THE LONDON SCHOOL BOARD AND ELEMENTARY

EDUCATIONAL PROGRESS.

The School Board (Victoria Embankment) consists of fifty members, elected in numbers varying from four to seven from the ten boroughs of the City, Chelsea, Finsbury, Greenwich, Hackney, Lambeth, Marylebone, Southwark, Tower Hamlets, Westminster. The local work is intrusted to Divisional and Sub-Divisional Committees, under whom serve paid superintendents of visitors. The school fees vary from 1d in some parts of London to 6d. per week. About half the children pay 2d.

MEMBERS ELECTED, Nov. 24, 1882.

Meetings every Thursday, at 3 p.m.

City of London.-Ald. Sir Reginald Hanson, H. C. Richards, Henry Spicer, Miss Rosamond Davenport-Hull.

Chelsea-Dr. J. H. Gladstone, Robert Freeman, William Bousfield, George Mitchell, Richard Denny Urlin. Finsbury.-Mark Wilks, Mr. B. Lucraft, Rev. 8. Wainwright, D.D., W. R. Bourke, Thos. L. Roberts, Rev. W. T. T. Webber. Greenwich.-E. Hughes, J. E. Saunders, Henry Gover, Rev. T. D. C. Hackney.-T. J. Beven, J. Lobb, Rev. H. D. Pearson, B. S. Odling, Mrs. F. Fenwick Miller.

Morse.

Lambeth Rev. C. E. Brooke, G. C. Whiteley, Miss Hen. Müller, Rev. G. M. Murphy, T. E. Heller, Charles R. White, * Hon. C. A. Dillon, E. B. Gudgeon. Marylebone-Arthur Mills, Rev. J. R. Diggle, Rev. W. Barker, Mrs. A. Westlake, Hon. E. Lyulph Stanley, M P., G. B. Bruce, E. Bond. Southwark.-Miss Helen Taylor, Rev. C. D. Lawrence, Alex Hawkins, Miss Mary E. Richardson. Tower Hamlets.- Sir Edmund Hay Currie, Lieut.-Col. L. Prendergast, *Miss Hastings, E. N. Buxton, William Pearce. Westminster.-Jas. Ross. Rev. B. Belcher, M.A., J. S. Burroughes, Dr. E. B. Aveling, the Right Hon. Sir Arthur Hobhouse, K.C.S.I.

From the establishment of the School Board, in November, 1870, up to Oct. 12, 1882, accommodation in schools had been provided for 256,360 children. At Lady Day there were upon the rolls of the board schools (including certain schools transferred and temporary schools) 276,849 children. The staff of teachers comprised 3685 adult teachers, and 1546 pupil-teachers and candidates. The fees charged by the board range from 1d. to 6d.; the number of school places provided at id. being, according to a recent return, 55,677; 131,862 at 2d.; 58.854 at 3d.; 12,919 at 4d.; and 6003 at 6d. The charges are determined solely by what is believed to be the ability of the parents, and to avoid needless class distinctions they are made uniform in each school. When the census of all the schools in London was taken, in 1871, whether efficient or non-efficient, the total number of children on the roll was 320,143. The number of children now upon the roll of efficient schools alone is 525,999; in other words, the roll of efficient schools alone is greater by 205,856 than the total roll of all schools whatever in the beginning of 1871. Increased accommodation being required, eleven new schools are (1853) in course of construction, at a cost to the ratepayers of £89,405; twenty-two schools are also in progress of enlargement, at a total outlay, for new and old, of £126,462.

The general lines upon which it has been found practicable to carry on elementary education in Great Britain may be said to have been laid down in the English Act above referred to (1870) and in the Scotch Act of 1872. But two subsequent Acts in England (1876 and 1880) and one in Scotland (1878), and incidentally the Factory Acts in both countries, have done much to add to the efficiency of the compulsory powers; and the ultimate result in England has been to increase the average attendance from less than one and a quarter million in 1870 to over three millions in 1882. The limits of variation in the percentage of the average attendance, nowhere falling below 67 (which is the percentage for Monmouth, Notts, York, Cornwall, and Wales), or rising above 76, the percentage for the metropolitan district, the only remarkable circumstance being that in the 20 counties where over half the population are under School Boards there are ten instances of the percentage falling decidedly below the average. In the remaining 20 counties, where the dominant local authority is the School Attendance Committee of the Board of Guardians, there are only two such instances— Northampton, with 70 per cent, and Lincoln with 68. Owing to the want of efficient means for enforcing school attendances under the Scotch Act, the percentage of children on the school register was not so high as it should have been; indeed, it fell below the English percentage by 1:20, per percentage for Scotland being in exact figures 74:37, against 80 67 for England. To redress this evil, children between 13 and 14 years old are no longer to be exempted from compulsory school attendance. As to the aptitude of Scotch children, the following table affords the clearest evidence of recent educational progress. The number of children presented in the higher standards in Scotland was as follows:

