EDUCATIONAL PROCEEDINGS OF THE LEGISLATURE OF CANADA.
On the 14th of May, 1850, His Excellency the Earl of Elgin and Kincardine opened the Third Session of the Third Provincial Farliament of Canada with the usual Speech from the Throne. In it he made no reference to Educational matters. 1. EDUCATIONAL PROCEEDINGS OF THE HOUSE OF ASSEMBLY, 1850.
May 21st, 1850. Pursuant to the Orders of the Day the following Petitions were read : Of the Municipal Council of the United Counties of Wentworth and Halton, praying that the duties pertaining to the Office of the Chief Superintendent of Education be merged in some one of the Departments of Government.
The Petition was as follows:
The Petition of the Municipal Council of the United Counties of Wentworth and Halton to the Legislative Assembly:
That your Petitioners are of opinion that the Educational interests of Canada require to be placed under the care of one of the Members of the Executive Council, being convinced that, thereby, not only would these interests be better subserved, but that a large saving of public expenditure would be effected.
We, therefore, pray that the duties pertaining to the Office of Chief Superintendent of Education, be merged in some one of the Departments of the Government.
And your petitioners, as in duty pound, will ever pray.
HAMILTON, 10th of April, 1850.
Six Petitions were also presented from Municipal Councils, praying that the funds accruing from the Clergy Reserve and Rectory Lands be appropriated to the purposes of General Education and public improvements.
May 28th, 1850. Pursuant to the Orders of the Day, the following Petitions were read (1.) Of the Right Reverend Joseph E. Guigues, the Bishop of Bytown; praying aid in support of the College of Bytown; (2) Of Mr. Thomas Tracy and others, Roman Catholics of School Section Number Ten, in the Township of Kitley; praying for the re-establishment of Separate Schools, and the equitable distribution of Common School Fund; (3) Of the Municipality of the Township of Brantford; praying that the office of Chief Superintendent of Education be merged in some Department of the Government; (4) Of Mr. George Hyde, Townreeve and others, on behalf of the Municipality of the Township of Plympton, praying for the sale of the Clergy Reserve and Rectory Lands, and that the proceeds accruing therefrom be appropriated to purposes of General Education; (5) Of Mr. Edward Masse and others of Bytown, praying for aid in behalf of the College of Bytown, similar to that granted to other Institutions of a like nature Three Petitions were also presented, praying for the repeal of the Imperial Act relating to the Clergy Reserves, and that the funos accruing therefrom be appropriated to purposes of General Education, and also for the abolition of the Rectories.
May, 29th, 1850.--The Honourable James H.Price, one of Her Majesty's Executive Council, delivered to Mr. Speaker a Message from His Excellency the Governor General, signed by His Excellency. And the said Message was read by Mr. Speaker, all the Members of the House being uncovered, and is as followeth :
* Mr. Robert Spence, who was afterwards Postmaster General of Canada, and subsequently, in the early sixties, Collector of Customs at Toronto, was one of the active opponents of the principle of "Compulsory taxation" for Schools; see pages 61-63 of the Eighth Volume of this Documentary History of Education in Upper Canada. The views expressed in the foregoing Petition were also embodied in a Petition from Brantford, presented to the House on the 28th of May, and in a Memorial of the Gore District Council to the Legislature in 1847, see page 115 of the Seventh Volume of this History.