I.—2a.

2

Schedule of Petitions praying that the Irish National Scripture Lesson-books may be used in the Public Schools of the Colony, &c.

PETITION. To the Honourable the Speaker and Members of the House of Eepresentatives, in Parliament assembled. The Humble Petition of the Undersigned humbly sheweth, — 1. That it is desirable that the Education Act should be so amended as to provide for religious instruction in schools. 2. That the instruction should be given by the teachers. 3. That the text-book should be the Irish National School-book of Scriptural Lessons. 4. That there should be a conscience clause for both teachers and children. 5. That a Bill to give effect to the above proposals will be introduced into Parliament this session; and your petitioners humbly request that your honourable House will take the same into your consideration, and pass the Bill in such form as your honourable House shall deem fit, so as to establish a system of religious instruction in the public schools of the colony. And your petitioners, as in duty bound, will ever pray.

Nos. and Names of Petitioners. 131. L. M. Ludbrook and 419 others. 141. D. Kellahan and 130 others. 179. J. McFarlane and 436 others. 251. G. Miller and 109 others. 451. C. Sim and 15 others. 452. W. Anderson and 13 others. 453. John Evans and 667 others. 292. S. Burnside and 532 others. 339. A. Telfar and 766 others. 353. C. A. Dawson and 125 others. 368. Jos. Arnbury and 51 others. 369. John Hendrie and 61 others. 398. Charles Clark and 313 others. 410. A. Martin and 180 others. 438. D. Crawford and 130 others. 465. W. Hanson and 239 others. 467. John Barr and 915 others. 481. H. D. A. Major and 28 others. 478. H. P. Coux and 208 others. 472. Bev. J. Headrick and 35 others. 406. E. A. Clarke and 33 others. 407. George Elliot and 117 others. 378. T. A. Coleman and 39 others. 380. B. Markham and 68 others. 381. B. M. Byburn and 49 others. 425. J. E. Fox and 34 others. 295. C. Worboys and 89 others. 422. F. Chapman and 7 others. 423. H. F. Gordon and 29 others. 409. Bev. J. W. Chapman and 88 others. 282. F. G. Westenra and 299 others. 315. C. C. Harper and 247 others. 341. G. C. Williams and 31 others. 342. T. Tanner and 49 others. 343. Bev. S. Williams and 94 others. 313. W. H. Banderson and 32 others. 314. T. J. Wills and 35 others. 355. C. L. Tuke and 48 others.

Nos. and Names of Petitioners. 429. W. F. Knight and 29 others. 455. B. Groves and 67 others. 300. J. 0. Batchelor and 143 others. 424. Kate Colegrove and 524 others. 323. H. Stebbings and 188'others. 333. D. Morris and 98 others. 408. B. Bobinson and 20 others. 411. Bev. A. Dasent and 146 others. 367. Henry Jay and 64 others. 370. Alice Bonaldson and 473 others. 372. Bev. C. A. Tisdall and 826 others. 374. W. M. Hannay and 211 others. 376. E. Thornton and 572 others. 277. Alfred Andrews and 277 others. 399. W. H. Dicldams and 181 others. 270. Bev. A. S. J. Jones. 373. Bev. J. Jones and 368 others. 294. Bev. A. Twogood and 275 others. 309. A. Parker and 27 others. 340. J. M. Devenish and 102 others. 357. W. Davis and 504 others. 285. J. Gibbons and 86 others. 286. D. H. Jenkins and 129 others. 317. B. Harrison and 204 others. 327. W. H. Philips and 132 others. 338. Bev. B. Hermon and 204 others. 435. A. Orr and 48 others. 421. B. M. Paton and 269 others. 329. P. A. Branfil and 1,699 others. 393. Bev. J. A. Asher and 154 others. 473. J. Stevenson and 76 others. 474. James Allan and 81 others. 509. Bev. J. Johnston and 29 others. 510. Bev. P. Bamsay and 38 others. 511. H. Cochrane and 331 others. 493. G. Mac Murray and 83 others. 512. Annie E. Chrystal and 159 others. 513. Charles Hurst and 59 others.