THE WATER SUPPLY OF THE METROPOLIS. The bulk of the London water supply is, according to skilled and constituted authorities, impure, and the supply is for the most part intermittent instead of constant. It is almost needless to say that water is one of the most essential and important elements of human and animal life. Throughout the metropolis this necessity of life is stored in cisterns, which add a quota of impurity to the river defilements and currents of poisonous sewer gas. In 1606 the Corporation of London was empowered by Act of Parliament to bring water to the City from the neighbourhood of Ware. The New River Company, the richest of the water corporations, owes its origin to this measure; but its founder was not the municipality, but Sir Hugh Myddelton, to whom it assigned its rights. The venture, however, Crown that it was rescued from utter failure. It is a more pertinent complaint that when, in the early part of this century, company after company obtained powers of water supply, the Corporation, then the only public the interests of the consumers. In 1821 a Committee of the House of body of note in London, made no attempt to control their proceedings in Commons considered the subject, and from that time to the present the question of London water supply has been constantly before Parliament, with the result of lavish expenditure in legal contests, and with only a slight mitigation of evils to the ratepayer. The Metropolitan Board of Works has on two occasions approached Parliament on the question. In 1871 it asked for power to buy up the undertakings of the water companies, and in 1878 to provide an independent supply. On each occasion Parliament was indisposed to look favourably on the scheme, and there can be little doubtcertainly it was so in the second case-that the principal objection, expressed or felt, was that the constitution, history, and character of the Board were not such as to warrant the bestowal upon it of such large powers. The Board was, however, by an Act passed in 1871, clothed with powers which enabled it to compel the substitution of a constant supply for the system of storage in Cisterns. Singularly enough, it has never moved hand or foot to secure this benefit to the ratepayers; on the contrary, it has used its influence, on the whole, to retard the change. So far as a constant supply has been introduced it has been the voluntary work of the companies. But whilst the water companies have during the last decade done little towards giving water consumers "pure and wholesome water," they have very materially increased the price of their commodity. They have insisted upon charging by rates on the annual value; and if water is used for purposes they consider not included in the domestic supply, they make extra charges as they think fit for that If the amount of extra charge is objected to, they then offer to supply by meter, putting on the full percentage and an extra charge for the meter supply; and as there is a fixed minimum charge made wherever a meter is used, this renders the offer practically useless in most private houses. As to business premises and warehouses, the grievance is even worse, for in most cases they claim to charge on the annual value of the premises with certain additional fixed charges. Thus the whole question of the London water supply has become wellnigh intolerable, and hence it has come to be believed that either competition, a deep-well water supply, or the extension of the Corporation of London to the metropolis at large, will alone afford a remedy for the dilemma in which London finds itself on the question of a pure and wholesome water supply.

use.

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A Parliamentary paper gives the results of the working of the metropolitan water companies for the past year-in the case of the Chelsea, Grand Junction, Lambeth, Southwark and Vauxhall, and West Middlesex Companies to September last, and to December in the case of the East London, the Kent, and the New River Companies. The total capital raised by the Chelsea Company stands at £1,150,700, the East London at £2,089,700, the Grand Junction at £1,310,000, the Kent at £720,564, the Lambeth at £1,444,317, the New River at £3.228,104, the Southwark and Vauxhall at £1,822,000, and the West Middlesex at £1,153,740. The whole of The the last-mentioned company's capital is in ordinary stock. total capital expended by the companies was as follows:-Chelsea, £1,152,177; East London, £2,146,126; Grand Junction, £1,346,939; Kent, £650,517; Lambeth, £1.485,043; New River, £3,256,078; Southwark and Vauxhall, £1,798.809; West Middlesex, £1,130,180. It will be noticed that the Chelsea, the East London, the Grand Junction, and the Lambeth Companies had an excess of expenditure over receipts. The water rental for the year of the various companies (deducting empty houses) was as follows:-Chelsea, £100,361; East London, £231,978; Grand Junction, £155,251; Kent, £100,463; Lambeth, £170,308; New River, £427,723; Southwark and Vauxhall, £184,918; and West Middlesex, £176,612. From rent of lands, &c., the companies generally received only small sums; but in the case of the New River Company, which possesses considerable amount of landed property, the amount received was £8744, while the East London Company derived from a similar source £2303. The total expenditure on maintenance and management, respectively, was as follows:-Chelsea, £26,141 and £7905; East London, £73,997 and £17,395; Grand Junction, £46.830 and £12,967; Kent, £21,386 and £7303; Lambeth, £58,606 and £11.418; New River, £119.146 and £41,166; Southwark and Vauxhall, £58,632 and £13,759; and West Middlesex, £46,305 and £12,559. The item of taxes, which is included under maintenance, is a large one with all the companies. The amount paid by the Chelsea Company was £7055; East London, £22,096; Grand Junction, £10,739; Kent, £5019; Lambeth, £10,232; New River, £36,586; Southwark and Vauxhall, £13,167; and West Middlesex, £12,681. Under the heading of management, the amounts paid to directors stand as follows:Chelsea, £1325; East London, £2156; Grand Junction, £1633; Kent, £2000; Lambeth, £1843; New River, £9282; Southwark and Vauxhall, £2047; and West Middlesex, £2451. The profit on trading and the net profits, respectively, were as follows:-Chelsea, £66,887 and £43.405; East Lordon, £142,414 and £124,708; Grand Junction, £95,507 and £85,633; Kent, £72,009 and £71,192; Lambeth, £100,448 and £92,268. New River, £276,306 and 230.693; Southwark and Vauxhall, £112,741 and £69,512; and West Middlesex, £118,143 and £119,407. The dividends paid for the whole year ended last December by the Kent Company was 10 per cent, and by the East London Company 7 per cent. For the first half of the year ended June last the dividend of the New River Company was at the rate of £11 118. 19d. per cent per annum; while for the six months ended March, 1882, the dividend paid by the Chelsea, the Lambeth, and the Southwark and Vauxhall Companies was at the rate of 7 per cent per annum, the distribution for the same period by the West Middlesex Company and the Grand Junction Company being, respectively, at the rates of 10 per cent and 8 per cent per annum. The amount of capital raised by the companies amounted to £12,919,125, and the total expenditure had been £12,965,869.

