THE Grey River Argus PUBLISHED DAILY SATURDAY, DECEMBER 19, 1874

Grey River Argus, Volume XV, Issue 1998, 19 December 1874, Page 2

THE Grey River Argus PUBLISHED DAILY SATURDAY, DECEMBER 19, 1874

We are afraid that the scheme of national education in Wttstland is likely to die almost before it has been really born — if one can use such contradictory terms. From a brief notice of the meeting of the Central Board of Edneation atHokitika, on Thursday, which appears in the "West Coast Times " of yesterday, we gather that the Board ha 3 admitted its powerlessness f»r want of means, and that it is a moot question whether its meinrer.s will continue to act, or leave the Ordinance in an inoperative condition. As we have no detailed report of the proceedings to guide us, we are obliged to be content with the short references and comments of our contemporary which we quote below : — " The Board is only now adjourned until Wednesday next, when it will be deßnitely decided whether its members will pursue the work which has been delegated to them in their corporate capacity, or whether they will resign duties which they find some difficulty in carrying out One proposition which was put before the meeting last evening, on the motion of Mr Patten, was simply ' That his Honor the Superintendent be rpspectfnlly requested not to take any further measure to bring the Education Ordinance into force until there is a sufficient sum available to subsidise the total amount of rates collected in each district.' And this was supplemented by other motions introduced by Mr Kenrick to the following effect :— " 1. That the funds derivable from rates will be required to. pay the annual charges of maintaining schools. 2. That the duty of providing the necessary funds for erecting school buildings does not rest witb the Board, bat with the Government. 3. That his Honor the Superintendent be requested' to take such steps as he may deem advisable for the purpose of carrying out the foregoing resolutions." In the discussion which ensued, there was evinced a very general disposition, baaed upca a conviction of

their powerlessness, to leave the Ordinance inoperative until ways and means, o? b'insing it into force could be provided by the Provincial Council, but, on whati seemed to be a happy suggeston mad© by Mr Mueller, better counsels prevailed, md finally it was decided to adjourn the discusalm until the evening of Wednesday next. Briefly, Mr Mueller's suggestion was that, at least in the outlying districts, an effort should be made to establish schools, leaving the existing schools in such situations as Hokitika and Greymouth to be assisted by subsidy from the rates raised, and thit suggestion was erabodied by Mr Seddon in a motion of which he gave notice." If we understand the foregoing aright it W"U.ld seem that after all weareto revert to the old and unsatisfactory system of aiding private schools. This is in every sense an inadvisable course ; but we are quite certain that it is not possible that such fiid can be given out of rates levied under an Act for providing state education. We await with some interest the full report of the Board's proceedings which the " West Coast Times " promises.