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instance of many wise and well-minded individuals among them, who might perform this duty exceedingly well; can we must, or ought it to be expected of them as a class? I cannot believe that those whose education and profession must have tended to magnify in their eyes the importance of diversities of creeds, can have neglected to teach a disregard for such diversities. That the professed champions of the distinctive and peculiar will be the most zealous diffusers of the integral, the generally the harmonious, and the comprehensive alive.

I suggest then; to the present onwards because I think sectarianism is opposed to the diffusion of real religion—is especially unsuited to the religion that should be instilled into children—and will prevent the success and permanence of any national system of which it forms a component.

The Committee, if will be seen, in forming their resolutions, took it as granted that there was possible a fundamental creed of Christianity in which all would might agree, and limited their proposals accordingly to the submission to the timeliness of national education of teachers of every class—lay as well as clerical. They confined their recommendation to the prohibition only of the distinguishing tenets. I think they shewed in this a wise moderation, and that all parties concerned should be contented with the enunciation of general principles, and not seek to enforce particular schools of the fundamental doctrines in which they all agree. No doubt their scheme is open in a slight degree, as any one may perceive, to some of the objections stated above against the one in force; but it is in a comparatively small degree, and the all-powerful requisite, which requires the co-operation of many individuals, and involves the embodiment in practice of opinions on difficult and abstruse subjects must be, or at least I can conceive, a universal solvent still unsatisfactory. And the unanimity requisite for such practical exertion can seldom be obtained for any scheme theoretically perfect.

The Committee, in this inclusion, as first shewed, of the inspired morality of Christianity in all its mysterious probability, of too high of it as suits the capacity of infantile mind should, as emanation from the infallible word simple, and invested with all the sanctions of love and authority conferred by religion, be utilised by any hypercritical niceness of definition, the title of religious education, unless it be accompanied by some glosses of the moral universe, pre-eminently above the reason, and proofs of another kind addressed to the reasoning faculty. I believe that this motion of religious instruction by the State must be abandoned, and that ultimately the only practical system of national education will be found to be one already adopted by a considerable party of educationists in England, including many intelligent and some great names—that, is one entirely secular.

But if this modified scheme, recommended by the Committee, excluding all the clashing and conflicting tenets of sectarianists, be declared impracticable, then I am certain that the secular system just alluded to is the only practicable and satisfactory one, even for immediate adoption.

These are some of the reasons, cursorily and imperfectly stated, for which I object to the present system and desire the establishment of a better one.

5. Lastly—I object to the postponement of the introduction of the proposed law, because I think Government would be at least equal to its position when in opposition is expected to do that which neither the existing system is introduced here the settlers in strange success; because the education of the natives was not proposed to be interfered with, but a vote of £500 recommended by the Committee for that especial purpose; and because the Committee's recommendation to the Governor was not based on the necessity for further information, but upon the opinion that it was not expedient to be delayed on the experience of other countries, and further delay is not required to obtain the results of these experiences. However, the question of delay is now a matter of the past, and I will not further discuss it.

We concur in the above.

D. WAKEFIELD,
G. M. WATERHOUSE,
H. SURRIDGE.

On the motion of Mr. Ludlam, seconded by Mr. Molesworth, Council adjourned at a quarter to 6 o’clock, until Monday next, the 25th day of June, 1849.

His Honour,
Clerk of Council.

Wellington Council Chamber,
22nd June, 1849.

Colonial Secretary’s Office,
Wellington, 29th June, 1849.

HIS EXCELLENCY THE LIEUTENANT-GOVERNOR has been pleased to appoint

WILLIAM DEANS, Esquire,
of Port Cooper, to be a Magistrate of the Province of New Munster,

By His Excellency’s Command,
ALFRED DOMETT,
Colonial Secretary.