to the Rev. J. B. Wittenoom, with Messrs R. W. Nash, G. F. Stone, and F. Lochée, to form themselves into a committee to consider the subject. On their recommendation two committees were appointed, one of ladies, the other of gentlemen, to superintend, respectively, the girls' and boys' schools at Perth. Subsequently, in 1856, a general Board of Education was appointed by the same authority. The Colonial Secretary was the chairman, and the other four members the Lord Bishop of Perth, the Roman Catholic Bishop residing in Perth, and the ministers of the Wesleyan and Congregational communions. The Roman Catholic Bishop however refused to act. The Board had a paid Secretary. Local Boards were also appointed to act, under instructions from the General Board, in the different districts of the Colony. The system of instruction in its main features corresponded with that of Ireland. In the first year there were 11 schools only, with 429 scholars attending. In 1870, there were 55 schools and 2188 scholars.
In 1871 the Elementary Act, still in force, was passed by the Legislative Council, and £6,181 were placed on the estimates for educational purposes. By this Act the constitution of the Central Board was altered. The Colonial Secretary still remained the chairman, but the other four members were to be laymen, appointed by the Governor for three years, no two of whom might be of the same religious denomination.
The principal provisions of this Act are that the Central Board shall exercise general supervision over all schools receiving Government aid, but in secular instruction only, with a more special direction over purely Government schools; appoint and instruct an Inspector of Schools; make by-laws and regulations;
