business of the board. Subject to the provisions in those regulations, the school board may from time to time make such further regulations on the subject as they may deem necessary (33 & 34 Vict., c. 75, Sched. 3; 36 & 37 Vict., c. 86, Sched. 3).

Proceedings of a school board are not to be questioned on account of vacancies in the board; and no disqualification or defect in the election of persons acting as members is to vitiate proceedings when the majority of members, parties to them, were entitled to act. Minutes of the proceedings of the board, signed by the chairman, are to be receivable in evidence in all legal proceedings without further proof (33 & 34 Vict., c. 75, sec. 30).

Provision of Schools by School Boards.

On the formation of the School Board the Education Department are to send to the board a requisition requiring them to take proceedings forth with for supplying the school accommodation which is considered necessary for the district, and on the receipt of the requisition the school board are forthwith to comply with its requirements, and take the necessary steps for providing the school accommodation specified by the Education Department (33 & 34 Vict., c. 75, sec. 10).

The school board for the purpose of supplying adequate school accommodation may provide schoolhouses for the district, by building or otherwise. They may improve, enlarge, and fit up any schoolhouse provided by them, and supply school apparatus and everything necessary for the efficiency of the schools so provided (sec. 19). They are to maintain and keep efficient every such school, and are from time to time to provide such additional school accommodation as they may consider requisite (sec. 18).

If the Education Department are satisfied that the school board have failed either to maintain or keep efficient any school provided by them, or to supply such additional school accommodation as is necessary for the district, they may send the school board a requisition requiring them to fulfil

the duty which they have failed to perform (33 & 34 Vict., c. 75, sec. 18).

In order to facilitate the purchase of land by school boards for the erection of schoolhouses, the clauses of the Lands Clauses Consolidation Act, 1845, and the amending Acts, with the exception of those relating to "access to the special Act," are incorporated with the Act. The powers conferred upon the school board of purchasing land compulsorily are, however, only to be exercised subject to certain conditions which are prescribed by the statute, and under the authority of an order of the Education Department, which must be confirmed by an Act of Parliament (33 & 34 Vict., c. 75, sec. 20; 36 & 37 Vict., c. 86, sec. 15).

The School Sites Acts of 1841, 1844, 1849, and 1851 are also to apply to a school board in the same manner as if the board were trustees or managers of a school within the meaning of those Acts (33 & 34 Vict., c. 75, sec. 20).

It was anticipated that it would be found in many instances that when a school board had been formed for a district, the managers of schools previously maintained. on the voluntary system would be desirous of relieving themselves of the charge by transferring them to the school board, and thus rendering them rate-aided schools. It is therefore provided that arrangements may be made, subject to certain conditions, for the transfer of any elementary school by the managers of the school to the school board of the district in which the school is situated. In no case, however, is such an arrangement to be made without the consent of the Education Department and (if there are annual subscribers to the school) the consent of two-thirds of the subscribers present and voting on the question at a meeting summoned for the purpose. The arrangement may provide for the absolute conveyance to the school board of all the interest in the schoolhouse possessed by the managers or trustees of the school, or for the lease of the schoolhouse at a nominal rent or otherwise to the school board, or for the use of the schoolhouse by the school board during part of the week only. The arrangement may also provide for the transfer of any endowment belonging to

the school, or for the discharge by the school board of any debt charged on the school not exceeding the value of the interest or endowment transferred to them. A school so transferred is to be deemed a school provided by the school board (33 & 34 Vict., c. 75, sec. 23).

The school boards of two or more school districts may, with the sanction of the Education Department, combine together for the purpose of providing, maintaining, and keeping efficient schools common to such districts (33 & 34 Vict., c. 75, sec. 52).

Borrowing Powers of School Boards.

The school board are empowered, with the consent of the Education Department, to borrow money on the security of the school fund and local rate (see p. 26) for the payment of any expenses which they have incurred, or require to incur, either (a) in providing or enlarging a schoolhouse, (b) in paying off any debt charged on a schoolhouse provided by them, or on land which they have acquired by gift, transfer, or purchase, or (c) in works of improving or fitting up a schoolhouse, when the Education Department consider that the cost, in consequence of the permanent character of the works, should be spread over a term of years.

