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Hawke's Bay Times, Volume 17, Issue 975, 23 March 1871, Page 3

A FREE SCHOOL FOB, AUCKLAND. The Now Zealand Herald, Bth March, says:—At a meeting of the Central Board of Education, held yesterday after noon, Mr G. M. O'Rorke brought forward a motion drawing the attention of the Board to the desirability, and * ideed necessity, of paying for the schooling of the children of those poor people in our midst who are unable to afford to send their children to school ; and there are a great many of this clas=, unfortunately, in this city. He drew attention to the fict that the Board gave aid to country schools, while similar institutions in town, where the masters are struggling to support life, have been hitherto neglected. In his motion, he referred to the action taken by Mr Gordon on the last day of the sitting of the Provincial Council, f ben tbtit gentleman moved the following

resolution in connection with the Education Act for 1871, and which was carried:—" That the Board may, if they thi.nk fit, pay the whole or any part of the school fees chargeable at any school, be it denominational or secular, for any pupil whose parents may, in the opinion of the Board be unable from poverty to pay the same; provided such pupil shall not be compelled to attend any religious instruction or observance which may have been objected to, by the parent of such pupil, in writing, addressed to the teacher of the school." A good deal of discussion took place on the motion, and it was admitted on all hands that it was quite time something was done towards educating the children of the poor of the city and suburbs. Dr Nicholson was of opinion that the Act would not allow of such a mode of expending the funds of the Board, but considering that there is a sum of nearly ,£1,400 in hand, remaining from last year, together with some .£4,000 to be expended during the present year, we think that an effort ought to be made to educate our City Arabs on the free system. Mr P. A. Philips suggested that a free school might be opened iu Auckland with great advantage, and at a trifling cost. Ultimately, it was resolved to call a special meeting for the consideration of the whole subject, as it was very properly deemed to be one of too much importance to be decided at such a thin meeting. The special meeting was fixed for Friday, the 17th March, when we sincerely trust that something may be done in this matter ; for, although it is of great importance that the children of the country settlers should be educated, it is not right that the education of the poorer children resident in Auckland should be altogether neglected.