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2. I need hardly say that any communication from you in connection with the proceedings of the Education Committee will carry weight with the Govern- ment and will be treated with the high respect which it deserves.
At the same time I must take this opportunity of pointing out that as you have left the Com- mittee of your own desire and before its labours were completed, a criticism on its Report from one who is no longer a member can only receive the consideration which would be accorded to a criticism emanating from any outside source.
The Right Rev. The BISHOP OF VICTORIA.
I have, &c.,
W. J. GASCOIGNE,
Major-General.
Notes by the Education Committee upon their Report, and upon two letters written by the Right Reverend Bishop of Victoria in which he
sets forth the reasons for his resignation.
I. The Committee first met about the end of September, and after discussing a Memorandum drawn up by His Lordship to which reference is made in Section IX below, proceeded to hear the evidence of the principal authorities on Education in the Colony. Dr. WRIGHT, Headmaster of Queen's College, Mr. A. J. MAY, Second Master of Queen's College, Mr. Sykes, Acting Headmaster of the Diocesan School and Orphanage, Brother PETER of St. Joseph's College, Miss JOHNSTONE of the Church of England Mission, and Miss DAVIES of the London Mission, were called, among others; and their evidence was taken down in shorthand: having been given in confidence, it is not pablished with the Report.
II. Owing to the absence of their Chairman from the Colony and to the Autumn Examinations with which the Inspector of Schools was occupied, the Committee were then obliged to adjourn until the beginning of January.
III. Their next proceeding was to endeavour to arrive at certain fundamental conclusions which should form the basis of an improved system of education: to this end a number of resolutions were, after the most thorough discussion, drawn up, and are embodied in Part II of the Report. As His Lordship admits in his first letter, ("while I hold that the principles laid down in Part II of the Draft Report are in the abstract sound") these ruling principles were unanimously agreed to.
IV. But owing to the numerous calls upon him and the necessity he was under of repeatedly absenting himself from the Colony, His Lordship was unable to spare as much time as might otherwise have been desirable. Under these circumstances it was unanimously decided that the work of applying these principles should be carried on by the other three members, who should submit the result to His Lordship. This we did, sitting regularly and discussing details, Mr. IRVING putting them between whiles into the form of a Draft Report; so that at our next full meeting Parts I, II and IV were ready for discussion. This Draft Report was not, and did not claim to be, the final and unanimous opinion of the members who drew it up; and as a fact it has since received important modifications.
V. At our next full meeting His Lordship expressed disapproval of several features in the Draft Report, and especially of two main points. After some dis- cussion a modification of one of them was suggested, which he promised to take into consideration. On the other main point it was agreed that the evidence of the Headmaster of the Diocesan School should be taken, before a decision was arrived at; and with this intention the Committee adjourned for two days.
VI. It must be clearly understood that this was the only occasion on which His Lordship gave us an opportunity of discussing the Report with him.
VII. Before the day came on which the farther evidence was to be heard, we received a brief intimation from His Lordship informing us that he had sent in his resignation. At the request of the Government the remaining three members completed the Report, which is unanimous.