Fort St. George, Public Consultation of 10 March 1857. II. Madras. READ the following Letter from A. J. Arbuthnot, Esq., Director of Public Sir, I HAVE the honour to acknowledge the receipt of an Extract from the Minutes of Consultation, under date the 19th ultimo, No. 76, calling upon me for a report with reference to the inquiry contained in Mr. Beadon's letter of the 30th December last, whether any rules had been laid down in this Presidency "as to the principles on which schoolhouses may be built and repaired at the public expense, what they are, and whether it is necessary to adopt any other conditions in this respect. 2. In reply, I have the honour to state that, with the exception of the general rule under which grants are made in aid of the erection of buildings for schools maintained by private individuals or societies, no rules have been as yet laid down in regard to the erection or repair of schoolhouses at the public expense in this Presidency. In my letter of the 5th ultimo, which is now under the consideration of Government, I recommended that in providing buildings for the talook schools now being established, the principle of making a grant from the public Treasury, equal to the contributions of the inhabitants of the localities for whose benefit the schools are established, should be adopted; and it may be a question whether a similar rule should not be carried out with reference to all schools which are mainly supported by the State; but I fear that, as regards the higher schools for which the buildings required must be of a more expensive kind, it would be almost impossible to provide suitable buildings if the public grant be restricted to a sum equal to that raised from local sources. 3. His Lordship in Council is aware that, with the exception of the provincial school at Combaconum, where the liberality of the late Rajah of Tanjore placed at the disposal of Government a building in many respects well adapted for school purposes, none of the provincial and zillah schools as yet established have been provided with permanent schoolhouses, and that it has been in contemplation to erect schoolhouses at Bellary, Rajahmundry, Calicut, and Cuddalore, at the public expense, their cost being defrayed from the unexpended balances of the accumulations at the credit of education which the Honourable Court, in their Despatch of the 30th August 1854, directed to be reserved for building purposes. It is probable that buildings will be eventually required at other stations at which zillah schools have been or may be established; and at Salem, where a zillah school was opened in May last, a subscription of 3,000 rupees has been raised by the inhabitants towards the erection of a schoolhouse. Such aid it would clearly be impolitic to reject; and I would therefore suggest that, with the view of encouraging the inhabitants of other towns to come forward in a similar manner, it should be publicly notified that, in determining on the appropriation of the funds available for the erection of schoolhouses for the superior schools, consideration will be given to the amounts raised from local sources. If the Government consider it desirable that in this, as in other cases, the aid of Government should be proportioned to private efforts, it might be laid down that in such cases the Government grant will be in the proportion of three to one of the sum raised by local subscriptions, provided that in no case it shall exceed 12,000 rupees, or such sum as his Lordship in Council may think fit to specify. 4. In the case of grants in aid of the erection of buildings for schools maintained by private individuals or societies, the rule that the amount of the grant shall not exceed the amount contributed from local sources is strictly enforced; but here it seems desirable that some definite guarantee should be demanded to ensure the permanent appropriation of all educational buildings erected or repaired with the aid of a public grant for the purposes of education. 5. With this view it might be stipulated that parties receiving such grants should bind themselves and their successors, in the event of the building, in aid of the erection or repair of which the grant may have been given, being diverted to other purposes, either to refund the amount of the grant, or so much of it as may then be deemed to bear the same proportion to the value of the building as the sum granted may have borne to it at the time the grant was given, or to No. 11. II. Madras. make over the building to Government, receiving for it its actual value, minus the grant, or so much of it as may be considered to bear the same proportion to the present value of the building that the grant bore to its original value. 6. In the case of grants made in aid of the erection or repair of buildings for schools belonging to private individuals or societies, the amount sanctioned should not be paid until the building or repairs have been completed according to a plan previously agreed upon. (signed) A. J. Arbuthnot, Director of Public Instruction. No. 12. ORDER thereon, 253, dated 6th March 1857. THE Director of Public Instruction replies to the call made upon him in Extract Minutes Consultation, 19th January last, for a report in reference to the inquiry contained in Mr. Secretary Beadon's letter of the 30th December last, whether any rules had been laid down in this Presidency "as to the prin ciples on which schoolhouses may be built and repaired at the public expense, what they are, and whether it is necessary to adopt any other conditions in this respect. 2. He states that, with the exception of the general rule under which grants are made in aid of the erection of buildings for schools maintained by private individuals or societies, no rules have been as yet laid down in regard to the erection or repair of schoolhouses at the public expense in this Presidency. He refers to the recommendation contained in his letter of the 5th January, that, in providing buildings for the talook schools now being established, the principle of making a grant from the public Treasury, equal to the contributions of the inhabitants of the localities for whose benefit the schools are established, should be adopted, and thinks it a question whether a similar rule should not be carried out with reference to all schools which are mainly supported by the State, although he fears that, as regards the higher schools for which the buildings required must be of a more expensive kind, it would be almost impossible to provide suitable buildings if the public grant be restricted to a sum equal to that raised from local sources. 