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tral Board, may appoint some person selected by the teacher.

Pupil Teachers.

In any well attended and efficiently conducted main school, a specified number of pupil teachers may be appointed by the Central Board, who may grant such moderate sums, not exceeding the sums contributed by the districts for that purpose, in aid of their maintenance and education.

These pupil teachers are boys or girls apprenticed to the head teacher for a term of years; they assist in the school during school hours, and receive about an hour’s instruction each day, either before the school commences or after it is over.

Religious Instruction.

In every school the Holy Scriptures are to be read daily, and such further religious instruction given as the District School Committee may appoint, with the proviso that the doctrines taught shall not be at variance with those commonly known as the "Evangelical Protestant Doctrines."

The religious instruction and scripture reading may only be proceeded with at the opening or close of the school, as the teacher may fix, in order to allow of any child whose parents object to be withdrawn.

V. Southland.

The province of Southland having originally formed part of the province of Otago, was, till the passing of the Ordinance of 1862, governed by that passed by the Legislature of the latter province in 1856.

The Southland Ordinance repeals that of 1856, and creates the following machinery:—

Central Board.

For the purpose of carrying out the new Ordinance, a Central Board is constituted under the designation of the Education Committee, consisting of the Superintendent and six other members, of whom three are appointed by the Superintendent and hold office during pleasure, and three, being members of the Provincial Council, are elected by that body, holding office until ten days after the first meeting of the next succeeding Provincial Council.

The duties of the Education Committee are:—

(a.) To administer the funds appropriated by the Provincial Council for the purposes of education.

(b.) To inspect and overlook the management of schools.

(c.) To appoint a School Committee for any district neglecting to elect one.

(d.) To withhold any grant from a school which is found in an unsatisfactory condition.

(e.) To dismiss or suspend an inefficient teacher.

(f.) To exercise a general control over the proceedings of the District Committees.

Local Administration.

The Superintendent is required to divide the province into Educational Districts, none of which may have a radius of more than four miles; and when he may think it expedient to establish schools within any district, the boundaries must be defined by proclamation.

Within one month after the proclamation of any district, a meeting of the ratepayers must be held on some day to be fixed by the Secretary of the Education Committee (of which fourteen days’ notice must be given) for electing members of the School Committee.

The School Committee consists of six persons, five of whom are elected by the ratepayers of the district and one is appointed by the Superintendent.

The elective members hold office for two years, the member appointed by the Superintendent during pleasure.

The Superintendent may remove any of the elective members on an address from the majority of the ratepayers of the district.

Any vacancy which may occur by the removal of an elective member is filled up by election by the remaining members.

The powers of the School Committee are subject to the control of the Education Committee.

(a.) To determine the number and description of schools necessary for their district.

(b.) To determine the extent and description of school buildings.

(c.) To appoint teachers.

(d.) To fix the salaries of the teachers subject to the prescribed minimum.

(e.) To fix the rate of fees.

(f.) To impose an assessment on the district or meeting the expenses of establishing and supporting the necessary schools.

(g.) Generally, to have the management of every school established under the Ordinance within the district.

Sites and Buildings.

The expenses of erecting school-buildings are defrayed from three sources.

1st. From the revenue arising from educational reserves within the district.

2nd. From sums from time to time appropriated by the Provincial Council.

3rd. From assessments on the rate-payers.

If the first of these sources is exhausted, the duty of providing for the difference falls in equal shares on the two last. After the completion of the necessary buildings, the ratepayers are bound to keep them in repair.

The plans of any school-buildings are furnished by the Provincial Engineer acting under the instructions of the Education Committee, but the task of directing their construction is the duty of the School Committee. The school-room must contain not less than eight feet superficial area for each pupil.