If they were to be without legislation for a year or two, they would not be much the worse. An Act he had taken an interest in was that relating to judicial oaths. He had moved in committee that the affirmation should bo taken instead of the proviso that it might bo taken. The Bill had been passed by the Lower House, bat rejected by the Legislative Council. The action of the Government in consolidating Acts hod bscn vtry bene ficial. His views on education had been somewhat moditud sr.io-j l»U election. He foui.d it almost impossible to allow Bible-reading in schools, or to give • ach denomination a separate power o( educating. Many motions ami petitions had been brought before the House on the subject, hut they had all failed—possibly, b ecause they were impracticable. It was the duty of the Stale to provide a primary education ; but he thought that secondary education should be paid for, and the State should not bo called upon to provide that. The present State schools were not by any means in as good a condition as they might be. lie could speak, as a member of the Education Board, with a considerable degree of certainty upon that point. The Government had introduced the Roads and Bridges Act, which had boon very serviceable as far as it went. The distribution, however, was not ao large as to be able to meet the demand. He regretted that the lease holders’ qualification had not been granted, for it seemed unreasonable that leaseholders should not be allowed a vote. As to Mr Montgomery’s proposal to separate the colony, it was scarcely worth while to discuss it. With respect to the last question, ho (Mr Mason) did not think excessive taxation would be effective in doing away with large estates. Ho had always been of opinion that the deferred pay ment lands should be given by lot ; thus the payment of a large price, which in so many cases resulted disastrously, would be obviated. Where moderate prices had been paid the purchasers had nearly always been able to pay up the instalments. A clause had been in serted in the Town Districts Bill, giving the local bodies control over county roads passing through local board districts, and thus virtually doing away with tollgates. This clause Che Government had, ou his recomenda tion, nullified. 