Rhine

SEPTEMBER, 1882. 17. Egyptian forces deserted the lines at Kafr-Dowar, which were taken possession of by Sir Evelyn Wood. Aboukir and Mexs surrendered with 6000 men, 700 horses, 15,000 Reming-| ton rifles, 50 field guns.

Decree issued by Khedive abolishing the Egyptian army, and proclaiming that all officers who had taken part in the rebellion would be punished according to military law. The Duke of Edinburgh laid the 19. Gazette published from General foundation-stone of the Smeaton Graham and Major-General Drury-memorial-the old Eddystone lightLowe giving particulars of action at house-on Plymouth Hoe. Kassassin, Aug. 26. 22. A detachment of 1st Life - General order issued by Sir Guards landed and marched through Garnet Wolseley congratulating London to Knightsbridge Barracks, army upon its brilliant success, meeting with an enthusiastic rehaving in twenty-five days effected a ception. disembarkation at Ismailia, traversed the desert to Zagazig, occupied the capital of Egypt, and defeated the enemy four times-Aug. 24 at Magfar, 25th at Tel-el-Mahouta, Sept. 9 at Kassassin, and finally, Sept. 13, at Tel-el-Kebir.

20. Abandonment announced of the negotiations for a military convention with Turkey.

---

The Rosetta garrison and 5000 men surrendered to the British at

Kafr-Dowar.

22. A naval expedition, consisting of a corvette and two gun-vessels, left Alexandria for Damietta, the place being still held by Egyptians

under Abdelal.

24. The surrender of Damietta and

Abdelal.

25. The Khedive proceeded from Alexandria to Cairo, the city being illuminated at night.

26. The Khedive held a Levée at Geizireh Palace, Cairo, and expressed his gratitude to the Queen of England, and decorated Sir Garnet Wolseley with the Grand Cross of the Osmanieh.

27 Note addressed by the Porte to the British Ambassador at Constantinople concerning the withdrawal of the British force from Egypt, their presence being no longer required.

28. A train loaded with ammunition took fire at Cairo station, large quantities of ammunition destroyed, and several lives lost by the explosion.

29. The Protection of Persons and Property Act in Ireland (1881) expired.

OCTOBER.

2. The Duke of Connaught inspected Indian Contingent at Cairo. 4. The Sultan threatened to address himself to the Powers if the British Ambassador did not reply to the question when our troops will leave Egypt.

5. Grand ceremony at Cairo in connection with the departure of the pilgrim party accompanying the Sacred Carpet to Mecca, Indian troops heading the procession. 6. Gazette despatch from Sir Garnet Wolseley giving particulars of the battle of Tel-el-Kebir.

The Cambridgeshire won by Mr. R. Peck's Hackness.

Serious floods in various parts of the country, caused by excessive rains; several lives lost.

26. House of Lords: Earl Granville moved a vote of thanks to the commanders, officers, and men engaged in the Egyptian campaign, which was seconded by the Marquis of Salisbury.

