PROVINCIAL COUNCIL.

Hawke's Bay Times, Volume 19, Issue 1351, 17 June 1872, Page 2

PROVINCIAL COUNCIL.

WEDNESDAY. JUNE 12. (Report of this day's proceedings continued from Saturday evening's Times.) Waste Lands of the Province. The Council resumed at 7.30, and went into committee on the above resolutions. On the motion of Mr Buchanan, after some little discussion, the following addition was made to subsection 2, clause 4: —" Provided that the said blocks ahall be, as far as possible, of a rectangular shape, the circumscribing lines of which shall be direcred to the cardinal points of the compass." His Honor explained, in auswer to Mr Buchanan, that the Government intended to act upon the principle of free selection within limited areas, —to place a fixed acreage rate upon each block, the rate to be tixed chiefly with reference to the accessibility of the land. The resolutions were passed through committee and adopted. Supply The Council went into committee of supply to consider the special estimates. Sheep Department.--All the items under this head were postponed, awaiting the resvlt of the Sheep Bill, which, if passed, would materially a fleet this department of the estimates. Education.— Capitation money for scholars, £l,OOO.—His Honor explained that this amount would be fully required. Bonus to teachers, £6so.—His Honor said that if funds had been available, this item would have been larger. There were now sixteen countty schools, and che «um proposed to be appropriated was in propoition very small indeed. Of course, with these funds, it wis out of the question to expect certincate.d teachers 10 take charge of the schools. —Col. Lambert would again draw attention to the needs of those districts wheie there were only eight or ten children, and no school near. The other evening he had suggested a travelling van, which should remain two or three days in each place, and which would not cost so much for building as an ordinary school-house. The only difficulty he saw would be to find a teacher who understood how to harness and drive the horses. The Council should leally do something for these children.—Mr Sutton did not see how the gallant member's idsa was to be carried out. Tt would be much cheaper to have a mounted teacher. It would be much easier for him to saddle and mount his horse, and ride to the places where he would be required, than to harness up a pair ol horses to a great olumsy lumbering van, and drive all over the country. Surely a room could be found for temporary use in each neighborhood.— Col. Lambert would support any reasonable plan by which the wants of these children might be attended to. With regard to his own suggestion, there was no need that the

van .should be a olurusy one. Inspector of Schools. £IOO. — His Honor said this item had been dispensed with last year; but he did not think it advisable to omit it again. He had been quite unabie to attend to this duty himself during the year, from pressure of other business. If the vvoik was done regularly and efficiently, by a qualified officer, the money would be weii spent. — Mr Buchanan felt bound to oppose the item, and moved that it be struck out. Let it stand over till we knew the result of the General Government measure. The most successful schools in the Province — those conducted by the Roman Catholic body—would not submit to inspection. —His Honor said that every school in Napier was willing to be inspected.— Ooi. Lambert would support the item. Much depended on having a good In *pector. —Mr Bridge would support the item. We ahould not have an effective system unless the schools were inspected. - Mr Colenso supported the item. Last session he had taunted the Council that they had an Inspector of Sheep, but no Inspector ot Schools. He was surprised that the member for Waimarama opposed the item. He wished that member had read Mr Fox's eloquent remarks in the General Assemblv on. the subject of school inspec-

tion—Mr Buchanan had heard thespeech just referred to delivered, and on the general question of inspection he fully agreed with Mr Fox. He simply desired the matter to be deferred, pending general legislation on the subject. —Mr Colenso having made some remarks on the spirit of emulation induced by the visits of an Inspector; Mr Buchanan's amendment was. negatived,, and the item passed. Books and Maps for Schools, £IOO.. —His Honor said that a vote of this kind last year had been well spent. Some very excellent maps of the Colony and school books had been purchased at an expenditure of about £3O. The sum proposed would be sufficient for the requirements of all the schools- during the year.—Mr Johnson suggested that settlers in scattered districts, beyond the reach of schools, might be assisted with school-books;—His Honorsaid that the question of educating the children in thinly-populated districts, was- one of great difficulty,, and ho thought the suggestion if carried out, would be a good one. But these districts were very few. The only limit was the number of ten, children, whick generally meant three families. If ten children could be sent to a school in one district, they could obtain assistance.— Col. Lambert approved of thesuggestion. The distriUition of books might, be left to the Inspector. This item and the others under thesarae head were passed, the total votefor the department being ,£2',200. Three adilional votes were added ten the estimates ; one of .£IOO for a road to the Tarawera bush ; one of <£l2o for a ferry punt at Mohaka; and £3O for a lock up at the Spit. The estimates were then reported t\> the Council, the grand total being; .£19,192 10s. Port Almrirf Bridge. This Bill having been proceeded with in committee, and a few amendments made, the Council adjourned to next sitting day.