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The Colonial Treasurer to pay yearly a sum equal
to ten per cent. on the money so raised, in order
to meet the accruing interest, as well as to form a sinking
fund for the redemption of the bonds. In any
case the bonds to be redeemed within fifteen years
after the passing of the Act.

Report of a Select Committee of the House of

Assembly on the best means of promoting Education.

Report of Select Committee.

A Select Committee was appointed in 1861 to
enquire into the operation of the Act, apparently
with the view of enquiring into the expediency of
modifying the system.

First: The cost of the department had been
gradually becoming so heavy as to make the diminution of the expenditure a matter of importance, and
with this view it appears that a proposal was made
to economise the funds by withdrawing aid alto-
gether from schools situated in centres of population.

Secondly: Representations appear to have been
made in certain quarters that the system, contrary
to the intention of its framers, had been worked in
such a manner as to have been made by certain
teachers a means of proselytism.

Thirdly: it was said that persons in good circumstances were availing themselves of the cheaper
education afforded by the schools assisted by the
Government, and that so the advantage of Govern-
ment aid was enjoyed by persons who could well
afford to defray the whole expense of educating their
children.

The Committee reported against the first proposal
to withdraw assistance from schools established in
the centres of population, principally because it
would so lower the stipends of teachers, that either
no inducement would be offered to qualified persons
to seek the office, or else it would lead them to de-
mand higher fees as a compensation for the loss of
the Government grant, and thus oblige many parents
to withdraw their children from school altogether.

2nd. In reference to the objection that the
religious instruction imparted in the schools violated
the conscientious scruples of some persons, the Com-
mittee was quite satisfied that the complaint was
altogether groundless, and that no well-founded
statement had been made which could even bear
such a construction.

3rd. With regard to the third point, the Com-
mittee was of opinion that it would be desirable so
to modify the system as to prevent those able to pay
for a suitable education for their children from
availing themselves of the low scale of fees sanc-
tioned by the Board.

And they propose that the ability or otherwise of
parents to pay higher fees should be ascertained by
the amount of rates paid by the parent, and that
children whose parents were rated above a certain
sum should not enter into the calculations in ap-
portioning Government aid.

Upon the whole, the Committee report that the
general result of the evidence had been to show that
the effects of the system had been satisfactory.

IV.—QUEENSLAND.

Legislative Enactments.

There are two separate Acts relating to Education
in Queensland, both of which became law on the
7th September, 1860.

1st. “An Act to provide for the Establishment of
Grammar Schools in Queensland.”

2nd. “An Act to provide for Primary Education in
Queensland.”

The former of these Acts has for its object the
establishment of schools of a higher class, where a
liberal education may be received.

Whenever a sum of one thousand pounds has been
raised in any district towards the establishment of a
grammar school, and the plans, specifications, and
site of the intended school have been approved of by
the Governor in Council, a sum equal to twice the
sum subscribed may be issued by the Governor in
Council to seven persons acting as trustees, four of
whom are to be appointed by the Governor, and
three others to be nominated by subscribers of five
pounds, and approved of by the Governor. The
whole sum made up of grant and contributions to
be expended in the erection of the necessary buildings,
and in making provision for other objects connected
with the permanent establishment of the institution.

The current expenses of the institution are to be
met partly by local contributions guaranteed by re-
sponsible persons for a period of at least three years,
and partly from the Government Grant.

It is further proposed to grant land to these
schools as a permanent endowment, in which case
the trustees are required to send in a yearly return
of the value of the endowment, as well as of the
profits received from it during the year. A sum
equal to the profits so received is deducted from the
amount to be granted, and the grant ceases as soon
as the profits reach that amount.

The Trustees appointed as above are incorporated.
It does not appear from the papers before the Com-
mission whether this measure has ever been acted
on, nor, if so, how it has worked in practice.

The second Act, relating to education, is that for
the establishment of primary schools.

The chief object of this Act is to constitute a
Central Board, and to define and limit its powers.

The Board is a corporation consisting of six
persons, five appointed and removable by the Go-
vernor in Council, and whose term of office expires
in five years, unless re-appointed.

In addition to these five members, a Minister
representing the Government in one of the Houses
of Parliament is to be ex officio Chairman of the
Board.

The powers of the Board are to administer the
funds available for education, and to make rules and
by-laws as to all matters connected with schools,
which, on being approved of by the Governor in