valley. There were weaknesses in the bill which proved it to be on a sandy foundation. He entirely agreed with what had fallen with reference to provincialism. Ho would even go the length of expressing his ardent hope that tho Houso would sweep away provincial boundaries and distinctions before the session ended, in which case they would have the happiness of seeing but one province in these i*lands. Mr SHEPHARD thought they could not do better than consolidate the provincial systems of education, being careful that in the end they should be guided by tho means recently adopted by the Imperial Parliament. He agreed with those members who objected to the influence of provincial interference. Tho provision that tho district boards should meet only twice in the year w;is a great mistake j he thought they should meet at least once a month. Under the bill it was proposed that the salary of the teacher be left to the school committee to decide upon ; that ho considered very objectionable. He thought the salary should be regulated by the provincial board. He thought it was not sufficient that these teachers should have passed through certain training themselves ; it was necessary they should be capable of imparting their learning to others, and ho thought there should be training schools, froia which the teachers should obtain certificates before being allowed to take charge of schools. He thought it was not desirable to allow school committees to borrow. He thought tho school was not the proper place in which to impart religious teaching; they had no right to impose the badge of any particular creed upon the children who attended these schools ; it was introducing in the worst way denominational teaching. How could they expect any Catholic teacher to teach or take any part in the teaching of a school where they were compelled to hear taught the version of tho Scriptures which vraß even now undergoing revision at home on account of tho errors it contained. Another more objectionable feature was the stipulation that the Scriptures should be expounded by the masters. They knew how easy it was to pick out portions of tho Scriptures which would convey a particular mode of religious thought. He hoped the whole of that part of the bill would bo struck out when it went before the committee. He thought it should not be left to the school boards to impose the taxing power of the bill. He also objected to the amount at which the possible rate was fixed, which stood at 9d compared with 3d imposed by the English Act. He thought it much better that they should have the household rate, with a head rate for children. 'If no change were made, he hoped ifc would not bo permitted to be levied at a distance more than three miles from a school. They had been freed from any unpleasant feeling by tho assurance of the Government that they would make concessions in committee, and that any alteration would not be regarded as of a hostile nature.

Mr BR"SOB viewed the introduction of the bill with great satisfaction, for which he had a special reason, which, was that the first lecture bo ever heard was on this very subject. That was twenty-two years ago, and his gratification was heightened by the fact that the gentleman who delivered thufc lecture was the gentleman who introduced the bill to this House. His greatest' objection to the bill was that it was too elaborate. It was all very well to talk of New Zealand 'being a great nation, but it was not a great nation yet. The bill crenled a number of officials altogether out of proportion to tho moans of the colony, and if the bill were passed in its present form it would bo found to bo altogether beyond their capabilities to carry it out. lie believed thnt a large majority of the people of the colony heartily desired to see tho provincial system abolished, but he Found that the bill only proposed to perpetuate the system. We were building up fabric after fabric to sustuin a system which tho people of tho colony wished to 6oe done away with. He was very much surprised to hear tho members for Kelson and Waimea argue in fuvor of a household rate — that a house worth a thousand pounds should pay only as much as tho hut of a poor man. The valuation system he thought quite fair. Ho regretted that (ho bill made the teaching of religion a duty of the state, because tho duty of teaching religion Bhould be loft to parents and ministers of religion, although the latter had not properly fulfilled their functions ; they too often throw their duties on tho shoulders of tho schoolmaster. The conscience clauses he would like to see omitted, ft He thought tho assertion of tho P-yjmier was incorrect when ho sinted the House that the report of . the Victorian- committee was in favor of denominational teaching. Ho wished to see a good bill passed, and with that view he would assist in carrying the bill.

