SCHOOL BOARD MEETING AT APPLEBY .... Part II MR. SHEPHERD expressed his gratification that the state of the schools in the district had been alluded to by the previous speakers, as it afforded him an opportunity of stating the result of his own enquiries upon the matter. For years the school at Bongate had received the watchful care an zealous attention of MR. BELLAS; and only on the previous Thursday MR. THOM told him that he considered the school an excellent one, that it was well looked after, and had proved a useful and valuable institution in the parish. Testimony like this and from such a source he regarded as invaluable. [ Hear, Hear ] Referring to the schools at Hilton and Murton, he defended the action taken by MR. SYER with respect to the appointment of trustees, which in his opinion was rather deserving of praise than reprobation; and explained that the present schoolmaster could, if he liked, retain his position as long as he lived; and no one had the power to deprive him of the income of £16 per annum arising from five or six acres of land with which the school was endowed. He ridiculed the assertion that £500 would only be needed to carry out all the conditions which Government would require if a School Board were formed, and showed by comparison with other places, where School Boards had been established and schools built, that the probability was the sum to be raised by the parish would approach nearer £2000, and perhaps exceed it. Now, was it wise, was it judicious, to expend so large an amount of the ratepayers’ money merely for an idea ? .... for it was nothing more. [ Hear, Hear ] No complaint had ever reached his ears of the neglect of education in the parish; on the contrary, it had been pushed forward with praiseworthy assiduity, and promoted by the greatest liberality. [ Hear, Hear ] He vigorously attacked the compulsory clause of the Education Act, and expressed his firm belief that its application in the parish of St. Michael would be attended with deterrent rather than beneficial results. His advice, then, was to adhere to the present system, which they had enjoyed for years, which had served the parish well, and one under which many a youth had been trained to become an admirable, respected, and prosperous man of business; and who, in the period of advanced life and prosperity, looked back with gratification and pride upon the advantages he had received by means of education under the voluntary system. [ Applause ] He concluded by moving that it was not expedient a School Board should be formed for the district. MR. G. R. THOMPSON said not one word had been uttered by MR. SHEPHERD to indicate how the money was to be raised for carrying on the schools under the voluntary system and adapting them to the requirements of the Education Act, although he understood the previous meeting was adjourned to afford the opponents of change an opportunity of giving the necessary explanation. He did not see that any greater cost would be incurred under a School Board than under the voluntary system, and in his opinion by the former plan, the ratepayers of the parish would be far more benefitted than by the latter. He had no fault to find with the previous management of the schools; but as times changed, it was necessary to go along with the times, and one of those changes which seemed now to be a necessity was to compel children to attend school. For this purpose a rate would be levied upon the whole parish, and thus every one would be compelled to contribute his quota to the promotion of the education of the young. If the plan which he supported was carried out, the parishioners would have the selection of the persons to constitute the School Board in their own hand; and he believed that the schools would thus be more efficient than before, and that the managers would be in a position to pay the schoolmasters better salaries. [ Hear, Hear ] .......................to be continued. _________________________ barb, ontario, canada.