CORRESPONDENCE RELATIVE TO GRANT OF LAND FOR THE INDUSTRIAL SCHOOL AT WANGANUI.

Appendix to the Journals of the House of Representatives, 1866 Session I, D-15

D.—No. 15.

CORRESPONDENCE RELATIVE TO GRANT OF LAND FOR THE INDUSTRIAL SCHOOL AT WANGANUI.

PRESENTED TO BOTH HOUSES OP THE GENERAL, ASSEMBLY BY COMMAND OP HIS EXCELLENCY.

WELLINGTON. 1860.

D.—No. 15.

No. 1. Copy of a Letter from Messrs. Taylor and Maclean to Civil Secretary. Sir,— AVanganui, 10th July, 1552. We have the honor to submit to you, for the information of His Excellency the Governor-in-Chief that Aye haA'e, in accordance with His Excellency's instructions, selected a site Avith two hundred acres of land for the Industrial School which His Excellency contemplates establishing at AVanganui. The situation is indicated on sketch herewith enclosed, and Aye feel assured that it embraces all the necessary requirements for such an establishment. AVo have, &c, Eichard Taylor. The Civil Secretary, AVellington. Donald McLean. Description of Grant. District of Wanganui Industrial School, Grant for. — Containing 245 acres 32 perches. Bounded toAvards the north-west by a public road (the original boundary of the Town of Petre) 5300 links, toAvards the north-east by Victoria Avenue, 5300 links, towards tho south-east by Ingestre street, 3200 links, and toAvards the south and south-Avest by Asylum Eoad 2760 links and 1900 links respectively. No. 2. Copy of a Letter from the Commissioner of Crown Lands, AVellington, to the Hon. the Colonial Secretary. CroAvn Lands Office, Sir,— AVellington, 21th September, 1552. In compliance with orders I received from His Excellency the Governor-in-Chief I have tho honor to report as folloAvs on the proposal made by Mr. McLean aud tho Eev. E. Taylor for the selection of the site of tho proposed Industrial School at AVanganui. The OAvnership of all toAA*n and country lands in that settlement being ascertained, and the liabilities of the Government under contracts of the Ncav Zealand Company knoAA-n, there is now no obstacle in the way of the grant being issued for a site selected by Messrs. McLean and Taylor; but I Avould submit the expediency of altering the boundaries in a slight degree by making Victoria Avenue (the principal street in the town of Petre and the probable line that will be taken for the main road out to the country and to the nortliAvard) the N.E. boundary of tho school reserve. The alteration will only take off about 12 acres from the 200 proposed, but this quantity can, if necessary, be easily made up on another side. The Governor having directed me to make inquiries at AVanganui as to the opinion tho settlers might entertain of the scheme of an Industrial School I have further to state that I found, on explaining His Excellency's vieAvs to many persons, a great desire to see tho School established. Indeed the most pressing Avant just uoav is that of education. Every one complains of the evils consequent on there being no good school there. The Eoman Catholics, it is true, are making some efforts to provide iustruction for the children, but their means are very limited, and the establishment of a good school, on liberal principles as regards religious training, Avould, I Avas assured by every one to AA rhom I spoke on the subject, be hailed Avith the utmost satisfaction by the community. I have, &c, The Hon. the Colonial Secretary. • F. D. Bell. No. 3. Copy of a Letter from the Commissioner of Croavn Lands, Wellington, to the Hon. the Civil Secretary. Crown Lands Office, Sir, — AVellington, 27th January, 1553. I regret to have to report that Mr. T. 11. FitzGerald lately discovered a serious error in tho measurements given of the land granted for the Industrial School, at AVanganui. I have not been able to satisfy myself perfectly as to the origin of the error in the calculation of the linkages of the boundaries, but as Mr. Park made the plan, I can only account for it by the supposition that he measured them from a small plan he had in use at the time, whereon the dimensions had been incorrectly draAvn. It becomes necessary to correct the error, which, fortunately, can be done Avithout much inconvenience, as the grant has not been issued. May I, accordingly, beg you will obtain the Governor's sanction to the cancelling of the grant, and the preparation of a new one, for His Excellency's signature.

