The Hawaiian gazette. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1865-1918, 1868-06-17
OK Monday last, the legislative As

Ok Monday last, the Legislative As
sembly ordered Committee to wait upor
His Majesty, and inform him of their read
mess to be prorogued on Monday next
The Assembly convened April 18th ant
have continued their sittings steadily NJ
to the present and by Monday will have
reached Sc working days. The session
will be shorter than those of former years
The second reading of the Appropria
ton Bill was finished on Monday, anC
there are still ten to fifteen Bills upon the
table, awaiting action, but they can easily
be disposed Of before Monday.
On Tuesday of last week, the Bill grant
ing Aid to Ocean Steamships known a:
the Subsidy Bill, passed lis final reading
This Bill, which has been the most warmly
debated one of the session, has called out
very general expression of opinion, both
in and out Of the Assembly. 1t authorizes
the King, in Privy Council, to grant. III
his discretion, the sum of $4,000. under
conditions regarding prices of passage and
freight, and other minor regulations, to
any Steamship Company which will engage
to put second steamer on the route be-
tween this port and San Francisco, fol
two years.
Under the present circumstances, and
with due regard to the future, it was wise
for the Assembly to confer this discretion
airy power, and thus open the way for Sc
curing any advantages in rapid commune
cation with the Coast, which may arise
during the time which will elapse before
the next session. The responsibility OF
securing valuable service for the money
voted, will rest with the Government.
One Of the most important Bills Of the
session is that introduced by the Chair
man of the Committee on Education, Mr..
Hitchcock. 1t provides for the re-organ-
izing of the Local School Boards. so that
one member of the Board shall be elective
and for the appointment and removal of
the teachers in the common schools 10y the
Local Board, subject to appeal to the
Board of Education.
The management of the common schools
has been fruitful source of differences of
opinion among those competent to judge
in educational matters, and while all pro-
fess to be aiming at the same result-the
greater efficiency and usefulness of the
schoels-the surest and most expedient
method Of attaining this, is not so apparent
If the Local Boards are interested, earnest
and efficient, and have the good Of the
schools at heart. the schools will prosper.
Ne central power, vested in the Board CT
Edacation. can nfuse life and activity into
the schools of the outer districts. if the
Local Board, the parents and the people
are Indifferent to the education Of the
children, and neglectful Of the welfare of
the schools. No amount of legislation
can compensate, or any industry Of the
general O1icers of the. Board supply. the
momentum which ought to come from the
parents.
The system of common schools on these
Islands has never been as vigorous and as
effective as in other countries, simply be-
cause the Hawaiians have always depended
upon their Government, or their religious
teachers to keep up enthusiastic movement
in the cause Of general education.
The institution of higher grades of Sc
lect schools. which have sprung up all over
the country, during the last four years, has
had tendency to incite both parents and
children, to desire and esteem good edu-
cation, and must have reflex action for
good on the common schools.
Another important item passed by the
Assembly Is the appropriation of $4,000
TO be applied to the support of common
schools in those districts which are poor.
and where the school tax is not sufficient
to carry the schools through the year.
The law does not provide that the surplus
Of one district may be applied to supple
ment the deficiency in another, and hence
10 few. while there have been more funds
than were used, there have been many
where the schools have been closed for
long periods. To remedy this evil, fund
has been provided by which all the schools
may be kept on through the year. The
improvements IN the school law are such
as mnstlneet with general approval. and
we hope that all the friends of Hawaiian
education will heartily help to give them
successful application.
TUE third volume of the elaborate Chinese ]