HISTORICAL SKETCH. 467 



improvement in several branches of the public service, diligently 

 set to work. The Department of Public Works evidently re- 

 quired remodelling. The old staff had become insufficient and 

 inadequate to the requirements of the service; the establish- 

 ment of railways, and the extension through newly-settled 

 districts of roads, required a more numerous personnel. An 

 Ordinance was therefore passed in June, 1875, for the appoint- 

 ment of a Director of Public Works, who should take the charge 

 and management of all public works and public buildings, and 

 the superintendence of all public roads, and perform such other 

 duties as by any Ordinance might be imposed upon him. 

 Authority was given to the Governor to appoint assistants, 

 who would then exercise any of the duties imposed, or any of 

 the powers exercisable by the Director of Public Works. The 

 director was made a corporation sole, capable of suing and being 

 sued. 



The department has been unmercifully criticised. The criti- 

 cism, however, did not bear on the creation of the department, 

 but on the manner in which it was conducted. The works 

 undertaken, including the formation of roads and the building 

 of bridges, have not been, in many cases, satisfactorily completed. 

 The amount expended has been beyond precedent. But, in the 

 opinion of all sensible men, the director had too much to do, and 

 of course could not exercise over his subordinates that control 

 which alone can secure success and economy. The details of the 

 service, especially with regard to roads, were never properly 

 regulated. I believe that this important branch of the public 

 service is open to great improvements. What those improve- 

 ments should be, it is not for me to say in this short historical 

 outline. 



The most important measure introduced by Sir Henry Irving 

 was Ordinance No. 15, of 1875, "to facilitate the establishment 

 of schools of primary education." It was an improvement on 

 the scheme of Sir Arthur Gordon. Schools of primary educa- 

 tion established by private individuals, on being allowed by the 

 Board of Education, became entitled to aid from the public- 

 funds of the colony on certain conditions, the aid consisting of 

 | an annual capitation grant. This called at once in existence a 

 number of denominational schools. The measure was received 

 with general satisfaction. 



