The evening times., 1896-03-27
EDUCATION IN AUSTRALIA.
Liberal Appropriation for Schools
Made by the State.

large item OF the state expenditure
In New South Wales represents the annual
cost, so far as the government Oh that
colony is concerned, OF education, science
and art; and it is noticeable that, not
withstanding the strength OF the Democratic
element in the colonial legislative assem-
bly,, the state expenditure for such pur-
poses is rarely, If ever, objected to. Inc
amounts expended during 1894 were as
follows: Public instruction, f61o,O69,
Sydney Grammar School, f2,3OO; sydney
University, E2O, 59s; affiliated colleges,
fl,45s; st. Andrews College building
fund. Es94; women's College, $500; sgd
ney Observatory, f4,O46; Free Public Ii
brary, 80, 5T2; A australian Museum, to,I44,
National Art Gallery, f5,O9l; Art Society
of New South Wales, $500; Royal Society
ofNew South Wales $500; Iinnaean Society
OF New South Wales, E1OO; New South
Wales Geological Society, $500; Field
Naturalists' Association, flO; Royal Geo
graphical Society, f3l; Board OF National
Interchanges OF State Publications, 600;
imperial Institute, London, f41s; revision
of lists of New South Wales fishes, EST;
Official history OF New South Wales f1 ,304;
work OH New South Wales orchards. GsOO;
Es ,OsO; maps for Mechanics Institute.
ELS; miscellaneous, E4,O61; forming
total OF G741 1873.
In addition, u sum OF f3,136 for works
in connection with the Sydney Technical
College and another OF t2,OO0 for public
school buildings were voted from the lean
estimates the whole representing over
1850, 900 expended for purposes connected
~ Nf,S.
colony. In proportion TO the population
and amount of public revenue. the state
expenditure in this direction in New South
Wales is lorrcr than in any other country.
but it does not represent the whole cost
OF the various institutions mentioned, as
several receive extensive support from
private sources. Thus, the total cost OF
the Sydney Grammar School during 1884
was f9,O43. OF which only $4,000 was
defra yed by the state. In like manner the
annual expenditure of the ydncy Univer-
sitycxcecded the amount OF state assistance
by f12,941. From this it will be seen
that the liberality exercised by the state
does not tend to discourage, but rather to
stimulate private enGeavOr- There are in
the colony 1TS schools Of art, fifty.four
mechanics institutes, and seven literary
institutes, each of which is entitled to u
government subsidy OF f1 for every f2
| raised by subscription, and of FL for every
Ell raised for building purposes.
In connection with each of these institu-
tions is n library for the use Of members
for the colonists are a reading people; not
only have the various townships and dis
tricts their own local papers, generally
well edited and maintaining high moral
| tone. hut immense numbers OF British and
| foreign newspapers, magazines aud other
| publications are imported weekly and find
| an immediate circulation. The works Of
| British authors are most largely in de-
| niand. In the Sydney Free Library the
| improved intellectual tastes of the general
| community is illustrated by the charac-
| tor Of the works lent TO readers. the caSsi-
| fication OF which during 1894 was as fol
| lows: Miscellaneous literature and col
| loctel works. 22,135 volumes; prose books
| Of fiction. 1921 volumes: periodical and
| serial literature. 1864 volumes: natural
philosophy. science and the arts, 1871 VOL
| umcs: history. antiquities, etc. S.4S5 vol
umes; biography and correspondence. Z, $40
| volumes: miscellaneous. 1856 volumes. II
| will be seen that. contrary to the rule in
| many British free libraries. works of fic-
| ton formed less than one-fifth of the vol
umes issued. a fact in accordance with the
experience with previous years.