Polynesian., 1851-05-24
No.. 2.

much good during The year past. The number
of pupils during the year has been thirty, all
pure HawaIian> ami the instruction they have
received has been mostly from MIR. Ia, now a
member of this honorable body. No evil, but
many good reports have been received concern
ing the school, and though comparatively reduc-
ell in numters il is believes, To have accomplish
ell vastly more than il cost the government slu-
ring the year.
The whole cost Of that Seminary, to the gov
ernment, for the year ending March Slst, was
SlS62,1? Should 1t he revived, however, as
there is good reason to hope that it win be- in
short time, at least $4,000. annually, The amount
appropriated last year, will he needed to sustain
it efficiently. Less than two foreign and two
native teachers ought not to he thought of, for
the institution, and to keep the buildings in re-
pair, and meet the incidental expenses, will re-
quire considerable outlay annually
A select school for instruction. in the French
language has been recently commenced, in Homo
ulus with good prospects.
rHE PuEIIC Schools.
A summary of these will be found in the fol-
lowing table, together with the accounts OF re-
ceipts aud disbursements for the year 1850 Incu-
sive. The returns for the first quarter of the
year not having come in, in seas' u, are not here
reported. The table is based upon The reports of
school Inspectors of the Is school districts, aud
uldy pt Ttiicu Ou Us III tnC tfiafn SOfiSS''
{ See nert page.)
The table shows diminulion in the number
of scholars in the public schools, of Sl2 since the
close OF the year IS49 bur the ratio of decrease
is much SMALLER than il during that year;
which was shown, in my report of last year, to
have been 3,40S. The diminished ratio of de-
crease in $780, was doubtless owing to The fact,
that that was year of general health through
out the Islands aud the small absolute decrease
IL. ,h<,r- Atrpan fhnf
year. is nearly accounted for by the increased
number that left those schools to join the select
schools, for the purpose of learning tie English
language {; aud not by actual decrease IN the
number of children on the Islands, of Suitable
age to attend school.
The whole amount expended on the 543 pub-
lie schools during the year 1850 being S25 S9 &c.,
VASES 800, ,12s more than the cost during the year
previous. This was owing to the increase OF The
wages of the teachers, and also To the fact that
the change of the paahaO, or labor tax, TO Il cap
itation tax has increased the school funds and
consequently authorized larger outlay.
The entire amount expended on the Sandwich
Islands for educational purposes during the year,
may be estimated as follows
On the public schools, $25,S9I, 30.
On select schools supported by govt, 1893 ,52,
On select schools supported by voiun-
tary efforts, !I,Uol,uO.
Minister'S salary, clerk hire, stationa-
ry, &C., 4,So4,iI.
s4S,I46,5s.
Supposins the population 10 I've IS, 900, which
is not far from the truth, the above amount
would he so cents for every individual or sup
posing the taxable male population to be io,UVo,
it would amount to S2,0S for each man, were
the whole amount raised by taxation.
A small debt of $5ls, Ia stood against The gov
ernment in favor of the schools, on the Slst OF
December last, but it appears from the returns
of the school treasurers and collectors, that pai-
aure of cash remained in their hands, much more
,.5an sufficient 10 cancel this DEBT 90 Tar as Gu"
he ascertained from the reports, the balance way
about 81, ,O40,3 SO, although many of the treasur-
ers and collectors are not SO skilled III keeping
accounts, as TO Justify entire commence 'A s"1
estimate THAI may be based upon their report.
The balance not all the overplus funds OF
last year, but was part of the tax of the present
year that had been paid in as the law requires,
on or before the first of January OF each year.
The school act of last year seems to have met
with general appreciation, and has been oi mdeA
benefit to the schools. The attendance OF the
scholars has been better the change OF the paa-
haO, or labor tax, To direct tax, has not only
increased the school revenue, but saved much
trouble in coIlerring it. Much difficulty has been
experienced in procuring suitable persons Tor the
office of treasurer in the remote Districts ID some
of which. owing TO this difficulty, none have yet
been appointed But the plan of having treas
urers distinct from the collectors, has worked
well, and secures more strict accountability I'D
BOTH
Agreeably tn enactment of the last Legisia-
ture, a portion of the government lands nave
been set apart by resolution the Privy Conn
Gil, for Educational purposes. list of those
lands is herewith submitted. For want OF time
and suitable instruments, nothing more than
beginning has been made in surveying them, and
only SIG acres have been soltl, for the sum Of
$500 $500 of which has been pail IN and =
now on interest for the benefit of schools.
The attention ofibe Legislature has been calf
ed, by His Majesty, 10 the subject of religious
equality between the Protestant ani Catholic.
subjects Of the King. A charge of partialify IN
favor of Protestants in conducting the pubc
schools has been repeatedly made, and has hesr,.
in fact, a matter OF diplomatic correspondence
with the representatives of great foreign pow
er. To any charge from this quarter, n is not
my province TO reply nor il il were, would IT,
be necessary, since it has been already most Iniiy
lore by The Kings Minister ef, Foreign heia-*
lions. But as matter of iazcrest relating 10 sno-
internal affairs of the Kingdom, ~ may not DO
put of place for me here make some statements
TO the Legislature on a subject viewed with So
much interest iD connection With The schOols~
No complaint OF partality has ever Teen rnasi6
10 the head of the Department Of Public insiruc-
ion, by any of the Kings subjects, whether Pro-
estant or Catholic, whether in relatioG TO the
schools, or ecclesiastical matters. The Only com
plants Of this kind have come from a. foreign
source and have been made by those who cannot
,e looked upon as the most impartial JUDGES
themselves, and who have no right Of M
erference with our public schools, dian ihFS
rave with our public roads, OF public b'i,ssss'sS.
" hen the Kings own proper sshieets, OF What
,ver Glass they may he, prefer <s.h q asnar-e ma
respectful manner, it viii receive the fsa1s' care
al Consideration
From first 10 Tssf, of the ermsin.snrs Of fSoven'-