We brought the bill down, and it was saved from being shelved by only a majority ofone ; and what has been the result of the measure you have been able to judge. The bill was at once accepted loyally at Timaru, and I think that the example set by Timaru and the way m which it adopted the system, and worked it out, has had a very salutary effect on many other parts of the province. There will be amendments arrived <at m course of time as regards the machinery of working, but as a system it has worked well, and will work well for the future. There has been a good deal Baid at one time and another as to the relations existing between the Board of Education and the School Committees, but I think the I agitatiou is to a certain extent calming down. There is no doubt that these relations have beeu difficult to define, and will be so. There has been a proposition made that in stead of a Board there should be a Minister of Education appointed, such as there is m Victoria, Australia, or that the system which prevails m the United Kingdom should be adopted where there is a Miuister of Educa tion and local boards, which answer to our local committees. lam inclined to think that possibly this system might work better than the present one, because the present Canterbury Board of Education is composed of members who give their time gratuitously, and qb the work is increasing and will con tinue to increase, we cannot expect to be al ways able to Cud a sufficient num ber of men able to give up so much of their own time to the possible de triment of their private interests. The Board of Education have worked hard and well, and continue to do bo. I say this be cause I think that the school Committees, when they fancy they are not being properly dealt with by the Board, should remember that tho Board have a large amount of work to do, and do it gratuitously. I will next como to the question of the various ordinances we hare passed during the last session of tho Provincial Council. 