-House of Commons: Mr. Gladstone moved a similar vote, which was seconded by Sir Stafford Northcote, and opposed by Sir Wilfrid Lawson, who moved the previous question; this was defeated by 351 to

9. Commission of Inquiry at Alexandria on massacres of June 11 held 29. Dr. J. T. Arthur, of the Governits first sitting. Two Arabs found ment Medical Service, Ceylon, burned guilty of the murders of Dr. Ribton to death in a Pullman car, while and M. Cattini and hanged at Alex- travelling on the Midland line. andria.

10. Selwyn College, Cambridge, formally opened.

Mr. John Pearson, Q.C., appointed to the judicial bench to fill the vacancy caused by the resignation of Vice-Chancellor Hall.

The Cesarewitch won by Mr. W. 8. Crawfurd's Corrie Roy. 11. First examination of Arabi

before the Commissioners appointed

to try the rebel leader.

12. Sir Archibald Alison appointed to command the army of occupation, Egypt.

30. Continued heavy rain and floods Continent; great damage to property in many parts of the country and the and serious loss of life.

ceed to Egypt to take the direction of the negotiations connected with the settlement of the country.

Lord Dufferin ordered to

31. Meeting of Conservative members of Parliament at the Carlton Club to consider the course to be

pursued on the question of clôture.

NOVEMBER.

1. Longfellow Memorial mittee resolve to place a bust of deComceased in Poets' Corner, Westminster Abbey. 2. Lord

-Ingestre Hall, the family seat of the Earl of Shrewsbury, near Stafford, destroyed by fire. 17. Irish National Conference" held at Dublin, at which the pro- stantinople for Egypt after an interDufferin left Con

B

2. Prorogation of Parliament. 3. As a result of Lord Dufferin's negotiations, Arabi Pasha was tried by court-martial at Cairo on charges of revolt only, to which he pleaded guilty, and was sentenced to death; sentence commuted to exile for life. 4. The Queen opened the new Law -A representative contingent of Courts in the Strand, after which the the Indian regiments who served in Prince of the Egyptian campaign-thirty-two tinguished guests lunched with the Wales and other disofficers and men-arrived in England. Benchers of the Middle Temple. The ruins of the Palace of the Tuileries sold by auction at Paris for 32,300f.

10. House of Commons: Debate on Sir Stafford Northcote's motion to reject the Cloture proposal of the rejected by 304 to 260. Government concluded;

motion

The

Speaker read a letter from Mr. 13. House of Commons: Bradlaugh asking permission to

state at the bar of the House the grounds on which he claimed to be allowed to take his seat.

14. House Gladstone announced that the numof Commons: Mr. ber of troops in Egypt had been reduced to 12,000, and that the existing state of things was entirely provisional, as the Government had no idea of retaining such a

force in Egypt for any length of time:

18. About 8000

5. Stanford Hall, Worcestershire, destroyed by fire.

sun's disc satisfactorily observed in many parts of the world.

6. The Transit of Venus across the

7. Destruction of the Alhambra Theatre, Leicester-square, by fire.

Mahmoud Pasha Samy and other Egyptian rebel leaders concommuted to exile for life. demned to death at Cairo, sentence

Great snowstorm in London and the provinces; railway and telegraphic communication interrupted, and loss of life.

the poll: Mr. Smith (L.), 18,198; Mr. Forwood (C.), 17,889.

8. Liverpool election. Result of

10. Dense fog in the metropolis; traffic partially suspended, accompanied by severe frost.

on the Thames Embankment opened 12. The new City of London School by the Prince of Wales.

13. Anniversary of Mr. Gladstone's entrance into Parliament in 1831.

Manchester Reform Club, announced Lord Derby, entertained by the his conversion to Liberalism.

21. French expedition to Tonquin decided on.

rett found guilty at Cork of the 22. Sylvester Poff and James Barmurder of Thomas Brown at Castleisland, and sentenced to be hanged.

Arabi and the six other principal 25. The ceremony of degrading political prisoners, publicly performed

at Cairo.

President of the Local Government Sir Charles Dilke appointed Board, with a seat in the Cabinet, lorship of the Duchy of Lancaster. Mr. Dodson accepting the Chancel

28. The Belt libel case concluded, after occupying forty-seven days. Verdict for the plaintiff with £5000 damages.

JANUARY, 1883.

3. Patrick Delaney sentenced to for an attempt on the life of Judge ten years' penal servitude at Dublin

Lawson.

Brussels sunk off the Mersey, by collision with the steamer Kirby Hall; ten lives lost.

7. The Inman steamer City of

8. Sir Charles Dilke returned unopposed for Chelsea.

9. Terrible floods in the Rhine Valley villages swept away.

11. The Egyptian Control formally abolished.

12. Draught of a plan for the reorganisation of Egypt presented to the Porte.

16. Issue by Prince Napoleon of a proclamation against the Republican Government, followed by his arrest. (Continued on page 20.)'