Mr HALL considered the House had taken a wisp step in mnlring tho matter of oducation a colonial instead of a provincial measure. He thought while the Premier was upholding tho Scotch system he rather overlooked the great strides made in England. The hon. member had referral in unqualified terms to the wantof inspect ion in the provincial schools. Ho could assure him that in his province inspection was Tery efficiently carried out. He had givon a great deal of consideration to the use of the

provincial boundaries, and he had come to the conclusion that as long ns they existed it was ii step in tho right direction lo avail themselves of thoso boundaries. Ho did not wish to be understood ns wanting to sco them perpetuated ; ho would bo glad to eeo them improved olf tho fnce of the country. He did not not agree with those members who wished to take awny the powers of the district school committees. He thought it. was a mistake to throw the tux upon real prop«rly, while the owners of binik shares, nnd such property, escaped. With regard to the household rate he thought it would bejfair to tnx them according to value. no altogether objected to placing in tho hands of members of tho school board the e.iro of trust endowments. He was glad tho Government lmd taken in hand the hijih and grammar school, and also the matter of training schools. Upon the subject of compulsory schools ho could spealc with somo experience. Ho felt sure (hat by the sudden introduction of this system the people would rebel against it, and they would find thut (lie school committees would not carry it out. He thought that, by such a gentle pressure as was suggested by the member for Nelson they would f-uniliariso the people to the idea that the matter was not optional ; they would come to the belief that it w;is a compulsory duty. The) would find that if they were compelled to pay a certain amount whether they liked if' or not, they would soon come to want something for tho moni-y they paid. The religious question had excited greater discussion than anything else in the bill. He would say thut he differed with the hon. members who preceded him ; the bill did nol gothe length he would wish. Ho could not follow the lion member for Eiverton, who said that no education would be good that was nut a religious education, and yet would not like to see it introduced into Governinenf schools. He thought the bill was anything but a denominational one, lie did not wish to enforce his opinions on other people, but he would ask for recognition and tolerance to those people who wished to have religious teaching in tlu-ir schools. We had had in times past religious intolerance, and now wo were to have secular intolerance. (Hear, hear). He thought the Government had bundled the matter in an admirable manner, and he welcomed the measure as 11 colonial one, S3 one which had been brought forward in aspirii of conciiiation-and compromise. Mr REYNOLDS siiid that even as far b:\ek as 185-Ji he hud Uiken an active part in educational mutters, and he took a great interest it: the matter up to the present day. He differed with the hon member for Heathcote that the Premier had paid too high a compliment to Scotch schools. In Otago they would find a perfect system of education, the j only defect being that the inspection was j rather lax. ' Ho objected to the manner of ' constituting tho boards, because on the proposed bask' the towns would swamp them. In connection with the fee 3 ho would prefer to ccc them abolished, those inferring to elementary training at any rate. Ho was very doubtful whether any system of compulsory education could ever be carried out, and be was altogether opposed to aided schools. He thought it was the duty of the state not to teach religion at all, but he thought that as a mere matter of historical instruction the Bible should be read at least half an hour every day, but not that it should be expounded ; let the scholars learn what they could from the reading of ifc merely. Ho did not agree with what hud been said with regard to the non- j employment of provincial boundaries. He ; hoped hon members would help to make the bill law during tho present session. 1

