An Act to confirm the Sale of the Site of the Royal
Hospital, with the Buildings thereon.

[20th April, 1891.]

THEREAS by Chapter 24 of the Statutes of British Columbia, Preamble 1889, intituled "An Act to authorize and facilitate the sale of the Royal Hospital, with the buildings thereon," it was enacted that it should be lawful for certain persons therein named and therein styled the Trustees to sell and convey to the purchaser thereof Sections twenty-four, twenty-five, twenty-six and twenty-seven, Spring Ridge, in the City of Victoria, except those portions thereof comprising twenty feet in depth along the southern line of each of said Sections, which said portions form part of the public thoroughfare known as Pandora Street South, and the said Trustees sold and by deed dated the 21st day of March, A.D. 1890, granted and conveyed the said Sections, except the said portions thereof comprising twenty feet in depth along the southerly line of each of the said Sections as aforesaid, to one Sidney John Pitts, the purchaser thereof:

And whereas at the time said Act was passed the said Sections twenty-five, twenty-six, and twenty-seven were held by the Crown, and the said Section twenty-four was held by the Honourable John Foster McCreight and the Right Reverend Edward Cridge in trust for the purposes of a hospital:

And whereas doubts have been expressed whether the said Act empowered the said Trustees to convey the said lands, or to grant more than a life estate therein, and it is advisable to set the said doubts at rest and to confirm the title of the said purchaser thereto :

Therefore, Her Majesty, by and with the advice and consent of the Legislative Assembly of the Province of British Columbia, enacts as follows:

Declares that chap.

24 of the Statutes of

convey the fee.

1. The said Act, Chapter 24 of the Statutes of British Columbia, B. C., 1889, empow. 1889, intituled "An Act to authorize and facilitate the sale of the ers the trustees to Royal Hospital, with the buildings thereon," shall be construed as empowering the said Trustees to convey the said hereditaments to the purchaser thereof, his heirs and assigns forever, as and for an absolute estate of inheritance in fee simple. The said conveyance by the said Trustees to the said Sidney John Pitts shall be deemed to have conveyed to him and his heirs all that the said Sections twenty-four, twenty-five, twenty-six and twenty-seven, Spring Ridge, except the said portions thereof comprising twenty feet in depth along the southerly line of each of the said Sections, to hold the same unto and to the use of the said Sidney John Pitts, his heirs and assigns forever, freed and discharged from each and all the trusts affecting the same.

Registrar to register forthwith.

2. The Registrar-General of Titles shall forthwith register the title of the said Sidney John Pitts as owner in fee simple of the said Sections, except the said portions so not empowered to be sold by the said Act as aforesaid.

VICTORIA, B. C. :

Printed by RICHARD WOLFENDEN, Printer to the Queen's Most Excellent Majesty.

ER MAJESTY, by and with the advice and consent of the Legislative Assembly of the Province of British Columbia, enacts as follows:

lic School Act, 1885."

1. The "Public School Act, 1885," an Act passed in the 48th year Repeal of the "Pubof Her Majesty's reign, and all subsequent amendments, are hereby repealed.

Short Title.

2. This Act may be cited as the "Public School Act, 1891."

School Districts.

Short title

3. All School Districts existing at the date when this Act shall come Existing districts. into operation shall continue unaltered until altered under the provisions

of this Act.

4. The members of the Executive Council shall constitute a Council Council of Public Instruction. of Public Instruction.

Education.

5. It shall be lawful for the Lieutenant-Governor in Council to Superintendent of appoint a Superintendent of Education for the Province of British Columbia, who shall also be Secretary of the Council of Public Instruction.