3. Referring to a late instance at Salem, where, on the opening of a zillah school, a subscription of 3,000 rupees was raised by the inhabitants towards the erection of a schoolhouse, he suggests that, with the view of encouraging the inhabitants of other towns to come forward in a similar manner, it should be publicly notified that, in determining on the appropriation of the funds available for the erection of schoolhouses for the superior schools, consideration will be given to the amounts raised from local sources. It might be laid down that, in such cases, the Government grant will be in the proportion of three to one of the sum raised by local subscriptions, provided that in no case it shall exceed 12,000 rupees, or such sum as his Lordship in Council may think fit to specify. 4. In the case of grants in aid of the erection of buildings for schools maintained by private individuals or societies, the rule, that the amount of the grant shall not exceed the amount contributed from local sources, is strictly enforced; but here it seems desirable that some definite guarantee should be demanded to ensure the permanent appropriation of all educational buildings erected or repaired with the aid of a public grant for the purposes of education. With this view, it might be stipulated that parties receiving such grants should bind themselves and their successors in the event of the building, in aid of the erection or repair of which the grant may have been given, being diverted to other purposes, either to refund the amount of the grant, or so much of it as may then be deemed to bear the same proportion to the value of the building as the sum granted may have borne to it at the time the grant was given, or to make over the building to Government, receiving for it its actual value, minus the grant, or so much of it as may be considered to bear the same proportion to the present value of the building that the grant bore to its original value. II. 5. In the case of grants made in aid of the erection or repair of buildings for schools belonging to private individuals or societies, the amount sanctioned should not be paid until the building or repairs have been completed according to a plan previously agreed upon. 6. The Government observe that, in the orders passed in Extract Minutes Consultation, 16th January last, on the Director's letter of the 5th idem, in regard to talook schoolhouses, sanction was given for the disbursement from the public funds, in aid of the erection of certain schoolhouses, of sums which, with one exception, corresponded with those that had been contributed from private sources. In one instance, however, that of the Verdachellum schoolhouse, the amount given by Government was somewhat below the local contribution. Speaking generally, although the Government altogether approve the principle that such buildings, whether for talook or zillah schools, should be constructed at the joint expense of the State and the local community, they are not prepared to lay down any specific rule as to the proportion to be borne to each other by the Government contribution and the local subscriptions. Circumstances must vary so greatly with the locality, that any such rule would practically be of no value, owing to the number of exceptions which it would be necessary to make to it. With this reservation, the Government approve the announcement suggested by the Director in paragraph 3 of his letter. 7. With reference to the suggestions made by Mr. Arbuthnot in paragraphs 4, 5, and 6 in respect to private schoolhouses, all that the Government would require in cases where they may contribute to the erection or repair of such edifices is, that, in case of the schools being abandoned by the present proprietors, the Government should have the option of taking the buildings at values to be determined by arbitration, credit being allowed them for the full amount of their original contributions. 8. In the case of all grants bestowed for such purposes, provision should of course be made to ensure the sums contributed by Government, as well as those in aid of which they are given, being duly expended. Madras From T. Pycroft, Esq., Chief Secretary to Government, to C. Beadon, Esq. Sir, I AM directed by the Right Honourable the Governor in Council to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the 30th December last, No. 1660, inquiring whether any rules exist at Madras as to the principles on which schoolhouses may be built and repaired at the public expense, and, if so, what they are, and whether it is necessary to adopt any other conditions in this respect. 2. In reply, I am desired to forward, for submission to the Government of India, the accompanying copy of a letter from the Director of Public Instruction, under date the 2d ultimo. 3. From this it will be seen that, with the exception of the general rule under which grants are made in aid of the erection of buildings for schools maintained by private individuals or societies, no rules have been as yet laid down in regard to the erection or repair of schoolhouses at the public expense in this Presidency. Mr. Arbuthnot refers to a recommendation contained in a recent letter from him, that, in providing buildings for the talook schools now being established, the principle of making a grant from the public Treasury equal to the contributions of the inhabitants of the localities for whose benefit the schools are established, should be adopted, and thinks it a question whether a similar rule should not be carried out with reference to all schools which are mainly supported by the State, although he fears that, as regards the higher schools for which the buildings No. 18. 5 January, Madras. required must be of a more expensive kind, it would be almost impossible to provide suitable buildings, if the public grant be restricted to a sum equal to that raised from local sources. 4. Referring to a late instance at Salem where, on the opening of the zillah school, a subscription of 3,000 rupees was raised by the inhabitants towards the erection of a schoolhouse, he suggests that, with the view of encouraging the inhabitants of other towns to come forward in a similar manner, it should be publicly notified that, in determining on the appropriation of the funds available for the erection of schoolhouses for the superior schools, consideration will be given to the amounts raised from local sources. It might be laid down that, in such cases, the Government grant will be in the proportion of three to one of the sum raised by local subscriptions, provided that in no case it shall exceed 12,000 rupees, or such sum as the Government may think fit to specify. 