HISTORICAL REVIEW OF VICTORIA. 



357 



true, six changes of Ministry in less than seven years, but the earth continued to 

 " bring- forth its kindly fruits in due season " notwithstanding, and the beneficial opera- 

 tions of human industry remained unaffected by the substitution in the Cabinet of one 

 set of men for another. One measure of more than ordinary importance received the 

 Royal assent at the hands of Viscount Canterbury. This was the Education Act of 

 1872, drafted by Mr. 

 Wilberforce Stephen. 

 Two systems, the na- 

 tional and denomina- 

 tional, had been pre- 

 viously in operation. 

 These were abolished 

 by the law which came 

 into force on the ist 

 of Januray, 1873, i ts 

 fundamental principle 

 being gratuitous, secu- 

 lar and compulsory 

 instruction up to a 

 certain standard. 

 During the first twelve 

 years of its operation 

 there was an increase 

 of seventy-two per 

 cent., in the number 

 of schools opened ; of 

 seventy-four per cent., 

 in the number of in- 

 structors ; of sixty- 

 three per cent., in 

 that of the scholars 

 on the rolls ; of seven- 

 ty-six per cent., in 

 their average attend- 

 ance ; and of sixty-six 

 per cent., in the esti- 

 mated average num- 

 ber of distinct children 

 in attendance. 



The visit of the Duke of Edinburgh to Victoria occurred during Viscount Canterbury's 

 term of office, and called forth demonstrations of loyalty and a display of enthusiasm in 

 which the inhabitants of all parts of the colony participated. He laid the first stone of 

 the new Town Hall in Swanston Street, and also of a spacious hospital on the St. Kilda 

 Road, near the city, which, in his honour, received the name of the Alfred Hospital. 



THE DISCOVERY OF JOHN KING BY E. J. WELCH. 



