gone have both singularly favoured the breaking up of old habits and prejudices, and pre-vented the formation of new ones; whilst with the reoccurrence of a more tranquil state of affairs, with the feeling of security for life and property, and with the assurance that all the necessaries of life were within the reach of every man of common industry and increasing desire has arisen for advantages of a higher character. The care of various religious bodies, and the meritorious endeavours of some private individuals, have not left the feelings thus aroused uncherished. But although the good effects of these exertions are sufficiently apparent, they are inadequate to perform all that is required, or to give that amount of education, either as regards the numbers benefited, or the amount of instruction conveyed, which alone could justify the Government in still leaving this great question to the promptings of religious zeal or private benevolence.

In discussing the measures which it would be advisable to recommend for Your Excellency’s serious consideration, circumstances presented themselves requiring separate consideration. We refer to the education of the native race, and we cannot better express our opinion on this point than by referring to the despatch in which we propose that our official portion of the correspondence should be transmitted to the Secretary of State. We could not for a moment re-serve for the especial benefit of the Maori population, and be appropriated in a measure separate to the land, drawn in the Ordinance being 2d. per acre.

This question being disposed of, your committee with one exception have been unani-mous in the opinion that it should be made imperative upon the community to provide the means of education for its young, and they suggest a plan which may shortly be described thus. That as far as may be practicable and in proportion as the country becomes settled, it shall be di-vided into districts, every householder in each shall pay an annual education rate, and the amount collected in this way shall be paid into a general committee, whose duty it shall be to distribute it to various religious denominations which, in poor and thin-ly peopled neighbourhoods, will probably be obliged to co-operate for some time to come; and your committee consider that one mode, and perhaps the most important, of which the Govern-ment may render most essential aid, is by subsidies from time to time. It is by subsidies from home, a law highly qualified to promote national education, and to assist in the organi-sation of the principle, and the improvement of their methods; and thus securing the adop-tion of a uniform and efficient system throughout.

This last consideration connected with the question, and one which unfortunately has been elsewhere productive of the greatest di-vision of opinion, has been that of the nature and extent of the religious instruction to be afforded. In this present instance this happily has not been the case, and to the in-quiry how far the child shall be instructed in the doctrines of any one Christian Church, we reply that it should be to an extent as the peculiar religions tenets of its parents will allow. It is impossible to secure, whilst it would be a violation of liberty of conscience, that a delinquency of duty on our part. We believe that, even if practicable, it would be most un-wise to separate religious from intellectual training, or to attempt the improvement of practical duties without reference to the principles on which they are founded; and from which they derive their sanction and best encouragement. But whilst they are invaluable, it provides that the rising generation shall not be left uninstructed in those truths which all Christians believe in common, and which form their universal rule of conduct, they feel bound here to stop, and not by their interference to trench upon the domain of religious liberty, or of parental au-thority.

Beyond these limits a large field is open for exertion. The differences which divide the Christian world are for the most part be-yond the comprehension of the child, and re-quire that degree of cultivation to grasp which long and special teaching of the respec-tive ministers of religion is more ad-equate. To many it may appear that the ob-jects set before us are more tolerable and more explicable to one pro-cess of education which has hitherto been too much they all believe in common, and how much they are all bound to act together upon one common and mutual obligation of bro-therly kindness, forbearance, charity and good will.

Your committee, therefore beg to recom-mend, that an Ordinance be presented to His Excellency the Lieutenant-Governor requiring him to legislate as fit for this object down to these defects on the basis laid down in the accompanying resolutions, and to take such further measures as may best ensure the carrying out this great work with the most possible rapidity and efficiency.

RESOLUTIONS OF COMMITTEE.

1. That in the rule of every Government to see that its subjects are provided with the means of education.

2. That the means of education prepared in existence in this Province are inadequate to the requirements of the population.

3. That the Education Ordinance con-tained with reference to the Esquimaux popu-lation requires amendment, inasmuch as the provision is made in it for affording instruc-