They did not think there were any other questions which would involve any action during the present session to which it was necessary to refer at that moment. There were some important bills, however, which would come on during the next session, such as a Bill to amend the Native Lands Act, a new Mining Act, and a new Education Bill — not a bill to supersede existing machinery, but such a one as would ensure that, the ele ments of instruction should be taught in all parts of New Zealand. They did not intend to upset any good system at present in exist ence. In Otago there was an efficient system in operation, which so far came up to the status required for imparting elementary in struction to the people. In Canterbury there had been a considerable change in the teach ing system, and they were about to introduce a system analogous to that which had been in operation in Neison for a number of years past. In regard to other parts of the country where there is no efficient teaching system it was thought advisable there should be in exist ence some such bill as he had spoken of for the purpose of providing a machinery for the establishment of elementary schools. The Government considered the state of the gaol discipline throughout the colony a subject which required consideration, but they would not absolutely pledge themselves to bring in a bill for dealing with that subject, though they would pledge themselves to introduce the bills he had already mentioned. They thought, however, that the question of gaol discipline was one that should be carefully looked into, because from all accounts, the present system was very deficient in proper classification and arrangement of prisoners. They were strongly of opinion that it was most desirable that there should be special gaols to which offenders sentenced for life, or for very long terms, should be committed, altogether apart from those criminals sen tenced to short periods of imprisonment for offences of a less heinous character. 