1866 TO 1880.
In 1866 the ‘Public Schools Act’ was passed by the Legislature. By this Act the National and Denominational School Boards were abolished, and a new Board—designated ‘The Council of Education’—was constituted for the management of all State-aided schools—National and Denominational.
The Council of Education began work January, 1867, and it continued its management of Public Education up to May, 1880.
| 1867 | 1880 | |
| Schools ... | 642 .... | 1,265 |
| (including 317 Denominational) | (including 150 Denominational) | |
| Enrolment .. | 57,000 .... | 101,534 |
| Teachers .. | 971 .... | 2,300 |
| Expenditure .. | £100,610 .... | £381,797 |