First Steps Taken by The Newly Constituted Provincial Council.

The Otago Provincial Council, during its first session, 1853-54, appointed, on the motion of the late Mr. James Macandrew, a Select Committee to consider and report upon the subject of Education, more particularly the establishment of a High School in Dunedin. There is no record of any report having been submitted by this Committee. The Superintendent, Captain Cargill, in the course of his address at the opening of the second session of the Provincial Council in 1854 said: "On the subject of a general system of Education, resolutions will be proposed to you declaratory of the mind and purpose of the Provincial Legislature thereon, and embracing a moderate appropriation for the initiatory step of bringing out three qualified teachers—one of them to be the teacher of a Normal or High School in Dunedin." The promised resolutions were subsequently brought forward by Mr. W. H. Eeynolds, leader of the Executive Council, and were referred for revision to a Select Committee consisting of Mr. Eeynolds, and the late Messrs. Macandrew, John Gillies, and Alex. Rennie. The Committee's report was adopted by the Provincial Council in December, 1854, and was to the following effect: (1) That provision should be made from the public funds of the Province, or by assessment, for providing a liberal education for all the children of the Province as far as practicable; (2) That permanent provision for such education should be made by special ordinance or ordinances, setting forth clearly and distinctly the character of the education to be provided, and the mode in which such provision should be made; (3) That as a first step towards effecting the desired object, a proper High School should be established in Dunedin, wherein could be taught all the branches of education necessary for qualifying the pupils for entering a University, and that in the meantime one qualified master for the school should be obtained; (4) That a superior female teacher should be provided for Dunedin; (5) That a well-qualified teacher for Port Chalmers, and, at the least, page 142three for other districts in the Province, should be procured; (6) That provision should be made in the appropriation ordinance for paying-the passage money of these teachers from the Home Country, and for the purchase of the necessary school appliances; (7) That the annual salaries of the proposed teachers should be as follows: The Rector of the High School, not less than £200, nor more than £300; the schoolmistress and the other teachers, £100 each; and (8) That the appointments should be made by the Home Agents on the recommendation of one of Her Majesty's Inspectors of Schools for Scotland, and the Rectors of the Free Church Normal Schools in Edinburgh and Glasgow.