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CORRESPONDENCE RELATIVE TO GRANT OF LAND POR THE INDUSTRIAL SCHOOL AT WANGANUI.

D.—Kb. 16

I have the honor to enclose the minute of Mr. EitzGerald, by which the matter was brought under my notice. I haA re, &c, The Hon. the Civil Secretary, &c. F. D. Bell. P.S.—The original draft plan executed by Mr. Park, with the measurements marked by him, from Avhich the grant was prepared, has been found in the Colonial Secretary's Office. It is hoav certain, therefore, that the error was Mr. Park's, though his calculation might as well have been checked in the Survey Office by some one else. 29th January, 1853. Minute by Mr. FitzGcrald. On making the new plan of the Suburban lots at Wanganui, the measurement of one of the sides of the land granted for an Industrial School, Avas found to bo incorrectly stated as 2760 links, instead of 4000 links, and that the former incorrect measurement had also been inscribed on tho deed of grant. As the plan on this grant did not in any Avay come under my notice for examination, being sent from some other office, and put on the parchment and recorded by you, I believe, Avill you please explain how this has happened, aud from whom you received the plan or directions respecting it. 15th January, 1863. T. H. EitzGerald. A plan of this land Avas made by Mr. Boberts, and subsequently altered by Mr. Park, with whom I first saAV it in this office. As the acreage was incorrect, Mr. Park made another plan, from which the grant Avas pricked off. No Avritten order came with the plan, and, I believe, any instructions Mr. Park may have received, Avere verbal. Tho grant having been registered by the Hou. the Colonial Secretary, it appears to have come from his office. 15th January, 1863. T. H. EitzGerald. No. 4. Copy of a Letter from the Civil Secretary to the Commissioner of Ckoavn Lands, Wellington. (No. 53.) Civil Secretary's Office, Sir, — ' AVellington, Ist February, 1853. In reply to your letter of the 27th ultimo, I have the honor to convey to you the requisite authority for the preparation of a new deed of grant of the land reserved for the Industrial School, at AVanganui, and to request that you will return to this office tho former deed, in order that tho same may be cancelled. I have, hoAvever, to remark, that errors of this nature cannot fail to bo productive of very serious consequences to tho grantees, if permitted to pass unnoticed, and reflect great discredit upon the offices in which the grants are prepared, and prove that the measurements are computed and checked in a very careless and negligent manner. These remarks apply as avoll to Mr. Park, who prepared the original plan, as to those officers through Avhose hands the plan must have passed in the preparation of the grants. I have, &c, F. D. Bell, Esq., Alfred Domett, Commissioner of CroAvn Lands, AVellington. Civil Secretary. No. 5. Copy of a Letter from the Commissioner of Croavn Lands, AVellington, to tho Hon. the Colonial Secretary. CroAvn Laud Office, Sir, — AVellington, Ist February, 1853. I have the honor, in accordance with tho instructions contained in your letter of the Ist instant, to return you herewith a Deed of Grant of land reserved for the Industrial School, AVanganui, bearing date of the 13th October, 1852, together with a correct deed for the land in question, which I have had prepared for His Excellency's signature. I have, &c, F. D. Bell, The Honorable the Colonial Secretary. Commissioner. No. G. Copy of a Letter from the Civil Secretary to the Commissioner of Crown Lands, AVellington. Civil Secretary's Office, Sir,— _ Wellington, 21st February, 1853. HereAvith I have the honor to transmit a Deed of Grant of land reserved for the Industrial School at AVanganui, bearing date the 13th of October, 1852. I have, &c, Alfred Domett, F. D. Bell, Esq., Commissioner, AVellington. Civil Secretary.