Mr HAUGHTON noticed that, every member had said something favorable about the bill, but all of them had found a number of faults. They had had many eulogies on tho Otago system, which was after all one of the most expensive and one of the least successful. They had a system of educatiou which provided, by eleemosynary institutions!, education for those who could well afford to pay the full price. They paid too much attentbn to high education and too little to the elementary. They heard of nothing now-a-days but university education — everything must tend to a uwiviM'sity ; every child in the colony was to reach the university. He should like to know who was going to cloan tho boots. He thought the committees should bo elected by having voting papers sent round to the houses. He wished to sec minorities represented. There was one minority of which he would speak, which had very strong opinions on the matter of education, and were not likely to change them ; he meant the Roman Catholics. He had the census before him in which the number of Roman Catholics was give and if all those there enumerated were- not on the electoral roll ho could answer for it that they would soon be. (Laughter.) Ho felt sure they would not havo to waitlong'for justice if they did not get ifc now. He thought the school committees should not have tho control of the teacher's salary. Witli referonco to the high and grammar schools he thought they should be left to private enterprise. It was oneof the greatest objections to tho school system of Otago that the schools there were so subsidised that no private school 'could stand against them. Tho Government should confine its operations to elementary education. The Catholics asked that they should have a portion of the grant for education, but that they should spend it in their own schools, and they were willing that these schools should be open to Government inspection ; that they should be in all respects in accordance with the Government bill. With regard to compulsory education, he did not think there was much chance of passing the clauses as they stood. They would never got a neighbor to go and inform against another wiio had conscientious objections to sending his children to school. With regard to taxation, he would say nothing further than that he hr.ped thoso who were best able to bear it would have to provide the means. Ho considered the bill a very great improvement on. the Otago system, which he denied was a perfect system, or that it was, as tho Otugo members took credit for. a perfect system. Running through the otalielics of the Otago schoolo he found they were packed, with few masters, in the proportion of aboutone hundred children to ono master, and he hold that no such system could be perfect, or anything like it. He would not hare made so much of tho matter were ho not continually infonnod of their perfection. They wero told that, these schools wero continually examinod, but they wero not in any -way exnminod from outside. They were put through examinations by their own masters, and they must know that examinations of such a nature wero 100 indulgent to produce any very great effect.

Mr GISBOBNE wished to confiratulnto the House and tlie colony on the attention the bill had commanded. The grout difficulty in tho matter was the religious difficulty. They did not wish that objecting religious bodies should send children to these schools ; if they were willing to comply with tho principles of the conscience clauses by not requiring other children to conform to their religious views they would receive the aid granted by tho net j and that was how they proposed to meet the religious difficulty. He must altogether object to the opinions of the lion, member (Mr Bnthgnte), objections which aimed at tho abolition of tho aided schools, and, therefore, at the principles of tho bill. Tho objections of other hon. members vvero merely objections to the details of the bill. He hoped that such a enso had been made out in fuvor of the bill aa would justify the Houpe, after such modifications as would be agreed to in committee, to place it on tho statute book without unnecessary delay. Ho hoped that tho now Parliament would signify the first year of its existence by passing as its first measure a law for tho sound education of the people. Without such education, society throughout all its vast "ramifications would eink info cor ruption and confusion ; our local institutions would prove a delusion and a snare, and even this great power of the roalni, tho House of Commons of New Zealand, would no longer then bo tho reflex of tho education, ability, virtue, and patriotism of the country, but

would be the reflex of its ignorance, its vice and degradation, and powerless for good. He hoped that the bill, after duo discussion and deliberation, Im'- subsfantially in its present shape, would, during the present' session, become law : for 1::- believed that, if wisely administered, it iu,i. '■•! be productive of the great eefc public advn. :tugo and untold good to tho rising »>nd future generations, for it. would eecu.ro a higher standard of education, thut it would bo tho means of spreading piety and virtue, nnd would ut the same thno maintain in all its integrity tho 6acrcd principle of religious liberty. Mr SWANSON thought, the Catholics had considerably modified their views einco lc.6t year, when they would be satisfied with nothing that was not' Roman Ceitholic. Ho viewed education as ho viewed hunger. He know tho want of education because he had not got it, and lie desired that other men's sons* should hiivo it. He would support secular education, ne did not beliove in supporting anything on which no two men over agrefed, but he did believe that they should all agree to support what all men were agreed upon — that they should provide a meaii3 of obtaining proper education.

Mr MUNRO moved the adjournment of tho dobato until the evening sitting of the next day, which was agreed to. Tho remaining orders on tho pnpor wero portioned until to-morrow. Wo co of motion having been given, the I'ousea •journcd at half- past cloven until two o'di ck U st day.