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No. 14. Memorandum for the Secretary, Education Board, Nelson. Eefereing to previous correspondence on the subject of religious instruction in the Nelson Town Schools, I have the honour by direction of the Minister of Education to ask you to be good enough to inform me what has been the result of the action reported in your letter of the 4th ultimo. Wμ. Jas. Habens, Education Department, Wellington, . Secretary for Education. 12th July, 1898.

No. 15. Memorandum from the Nelson Education Boaed. The Secretary, Education Department, "Wellington. In reply to your memorandum of the 12th instant, I beg to inform you that the Nelson School Committee, in answer to the Board's communication of the 4th June last, have declined to make the arrangements suggested, and contend that in their action they are upholding the law, which places the school buildings, when not required for public-school purposes, under the control of the School Committees. In consequence of this reply, the Board has proposed to the Nelson School Committee that the two bodies should join " in stating a case for the Supreme Court, to obtain a ruling as to the legality of the action of the Town Schools Committee in giving religious instruction in school buildings at a time when lessons in secular subjects are being given within the same buildings, though such secular teaching is entirely optional on the part of the children and their teachers." I anticipate that a reply to this proposal will be received in time to be laid before the Board at its next meeting on the 26th instant. 14th July, 1898. Stead Ellis, Secretary.

No. 16. Memorandum from the Nelson Education Boaed. The Secretary, Education Department, Wellington. In further reply to your memorandum of the 12th instant, 98/502-24, I beg to inform you that the following resolution has been sent to the Nelson School Committee, viz.: "That the Board regrets that the Committee has not adopted the suggestion of the Board to state a case. The Board must consequently use its own interpretation of the law, and requests the Committee to desist from permitting religious instruction to be given in the public schools upon days and at hours when the school buildings are being used for public-school purposes." 29th July, 1898. Stead Ellis, Secretary.

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