Instead of the modest sum of £10,000 or even £40,000, to which the estimate was sub sequently enlarged, the total at the foot of the bill mounts up to figures of start ling magnitude. The net cost will fall very little short of £250,000, Had this outcome been foreseen at the beginning it is quite probable tbat the scheme would have received a less enthusiastic welcome, or that its scope would have been restricted within more moderate dimensions The project grew like 3. rolling snowball, and the commis sion, more than the Government, are responsible for what may be found of extravagance and waste, The balance sheet is an interesting document, and a brief study of its contents will enable any one to pick out the principal causes of its debit balance. The temporary annexes cost £125,000 and they bave realised on Bale as old material £15,000. The electric lighting cost £76,000, ana. sale of plant returned under £20,000. music the expenditure amounted to £30,000, and the receipts to only £9,000. J.f we add £40,000 for wages and salaries, £18,000 for decorations, £4,500 for cere monial expenses, and a few unconsidered thousands for furniture, printing, stores, gas, and other items, the deficit ceases any longer to be unexpl&inable." We hope that the House of Kepresentatives in granting the £10,000 asked for by the Government for " the New Zealand and South Seaa Exhibition, Dunedin " — the title under wbioh it appears in the Estimates — have taken care to insist upon a limited liability proviso being I attached to the vote, so that there shall : be no further demands upon Parliament ) to make up deficiencies. •

Mr. Pxke'S Private Sohools Bill gave rise to aa auimatied deba.a in the gouse hst night, but the second reading was ultimately neg-niTed by a eubstantinl majority, there baing u decided di.inelinutioo to interfere with the preseat system in the direction indicated. O>e of the features of the debate was a marked diff.re-.00 of opioipa between the Pxemier and the Defnnca Minister, on the quea-Joji £r. dpr diaoussion. Th-j Bill con tained hut ono opera, jvp clause, wbioh was aa follows :—■" Every pri.yaie pctapol which is OF m**y hereafter be conducted in accordanoe with che provisions of " Tne Eiu'oat. 