5. In the case of grants in aid of the erection of buildings for schools maintained by private individuals or societies, the rule, that the amount of the grant shall not exceed the amount contributed from local sources, is, the director explains, strictly enforced; but here it seems desirable that some definite guarantee should be demanded to ensure the permanent appropriation of all educational buildings erected or repaired with the aid of a public grant for the purposes of education. With this view, it might, Mr. Arbuthnot suggests, be stipulated that parties receiving such grants should bind themselves and their successors in the event of the building, in aid of the erection or repair of which the grant may have been given, being diverted to other purposes, either to refund the amount of the grant, or so much of it as may then be deemed to bear the same proportion to the value of the building as the sum granted may have borne to it at the time the grant was given; or to make over the building to Government, receiving for it its actual value minus the grant, or so much of it as may be considered to bear the same proportion to the present value of the building that the grant bore to its original value. 6. In the case of grants made in aid of the erection or repair of buildings for schools belonging to private individuals or societies, the amount sanctioned should not be paid until the building or repairs have been completed according to a plan previously agreed upon. 7. With regard to the above suggestion of the Director, this Government, I am instructed to state, although they altogether approve the principle that buildings, whether for talook or zillah schools, should be constructed at the joint expense of the State and the local community, would yet not be disposed to lay down any specific rule as to the proportion to be borne to each other by the Government contribution and the local subscriptions. Circumstances must vary so greatly with the locality, that any such rule would practically be of no value, owing to the number of exceptions which it would be necessary to make to it. With this modification the Government have approved the notification proposed by the Director, as given above, and in para. 3 of his letter. 8. With reference to the suggestions made by Mr. Arbuthnot in respect to private schoolhouses, all that this Government would think it necessary to require in cases where they may contribute to the erection or repair of such edifices is, that, in case of the schools being abandoned by the present proprietors, the Government should have the option of taking the buildings at values to be determined by arbitration, credit being allowed them for the full amount of their original contributions. 9. In the case of all grants bestowed for such purposes, provision should of course be made to ensure the sums contributed by Government, as well as those in aid of which they are given, being duly expended. II. Madras. Fort St. George, Public Consultation of 24 March 1857. READ the following Letter from R. B. Chapman, Esq., Officiating Under Secretary to the Government of India, to J. D. Bourdillon, Esq., Secretary to the Government of Fort St. George, dated the 18th February 1857, No. 241. Sir, No. 51. In continuation of my letter, No. 1660, dated the 30th December last, I am Home Departdirected to forward the accompanying copy of an extract from the proceedings ment. Education. of Government in the Public Works Department, relative to laying down some general principles on which schoolhouses are to be built or repaired at the public expense, and to request that the Right honourable the Governor, in Council will be pleased to furnish the Government of India with his views upon the subject. (signed) R. B. Chapman, Officiating Under Secretary to the EXTRACT from the Proceedings of the Right Honourable the Governor General of India in Council in the Public Works Department (Public), under date the 6th February 1857, No. 657. READ Abstract of Proceedings of the Bengal Government in the Public Works Department for the month of October last. READ Office Memorandum Home Department, No. 1959, dated 30th December last. Observations 1.-THE Right honourable the Governor General in Council observes, that cases must not unfrequently arise in which orders have to be passed either by the local Governments or by the Government of India with reference to the provision of schoolhouses and their repair at the public expense. To deal with such cases as they occur in an isolated manner is not only wasteful of time, but tends to cause irregularity and looseness of practice, and it would be in every way more convenient if rules were laid down on general grounds which should embody the principles to be attended to in deciding these questions. 2. The preparation of these rules would, however, mainly devolve upon the Home Department, in communication with the several local Governments, the only part of the question which need be considered in this department being that which has reference to the schoolhouses solely as buildings, to be constructed, purchased, or repaired. Resolution 3.-With these views, his Lordship in Council is pleased to resolve that the following general principles shall be adopted in this department. I. The erection of new schoolhouses or the purchase of buildings to be converted into schools will naturally be treated as any other similar Public Works transaction. At the same time, it will be convenient to lay down a limit to the outlay for the provision of such buildings, either in proportion to the class of school, or to the probable number of scholars, or to a combination of both these considerations. II. In the transfer of existing schoolhouses to the Educational or Public Works Departments, precautions will have to be taken that in so doing the State does not heedlessly involve itself in unlooked for or unnecessary expense. In such cases the building should be surveyed, and a rough preliminary estimate of the probable annual repairs made and submitted to the local Governments before the transfer is sanctioned. A general limit can also be laid down for the annual outlay on repairs which is deemed reasonable for various classes of schools, &c., analogous to the limit for purchase or construction already spoken of. III. The local Governments should be instructed to leave all minor school buildings altogether in the hands of the Educational Department, just as the small police buildings are managed by the magistrate, &c. Only larger structures, or those at the chief civil stations should be placed under the Executive Engineers. All buildings thus placed under the Educational Department would be entirely managed and repaired by the officers of that department, though of course the Executive Engineer might be called in to advise or work in case of necessity. IV. The rights of schoolmasters to occupy schoolhouses will be distinctly defined. V. The supply of furniture, the provision of tatties and punkahs, and the custody of the buildings will be entirely managed by the Educational Department; the Public Works Department dealing with nothing but the school inclosure and buildings, with their fixtures and their bonâ fide repairs. VI. Lastly, it will be requisite to define with precision whether the Government will |