NATURALIZATION.—1852, 1853.

II.

NUMBER OF FOREIGNERS who have procured CERTIFICATES of NATURALIZATION, shewing their NATIVE PLACE and AVERAGE AGES, from 1st July, 1852 to 1st July, 1853.

N.B.-The sum of £35000 was placed at the disposal of the National Board, by the Government, for the year 1853.

NOTE. The above table shows a great decrease for the years 1851 and 1852, which may in a great measure be accounted for by the discovery of the gold fields. Complete returns for 1853 have not been received.-W. H. A.

THE educational history of this Colony may be divided into two periods, viz. from the foundation of the Colony to the time of Separation in 1851, and from Separation to the present time.

During the first period, the schools of Port Phillip were conducted, of course, on the same principles as those of New South Wales, aid being given from the State to schools connected with recognized Churches, either by fixed stipends, or by payments in proportion to the amount of local contributions, or by payments of so much per head for each scholar educated in the schools.

In 1849, the present Denominational School Board came into operation within this Colony, and provided salaries for teachers at their own discretion.

The total amount expended on Denominational Schools from 1837 to 1st July, 1851, was £12835, while the amount expended on National Schools previous to Separation was £1768, or £14603 in all for above twelve years.

The National system was introduced in New South Wales in 1848, and a Board was formed, which in 1849 sent its Agent through the Port Phillip District. The result of his operations was, in the words of Mr. Childers' Report, July 31, 1851, "the formation of thirteen local committees for establishing National Schools. From the absence of any later inspection a few of these have failed in achieving their object; but in most cases schools have been or are being erected."

In the first Session of the Legislature of Victoria after Separation, a Bill on the subject of education was introduced, but as time did not admit of the settlement of the question, provision was made for the maintenance of both systems for 1852, to the amount of £7247 15s. for Denominational, and £3000 for National Schools; and a Board of National Education was incorporated, to which the balance of funds due to this Colony for National Schools, was also handed over. In 1852, the Legislature voted the sum of £50000 for elementary education for 1853; but no change of system was introduced, and this sum (subsequently increased by a Supplementary Estimate in 1853 to £70000) was divided equally between the two Boards. During that Session, however, a Select Committee was formed, which took evidence, and reported in favour of the abandonment of two separate systems of administration for elementary schools and the adoption of the main features of the plan of the Committee of Privy Council on Education in England, thus described in a recent publication:-"The only system established by Government with regard to education is a system of inspection and pecuniary aid. Schools founded and conducted upon the most opposite principles, are assisted by grants on the easy terms of admitting the visits of Her Majesty's Inspectors, and adopting such principles of management as shall secure their responsibility to the public without interfering with their independence."

A Bill founded on this Report is now before the Legislature, and £100000 has been appropriated for elementary schools for 1854.

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