314 TIMEHRI. 
the terms and conditions upon which assistance shall in 
future be granted from the Public Funds for the promo- 
tion of Education,’ was passed. It is amusing to note 
that whereas the Commissioners had previously recom- 
mended a system of secular education, the very first 
provision of the’ Bill which became law was that no 
grant would be given to any school that did not provide 
for religious instruétion ! 
The Ordinance of 1855 provided that the Teachers 
were to be arranged in three classes according to 
the results of an examination. First class school- 
masters were to receive $720; second class $400; 
and 3rd class $200; and first, second and third class” 
schoolmistresses $540, $320, and $160 respe€tively. The 
provisions regarding school fees were curious and perhaps 
a trifle amusing. All scholars under eight years of age 
were required to pay 8 cents weekly, and all above eight 
years of age 16 cents weekly, to schoolmasters of the first 
class, while schoolmasters of the second class received 
only 8 cents and 4 cents weekly. There can be little 
doubt as to which of two competing schools having 
respectively first and second class masters would com- 
mand the larger number of pupils. 
Thus was our educational machinery at length plana 
upon that basis of Church management and Colonial in- 
spection, which in spite of many important changes it still 
occupies. 
APPENDIX. 
A few Extracts from Mr. Dennis’ Report, Feb. 1853. 
In general terms I may state that the schoolmasters in this Colony 
are, with a few exceptions, not only grievously deficient in attainments, 
but to a still greater extent in the educational training which would 
