The Globe. WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 19, 1877.

Globe, Volume VIII, Issue 1009, 19 September 1877, Page 2

The Globe. WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 19, 1877.

A few days ago we called attention to the provisions of the Christchurch Reserves Bill, pointing out the danger of placing it in the power of the Municipality to deal with some thirty plots of land as they thought fit. Since then we have received the Hansard report of the discussion on the second reading of the Bill, and we are glad to find that the point we raised has not been overlooked. Mr. Rolleston pointed out that there was no question whatever that a large proportion of the plots of land mentioned in the second schedule to the Bill were intended, and ought to he kept, as public promenades. He referred especially to the reserves on each side of the river, which ought never to be built upon and spoiled, but kept open so that free currents of air might be obtained within the city. He also urged that the rights of those people who had frontages on those plots of ground ought to be jealously protected and guarded by the House. Of course it may be said, that the citizens of Christchurch would look after their own interests, and that there is no danger of those open spaces being built upon. At present we do not think there is. But for the sake of posterity it is as well to make sure. The time will come when these reserves will become more valuable, and when some future C 0 nncil may be tempted to get over difficulty by letting a nation nf ,>• They all knew perfectly well* Mr. 3 oUeston . Baid -* h f there had been instance- 8 wd g e Pj°j s of ground such as those men J one<l * u the schedule had been built upcm under pressure or for convenience sake, and which people regretted ever | after, and instanced the case of a plot in the middle of Christchurch, on which a mill had been erected. “ That was regretted,” he said, “ at the present time, and probably would be regretted for thirty years to come.” In the course of the discussion Mr. Whitaker said plots of ground of the description named were very properly placed under the charge or management of the Corporation, but where there were plots of ground handed over for ornamental purposes, there should be some stipulation to prevent them being used for any other purpose. When the Bill went into committee lie would propose certain amendments which would probably meet with the approval of the House. In a Bill passed some time ago for the purpose of dealing with certain plots of land in the province of Auckland, there were, he said, these words :—The Mayor and Council “ may enclose, lay out, and plant the same or any part thereof, and erect any buildings for ornamental purposes, but not for making a profit therefrom.” Mr, Richardson, who had charge of the Bill, thought the amendment suggested by the AttorneyGeneral would meet many of the objections raised by Mr. Rolleston. He said he had consulted with the honourable member, wd would bo

prepared to amend the Bill so far as might be necessary, ft is satisfactory to learn that the objectionable clauses of the Bill to which we referred in a former article, are likely to ho removed in committee. Indeed, Mr. Richardson stated that it might not be necessary to go on with the the Bill at all, as the Government proposed to introduce a Public .Reserves Bill which would contain power to deal with questions of this sort. It would be well, however, were some distinct expression of opinion given by the citizens, so as to strengthen the hands of those who wish to amend the Bill in committee, should it ever reach that stage.

The Education Bill has passed through committee, and the amendments which have been made are such as to greatly alter its character. As introduced hy the Government,omitting those clauses dealing with the administration of the system hy a Minister, District Boards, and School Committees, the main features of the Bill were, that the cost of education was to he defrayed out of a grant from the Consolidated Fund, a capitation fee of ten shillings for each child up to four capable of attending school, and revenue derived from reserves. The next feature of the Bill was the course of instruction in public schools, which was to be as follows; — Beading, writing, arithmetic, English grammar and composition, geography, history, elementary mechanics including drawing, object lessons, vocal music, and in cases of girls, sewing and needlework, but no child was to be present at the teaching of history whose parents or guardians objected thereto. The school was also to be opened every morning with the reading of the Lord’s Prayer, and a portion of the Holy Scriptures; with this, exception the teaching was to be of an entirely secular character. The next important point was the compulsory clause, which enacted that every child between seven and thirteen years of age, living within a distance of two miles from the nearest public school, must attend school at least one half of the period in each year during which the school is usually open. Exemptions might be granted by the committees on being satisfied that the child was under efficient instruction otherwise, that the child was prevented by sickness, &c., that the road was impassable, or that an inspector had certified that a child had reached a standard prescribed by the Act. The alterations made in committee change nearly all these provisions. The capitation clauses have been struck out, and unless again reinserted no school fees whatever can be charged, and education will be entirely free. It will also be purely secular, the Bible reading and Lord’s Prayer clause having been struck out. The rigour of the compulsory clause has, we think, been wisely modified, making it optional with the committees te enforce it. Clause 91 has also been so altered as to make regular attendance at some private school or educational institute not connected with a Board a sufficient ground for exemption from attendance at a Government school. This should, to some extent, satisfy those who have been agitating so vehemently against the Bill. We are glad to learn that Mr. Curtis’s attempt to introduce the denominational system has been defeated, his new clause to adopt the Nelson system of aided schools having been rejected by 30 to 18. The Bill as it now stands provides for a free and purely secular education to every child in the colony between the ages of seven and thirteen. Moreover, the enforcement of the compulsary clauses is optional with committees, who cannot enforce the attendance of any child provided he is regularly attending a private school or educational institute. We look forward with some anxiety to the treatment of the Bill by the Upper House.