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CORRESPONDENCE RELATIVE TO THE

D.—No. 16

Enclosure in No. 6. Copy of Crown Grant of Eesera7e for Industrial Schools. Victoria, by the Grace of God of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, Queen Defender of the Faith, and so forth: To all to whom these Presents shall come, Greeting : AVhereas a School is about to be established at Wanganui, in the Province of New Munster, New Zealand, under the superintendence of the Eight Eeverend George Augustus, Lord Bishop of Ne\v Zealand, for the education of children of other poor and destitute persons being inhabitants of islands in the Pacific Ocean. And Avhereas it Avould promote the objects of the said Institution to set apart a certain piece or parcel of land in the neighbourhood thereof for the use and towards the maintenance and support of the same: Now knoAV ye that Aye, for us, our heirs, and successors, do hereby grant unto the said George Augustus, Bishop of New Zealand, all that piece or parcel of land situate and being in the District of Wanganui, in the Province of New Munster, New Zealand, and bounded towards the north-Avest by London Street five thousand three hundred (5300) links, towards the northeast by Victoria Avenue five thousand four hundred (5400) links, towards the south-east by Ingestre Street three thousand two hundred (3200) links, and towards the south and south-west by Asylum Eoad two thousand (2000) links, and four thousand (4000) links respectively, the contents being two hundred and fifty (250) acres and thirty-two (32) perches or thereabouts, and the boundaries being more particularly delineated on the plan draAvn in the margin of these presents, together with the rents, issues, and proceeds thereof, to hold unto the said George Augustus, Bishop of New Zealand, and his successors, in trust, nevertheless, and for the use and towards the maintenance of the said School, so long as religious educatiou, industrial training, and instruction in the English language shall be given to the youth educated therein, or maintained thereat. In testimony whereof we have caused this our grant to be sealed with the Seal of our Province of New Munster in our said territory. Witness our trusty and Avell-beloved Sir George Grey, a Knight Commander of the Most Honorable Order of tho Bath, Governor-in-Chief and Commander-in-Chief of our said Territory and its Dependencies, and Governor of our Province of NeAV Munster, at AVellington, in New Zealand aforesaid, this thirteenth day of October, in the sixteenth year of our Eeign, and in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and fifty-two. G. Grey. (No. 45.) —Entered on record this sixteenth day of October, 1852, in Eegister 1., folio 52. Alfred Domett, Colonial Secretary and Eegistrar.

No. 7. Messrs. Bryce and AVatt to the Hon. the Colonial Secretary. Sir, — Wellington, 6th September, 1866. We have the honor to call the attention of the Government to a matter which is causing considerable agitation and excitement in the mind of the public at present in Wanganui. In 1852 His Excellency the Governor granted a large portion —viz., 250 acres of the Township of Wanganui, to the Lord Bishop of NeAV Zealand, in trust for educational purposes. It is the feeling of the inhabitants of AVanganui that a great injury has been done to the district in thus handing over, virtually for Denominational purposes, nearly one-half of the toAvn, including streets and reserves ; and this feeling is not diminished, by their knoAvledge of the fact that the condition of the Trust has not been fulfilled, and that, with the exception of a very feeble attempt some ten years ago to maintain a school for a short time, at which a few Native children attended, no educational benefits of any kind whatever have resulted from this magnificent grant of half a town. Public meetings have recently been held in Wanganui, and resolutions passed to the effect that the Trust ought to be placed on a more satisfactory basis. We beg, therefore, to draAv your attention to the circumstances of the Trust, and would be glad if the Government would examine the subject, which is one of importance, aud advise us through the Hon. the Attorney-General or otherwise as to the proper course Avhich ought to be adopted under all the circumstances of the case. We may further state that the legality of the grant has been much questioned by men of high authority, officially and otherwise, and upon various grounds, the principal one being that to give away one-half of the ToAvnship of Wanganui, including streets and reserves, was a breach of faith Av-ith the land purchasers from the NeAV Zealand Company, inasmuch as they were induced by its agent to select their land in the AVanganui District on the faith and understanding that the township would be laid out for them, with the exception of the Company reserving to itself the right of alternate selection with the land purchasers. Eespectfully urging this matter on your consideration. We have, &c, ♦ John Bryce, The Hon. the Colonial Secretary. AY. H. Watt.

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WANGANUI INDUSTRIAL SCHOOL.