in due time as the grants to which the Inspection related very much were certainly received. It appearing, moreover, that the interference of the Gold Fields Secretary was not justified by the Ordinance, and that the Board could never do its work if one part of its plan might thus unexpectedly be hindered from execution by some person not sharing the Board’s responsibility; and as—especially in the present case—I feared the interference might be most mischievous in its consequences, I thought I ought to quit the Board. I was not prepared to solve such a problem as was now suddenly set before me, and I resigned the office which I had thus been hindered from fulfilling in the manner which, I believe, was both necessary and proper. It has seemed to me requisite while making a report of this kind to mention why I resigned my post at such a time.

I am not aware that I have anything further to report to you, but I will gladly give any explanation in my power to give which you may desire.

I do not know whether the action of the Board, up to the end of last year, has been salutary in its effects on education in Westland, or otherwise, as I have not learned the results of any trustworthy examination of the schools; but I am very pleased to learn that an attempt is to be made to establish some sound, definite principle for the action of the Board in future to rest on, and I hope the attempt, though present circumstances may be difficult, will soon really succeed.

In any case the present Ordinance must be superseded. It gives hardly any powers; but has evidently been devised to meet exceptional cases only,—such as all those in Westland were deemed to be with regard to Canterbury,—by a management wholly of a makeshift kind. If the Assembly will consent on the recommendation of the Board to the establishment of any scheme that is not to have the effect of conveying public funds intended for education to the ministers of the several denominations, the sites of some of the existing schools will have to be granted to the Board or local committees, according to what may be the constitution of the Board in future.

While alluding to a “national system” of education, I venture here to point out what seems to me ground for caution; that the absolute exclusion of the Bible from a school in Westland might cause the school to become not a “national school.” Public aid to education is based on the fact—else we certainly should not witness public aid—that parents wish to have the education of their children seen to by the Government, because—for this must be so too—they cannot see to it properly themselves. They admit this. But it may not be said to them in one breath that they are too ignorant to manage the “secular instruction” of their own children, and yet ought to be trusted to impart say even the merest elements of what may be deemed to belong to “religious teaching.” A great majority, or the whole of the parents, may even desire that the Bible should often be read in school. It seems to me, therefore, that a “national system” must always be relative; and may be expected to become a better “national system” in proportion as education dissipates prejudice.

I mean to say that it might be quite fit, without at all deviating from the main course which the Board is disposed to hold in Westland to let a portion of the Bible be read each day, at one end of the day, under the direction of the teacher alone, who must be presumed to be competent for that; but with liberty for children, whose parents expressly desire it, to be withdrawn during the Bible reading. Then if ministers of religious denominations insisted—in answer to a proposition of such a kind—that more religious teaching than this must be done in elementary schools for children usually less than 14 years old, and that the ministers themselves are to do it, at any rate those ministers would appear to be actuated more by a desire of aggrandising their party than of advancing education; and the issue between them and the Education Board would become raised in a more intelligible shape.

I have the honor to be, Sir,

Your obedient servant,

(Signed) ROBERT ABBOTT.

SCHEDULE 1.

WESTLAND BOARD OF EDUCATION.

The Board will sit on Wednesday, the 16th October next, at 7 o’clock p.m., in the Supreme Court House, Hokitika.

Applications for aid must be made in writing not later than the end of this month, the letters being addressed to the Chairman, at Hokitika.

To save themselves trouble and delay, persons applying for aid should be careful to render their statements explicit, keeping the facts distinct from mere expression of opinion.

The following are some of the particulars of information required:—Name of school, the tenure, situation, way of approach, size of playground, all the dimensions of buildings, provision for light, warmth, ventilation, offices; inventory of school furniture, books, maps; statement of attendance, the highest number on the books and the average for each week or month since commencement; accounts of income from all sources and of expenditure, with as much detail as possible; school hours, subjects taught, school fee; name of teacher, his various qualifications, testimonials, remuneration, nature of his contract with managers; names of managers, by whom appointed; whether any denominational catechism is used and its use enforced, or whether the school is exclusive in any manner.

School-managers are requested to add any other particulars they think fit, and to subjoin what comments they wish to make.

The Board cannot administer the funds which have been voted, in rewarding past efforts of school-managers, no matter how—