THE DUNEDIN ELECTION.

Globe, Volume XXI, Issue 1682, 11 July 1879, Page 2

THE DUNEDIN ELECTION.

NOMINATION OF CANDIDATES. DUNEDIN, July 10. Tho nomination of candidates for the City of Dunedin in the House of Representatives took place at noon to-day ut the old Supremo Court buildings. Mr Ure, Returning Officer, presided, and some sixty or seventy persons assembled. The following nominations were received;— Mr William Downio Stewart, proposed by Mr T. Burt, seconded by Mr Hassell. Mr Charles Stephen Reeves, proposed by Mr Wilson, seconded by Captain Baldwin. Mr James Gordon Stewart Grant, proposed by Mr Treston, seconded by Mr Grogan. Mr Stewart said he had at last night’s meeting gone fully into his views and opinions and he would not therefore detain them by delivering an address. He answered a number of questions. Mr Beeves, in the course of his address propounded the following novel scheme. What ho would go in for would be a national secular system of education. He would give his idea of what course should bo adopted as follows : (1.) That a commission shall be appointed by Government, representing as far as possible all denominations, who shall draw up a series of secular school books, which shall be colled the Now Zealand National School Books, and those only shall be used in the National schools from the hours of 10 a.m. till 12 a.m,, and from 1 (ill 3 p.m.,. allowing: one hour’s interval. (2.) That Bible classes, may bo held, or other religious instruction may be given from tho horns o£ 9 till 0.-45 a.m , or from 3.15 till 4 p.m., allowing fifteen minutes of clear interval between the roligious and secular classes. (3.) That it shall be no part of a sec-alar teucher’c. duty to road the Bible at sioch morning or afternoon classes, or give say religious instruction whatever. (4.) That all schools other than State schools which shall bo open to Government inspection, mad teachers, of which hold Government certificates, and which shall use the national school books and those only for the specified hours, and thus become for tho time being purely secular schools, shall receive a fair proportion of State aid. Mr Grant spoke at some length. A show c-f hands being called for, tho returning officer gave the voting as follows : Reeves, 30; Grant, 15; Stewart, 11. A poll was demanded on the part of Mr Stewart, and it was fixed to be taken on Monday next.