SCHOOL BOARD MEETING AT APPLEBY. .... Part 1 A numerously attended meeting of the ratepayers of the Parish of St. Michael, was held in the National School-room, Bongate, on Saturday afternoon last. The REV. T. BELLAS was unanimously elected to preside, and amongst those present we observed the REV. J. SYER, MR. J. THOM, MR. FULTON, MR. R. WATSON, DR. ARMSTRONG, MR. JOHN DODD, MR. ROBERT FAIRER, MR. G. IDLE, MR. JOHN CROSBY, MR. WM. SMITH, MR. THOS. PEARSON, MR. JOHN SHEPHERD, MR. JOHN SALKELD, MR. CHRIS. SALKELD, MR. CHRIS. LAWSON, MR. MARK ARMSTRONG, MR. MATHEW ROBINSON, MR. AARON WATSON, MR. JOHN ANDERSON, MR. THOMAS STUDHOLME, MR. J. P. SHEPHERD, MR. LAWRENCE ENGLAND, MR. NEWBOLD, MR.JAMES RICHARDSON, MR. WM. READSHAW, MR. JAMES DENT, MR. JOS. WILSON, MR. CHRIS. ALLAN, MR. JOS. LOWIS, MR. JOHN WILSON, M.R THOS. DIXON, MR. JEREMIAH HODGSON, MR. WM. SANDERSON, MR. JAMES WILLS, MR. THOS. WINSKILL, MR. JOHN HARRISON, MR. CHRIS. STEPHENSON, MR. THOMAS HALL, MR. JOHN DAVIDSON, REV. A CURWEN, MR. J. WHITEHEAD, and MR. GEO. ROBINSON. The chairman, in a few introductory observations, explained that the meeting had been called to consider the expediency of electing a School Board for the parish of St. Michael otherwise Bongate, and enquired if anyone had a proposition to make. MR. SANDERSON thereupon rose to introduce an affirmative resolution, and at the outset of his somewhat lengthy remarks gave a resume of the Government Education Act of 1870, and detailed the circumstances which had caused that measure to become a necessity of the times. He pointed out the disadvantages in which the schools of the parish were at present placed under the voluntary system; in fact at Hilton and Murton there was no education recognised by the Government; and at the latter place the schoolhouse stood at a distance from the road, and was in a dilapidated state, notwithstanding that it enjoyed a very substantial endowment. He strongly condemned the manner in which the trustees of Murton school had some time ago been appointed. They were nominated by the REV. MR. SYER, who, instead of placing copies of the notice sent down by the commissioners in conspicuous positions in each village where it could have been perused by every one, stuck it up in the school-room, where it was seen only by the scholars, who did not understand what the document meant. [ Cries of “Shame!” ]. That was a very unfair proceeding; and instead of such a course being adopted, a public meeting should have been called, and the trustees elected by the votes of a majority of the parishioners. [ Hear, hear. ] If a School Board were formed for the district, £500 was all that would be needed to be raised to meet every requirement of Government; and this money could be borrowed at 3-1/2 per cent., and its subsequent repayment spread over a period of fifty years. The rateable value of the parish was £9,200, and a rate of 2d. in the pound would in his opinion more than cover the preliminary and future working expenses, and meet any contingencies which might arise. There was another phase of the question to which he would just for a moment refer. The parish of St. Michael was a thoroughly Protestant one; and he had every respect for clergymen like their worthy chairman; but that race of clergymen was fast dying out; and what sort of a tribe were they getting in their places ? Why, a sort of men milliners, – men who worshipped lighted wax candles, loved monastic institutions, and all “that sort of thing”. [ Laughter } If they did not mind, this class of men would get the management of their schools; but if they wanted to prevent such a catastrophe – if they desired to have cheap, safe, and efficient schools, let them support the resolution which he had now great pleasure in moving, namely, that a School Board be formed for the parish of St. Michael, otherwise Bongate. [ Loud applause ] MR. THOM seconded the resolution, and in doing so, remarked that, being a ratepayer at the extreme end of the parish, he thought no one could accuse him of being actuated by personal feelings in giving his adhesion to the School Board scheme, which he regarded as the proper system under which at the present time the educational institutions of the country ought to be placed. [ Hear Hear ] Notwithstanding individual effort, he was prepared to admit that much had been done in that way for the schools in the district, he could not but regard the voluntary system as a bad one. [ Hear, Hear ] If a School Board were formed, so far from a rate of 2d. in the pound being required, he felt convinced that in a short time the schools would be found to be self-supporting. [ Hear, Hear ] He could not for the life of him see why MR. SYER should raise so strong an opposition to the formation of a School Board, unless it was that the reverend gentleman was sighing for a return of the “good old times”, when it used to be the custom in the fell side districts for the children, as the clergyman was seen coming down along the road, to stand in a row, with their hands behind their backs, and pulling long faces, chant out............. “God bless the parson and all his rich relations And teach us all in life to keep our proper stations.” [ Roars of laughter ] It ought to be the one great object of all parents to have their children educated in the most sound and perfect manner. He did not care whether it was intended to make a boy a potter, a besom-maker, or anything else, his advice was give him a good education, and he will make his way in the world. Without education now-a-days a young was like a man with only one arm. [ Loud applause ] to be continued........................................... _________________________ barb, ontario, canada.