The school board may also, with the consent of the Education Department, borrow for the purpose of providing offices for the board, and, with the consent of the Secretary of State, for establishing and building a certified industrial school, or a certified day industrial school (39 & 40 Vict., c. 79, secs. 15, 42).

The consent of the Education Department to a loan for a schooolhouse is not, however, to be given unless they are satisfied that the additional school accommodation which it is proposed to supply is required for providing for the educational wants of the district.

The repayment of the amount borrowed may be spread over any number of years not exceeding fifty. If the board and mortgagee so agree, the sum borrowed, with the interest, may be repaid by equal annual instalments not exceeding

fifty; and if not, the board are to set aside each year onefiftieth of the amount of the loan as a sinking fund. For the purpose of such loans, the clauses of the Commissioners Clauses Act, 1847, which relate to mortgages, are incorporated with the Act.

The Public Works Loan Commissioners may, on the recommendation of the Education Department, or, in the case of an industrial school, of the Secretary of State, lend the money required. Sums thus advanced are to be repaid within a period not exceeding fifty years, and to bear interest at the rate of 3 per cent. per annum (36 & 37 Vict., c. 86, sec. 10; 39 & 40 Vict., c. 79, secs. 15, 42).

In the case of the metropolis, the Metropolitan Board of Works may advance to the school board the sums required from the funds raised under the Metropolitan Board of Works Loan Act, 1869 (33 & 34 Vict., c. 75, sec. 58).

When the members of a school board have been appointed by the Education Department (see p. 23), the board are not to borrow or charge the school fund with any loan exceeding such amount as the Education Department may certify to be required (33 & 34 Vict., c. 75, sec. 65).

Discontinuance of Schools by School Board.

The school board may, with the sanction of the Education Department, discontinue any school provided by them which is deemed to be unnecessary, or, with the like sanction, change the site of any school which they have provided (33 & 34 Vict., c. 75, sec. 18).

The provisions of the Charitable Trusts Acts, 1853 to 1869, extend to the sale, leasing, and exchange of any land or schoolhouse belonging to a school board which is not required by them, the Education Department, for the purpose of the provisions in those Acts, being substituted for the Charity Commissioners (33 & 34 Vict., c. 75, sec. 22).

Where it is deemed desirable that a school which has been transferred by the managers of the school to a school board, under the provisions of sec. 23 of the 33 & 34 Vict., c. 75 (p. 14), should be re-transferred to the managers, an

arrangement may be made for that purpose, subject to certain conditions. The consent of the Education Department to the re-transfer is requisite, and that consent is not to be given unless the Education Department are satisfied that any money expended upon the school out of a loan raised by the school board has been or will, on the completion of the retransfer, be repaid to the school board. When a school is thus re-transferred it is to cease to be a school provided by the school board (sec. 24).

Appointment of Managers by School Boards.

If the school board think it expedient, they may appoint a body of managers, consisting of not less than three persons, and may delegate to them the control and management of any school provided by the board, or any other powers conferred upon them by the Act, except those relating to the raising of money (33 & 34 Vict., c. 75, sec. 15).

A manager may resign his office by written notice, and the school board may from time to time remove all the managers appointed by them.

or any of

The number of managers may be varied by the school board, subject to the number not being less than three.

The school board may also, when they think fit, alter the constitution or powers of the managers (sec. 15).

Certain rules are prescribed with regard to the meetings and proceedings of managers thus appointed by the school board (33 & 34 Vict., c. 75, Sched. 3).

When the school boards of two or more districts combine together for providing and maintaining schools common to the districts, the agreement may provide for the appointment of a joint body of managers (33 & 34 Vict., c. 75, sec. 52).

Religious Instruction in Schools provided by School Boards.

As has already been stated, no Parliamentary Grant can be made to any school which is not conducted in conformity with the regulations prescribed by sec. 7 of the Act of 1870 (p. 3), which, with the view of ensuring full religious liberty, provide