NATIVE EDUCATIONAL RESERVE

Greymouth Evening Star, 19 May 1906, Page 1

NATIVE EDUCATIONAL RESERVE

-THE TE AUTE ENDOWMENT. [BY ELECTRIC TELEGRAPH.] NAPIER, May 17. The sitting of the Native Education * Endowment Commission was resumed to-day. Jr 15. Fielder, one of the Trustees of the To Auto estate, gave evidence as to the leasing of the land under the Trust to Archdeacon S. Williams, and to the regular rendering of accounts to the General Synod, and the lliocesian Trust Board." The management of the Trust was left to Archdeacon Williams, but the Trustees had a general knowledge of what was being done and were quite satisfied. In addition to the published accounts the Archdeacon had given several sums not recorded, and he had also expended large sums in improvements to the Estate in addition to the rents he paid. Amongst the gifts by the Archdeacon Williams not recorded in the accounts was one of £IBOS Is 3d to Hukarero. The Trustees sanctioned the exchange of two small, pieces of land on the valuation of Mr Horace Baker, who reported that the land offered in exchange would be of great advantage (o the Trust in increasing ils utility. The General Synod had also approval of the exchange. The present lease of 6789 acres was for twelve years at an annual rental of £2200, an increase of £2OOO on the previous rental. The Tius'-cis were fully of opinion that having regard lo the whole of the circumstances (his was to the best advantage of the Trust The Government in January, 1006, offered to lake over a portion of tho estate, some 2300 acres, for closer settlement, but this was not entertained

and a reply to that effect was sent iu February. No complaints had ever been received regarding (ho administration of the eslaie, and the inly suggestion of the sort that witness knew of were some anonymous litters which appeared in (ho press. Archdeacon Williams, in evidence, slated that he had been in charge of the missionary district at Otaki in 1852, having been asked to go there in 1847 by the Bishop of New Zealand to endeavor to settle a disagreement between the natives and (he Government. Ho succeeded in pacifying Ihe unlives and made considerable progress in their education, forming several schools. Jn 1853. at the pressing instigation <4 Sir George Grey, witness undertook to try and promote education amongst (lie natives of Hawkes Bay, and some land was se( aside by the Government and some given by (he natives for that purpose. The laud granted by the Government was for natives and Europeans and that given by tile natives was for native education. This latter was given on (he distinct understanding that witmss stopped there. Witness had administered the estate as manager of Ihe Trust for several years, erecting all the buildings and providing a school master for three or four years. £3OO had been granted by the Church Missionary Society to assist. Witness had spent much of his own money in fein-nig and improving this properly, and as he was running into debt lie reluctantly came to (ho conclusion he would have lo close. He was, however. urged to continue and subsequently was granted a lease at £SOO a rear. This relit had been continual I v increased at each renewal, though all the money spent on improvements had been done by witness, lie could have got oilier land at much less cost than he had paid out for the Trust property, but as the money was to be expended for schools, he was content to pay what was arranged. He had continued to administer the estate and would still do so as long as lie was trusted. He felt annoyed at the Trns(es fixing ilie rent for the last lease at £IOOO more than the value fixed by their own valuer, but lie consented to pay it. He could supply a list of 84 purely European children who had passed through tile Te Ante College. The sitting adjourned until (o-mor-