COUNTY COUNCIL.

Grey River Argus, Volume VI, Issue 387, 7 July 1868, Page 3

COUNTY COUNCIL.

Friday, July 3. j (Condensed from th« Holsitika Papers.) A long discussion took place on the Teport of the Select Committee on Education, which was ultimately adopted as follows : — , " Your Committee have to report that owing to various unforsoen circumstances they were prevented meeting during the recess as was at first intended, and the delay in the publication <f the report of the Board of Education also delayed the Bitting of the Committee until a late period of the present session. Your Committee have carefully examined the Report of the Board of Education, and the resolutions adopted by that body respecting the system on which Government aid to Education in Westland should be administered, and quite coincide with the opinion of the Board, that the present system is unsatisfactory, and that some broad uniform scheme should be laid down by the County Council. Although it was the almost general opinion of your' Committee that such scheme should be, as recommended by the Board, of a purely ■ secular character, yet with the object of meeting the views of a considerable portion of the community who had expressed a strong objection to the exclusion of religions teaching, your Committee have concluded to retommend that csrtain facilities should be afforded for religious instruction. "Your Committee have the honor to submit the following resolutions for the consideration of the Council. "1. That it is desirable' that there should be a National system of Education established in Westland. "2. That there be. a Central Board of Education, in whom as a body corporate, shall be vested all lands and tenements purchased by the Board, or which become vested in them, such Central Board to have the power of appointing a Secretary and Inspector of Schools. That the Central JBoard shall have the power to constitute educational districts, and to distribute amongst the district schools the sums that jnay be granted by the County Council. "That each district schools shall be managed by a local Committee, consisting of five members (three to form a quorum), to be elected by the inhabitants of the district; such Committee to have the power to appoint teachers, and generally to superintend the working of the schools. "4. That the Central Board shall consist of one member to be deputed by each local Committee, and one member to be nominated by the Government. "5. That the books to be used in the schools under the Board be those of the Irish National Schools. "6. That no teachers be appointed except such as are certified by the Inspector. ;« *j rj^ jigiigiQ^g instruction may be given by clergymen of any denomination, with consent of the local committee ; such instruction to be imparted at stated times, and that children may be withdrawn from such instruction at the discretion of the parents. "Your Committee also recommend that the above resolutions be adopted as the basis of legislation in the General Assembly." OEITBKAI, KATE FOR MAINTENANCE OF . HOSPITALS. Mr Carey moved— "That in the opinion of this Council it is desirable that a special general rate should bo struck for the maintenance of hospitals, and it is desirable that the above resolution be brought under the notice of the General Assembly." After a discussion, the motion was, by leave, withdrawn. COXTNTY SYSTEM OP LOCAL GOVERNMENT. Mr Harrison moved — ''That this Council desires to record its opinion, that whilst the existing County of Westland Act is imperfect and vague, and has in consequence created many difficulties, and placed this Council in an uncertain position, it f. contains. a principle which, if worked out according to the amendments proposed by this Council, will provide, a system of local government well suited to the circumstances of this County, and preferable on the points of economy and efficiency to any, form of Provincial institutions." Mr Whall moved an amendment, which ,was negatived, and the resolution was adopted. The remaining business was unimportant; PROROGATION OF COUNCIL. The Chairman, addressing the Council, said — Gentlemen, we have now concluded the business of the session, and it only remains with me to prorogue the Council for the present. I now, therefore, declare this Council stands adjourned until Thursday, the Ist of October, 1868,