6. It shall be lawful for the Council of Public Instruction, from Powers of Council of Public Instruction. time to time:

(1.) To create School Districts in addition to those already existing, and to define the boundaries thereof, and from time to time to alter the boundaries of existing, or hereafter created, Districts: Provided that no School District shall be created wherein there

shall not be at least fifteen children of school age, between six and sixteen years of age:

(2.) To set apart in every School District such a quantity of the waste lands of the Crown as in their opinion may be necessary for school purposes in such District:

(3.) With the sanction of the Lieutenant-Governor in Council, to grant, on the application of the School Trustees of any such School District, such sum or sums of money as may be required to pay the salary of the Teacher in such School District; in Rural Districts to defray the cost of erecting a school-house, or providing a house or room within which the Public School of such District may be held; the cost of all furniture and apparatus necessary for the use of any such school, and the current expenses connected therewith:

(4.) With the sanction of the Lieutenant-Governor in Council, to grant such sum as shall be thought proper in aid of the establishment of a school in any part of the Province not being a School District, and not having less than seven and not more than fourteen children between the age of six and sixteen years resident therein, upon the application of a majority of the parents resident in such part of the Province:

(5.) To appoint two or more Examiners, at such remuneration as shall be thought proper, who, together with the Superintendent of Education, shall constitute a Board of Examiners, and shall examine teachers and grant certificates of qualification. Such certificates shall be of three classes, viz.:-first class (grades A and B) certificates, second class (grades A and B) certificates, and third class (grades A and B) certificates:

(6.) To appoint, at a reasonable remuneration, one or more Inspectors to visit the Public Schools, and to require such Inspectors to enquire into and report their observations to the Superintendent of Education in relation to the progress and attendance of the pupils, the discipline and management of the school, the system of education pursued, the mode of keeping the school registers, the condition of the buildings and premises, and such other matters as they may deem advisable in the furtherance of the interests of the schools:

(7.) To make and establish rules and regulations for the conduct of the public schools, to prescribe the duties of teachers, and their classification:

(8.) To determine the subjects and percentages required for all classes and grades of certificates of teachers, as well as to make and prescribe rules for the governance of candidates for certificates of qualification as teachers:

(9.) To select, adopt and prescribe a uniform series of text-books to
be used in the Public Schools of the Province, as well as the
courses or standards of instruction and study for schools:
(10.) To suspend or cancel for cause the certificate of qualification of
any teacher, subject to the approval of the Lieutenant-Governor,
as expressed by an Order in Council:

(11.) To determine all cases of appeal arising from decisions of
Trustees, and to make such orders thereon as may be required:
(12.) To make any provisions, not inconsistent with this Act, that
may be necessary to meet exigencies occurring under its
operation:

(13.) To establish a Normal School with Model Departments, and to make regulations for its conduct and management.

High Schools.

7. The Council of Public Instruction may establish a High School Council of Public in any district where it may be expedient so to do, wherein the higher Instruction may esbranches may be taught, and every such High School shall be under the control of the local Board of Trustees for the District wherein such High School is situate: Provided, however, that no High School shall be established in any School District in which there are less than twenty persons duly qualified and available to be admitted as High School pupils.

Duties of Superintendent of Education.

8. It shall be the duty of the Superintendent of Education

(1.) To take charge of and safely keep all apparatus that may be Duties of Superin-
procured for school purposes, and to furnish, at his discretion, tendent of Educa-
on the application of the Trustees of any district, such apparatus
as may be required for the schools in such district:

(2.) To establish a separate school for females in any district where
he may deem it expedient so to do; and such school, when so
established, may be presided over by a female teacher or
teachers, but otherwise shall be subject to the same obligations
and regulations as Public Schools generally under this Act:
(3.) To examine and enquire into, from time to time, the progress of
the pupils in learning, the order and discipline observed, the
system of instruction pursued, the mode of keeping the school
registers, the average attendance of pupils, the character and
condition of the buildings and premises, and to give such
directions as he may judge proper:

(4.) To do all in his power to persuade and animate parents, guardians,
trustees and teachers to improve the character and efficiency of
the Public Schools, and to secure the sound education of the
young generally: