SECOND REPORT OF THE COMMISSION OF INQUIRY INTO THE CONDITION AND NATURE OF TRUST ESTATES FOR RELIGIOUS, CHARITABLE, AND EDUCATIONAL PURPOSES.

Appendix to the Journals of the House of Representatives, 1869 Session I, A-05a

A.—No. sa.

SECOND REPORT OF THE COMMISSION OF INQUIRY INTO THE CONDITION AND NATURE OF TRUST ESTATES FOR RELIGIOUS, CHARITABLE, AND EDUCATIONAL PURPOSES.

(In continuation of Papers presented Ist June, 1869.)

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

WELLINGTON.

1869.

A.—No. 5a

RELIGIOUS, CHARITABLE, AND EDUCATIONAL TRUSTS COMMISSION. Wellington, 30th June, 1869. May it please Your Excellency,— The Commissioners, in continuation of the Report and Minutes submitted by them to your Excellency on the 25th May, 1869, have now to transmit the Minutes of Evidence taken in relation to the subjects of their inquiry in the Province of Hawke's Bay. Of these the more noticeable are the Poverty Bay Native School Estate, the Te Aute Native School Estate, the Napier School Estate, and the Wairoa School Reserve. The objects of the grant of 593 acres of land for the Poverty Bay Native School appear to have been steadily pursued until the disturbed state of the country caused its operations to be suspended. The Commissioners regret that of the buildings and improvements etfected upon this Estate, at a cost of £4,683 15s. 3d., a considerable portion has been destroyed, and that the remaining portion is, for want of occupation, exposed to injury and decay. The expense of those buildings and improvements was defrayed by means of grants from Government amounting- to £1,848 75.; grants from the Church Missionary Society, amounting to £1,266 13s. 4d. ; proceeds of cattle, the original stock of which was contributed from private sources, amounting to £586 14s. lid. ; and sums advanced by the Bishop of "Waiapu, amounting to £982. The last-mentioned sum, and two other sums of about £50 and £45, are claimed by the Bishop against the Estate. The Trusts of the four Grants, comprizing in all 7,799 acres of land (since slightly altered in extent and boundary by exchanges) for the Te Aute Native School or College, appear to have been accepted upon the understanding that a school would be erected upon part of the Estate at the expense of the Government, that a sum of £500 would be granted by the Government for the purchase of sheep, and that a certain allowance of at least £300 per annum would be granted by the Government towards the maintenance of the school, payment of a Schoolmaster, and improvements of the Estate. The school was not so erected. The £500, on account of the high price at the time, sufficed to purchase 250 ewes only. The annual grant was continued for the years 1854 to 1859 inclusive. During these years a school was maintained, the attendance at which, though small, was as considerable as, under the circumstances stated (see evidence of the Rev. Samuel "Williams, p. 4), it would have been reasonable to expect. (See also report of Mr. Henry Robert Russell, appendix to Journals of House of Representatives for 1862, E. No. 4, p. 31.) Upon the cessation of the annual grants (practically in 1859), the Estate producing no income applicable to the support of a school, and having sustained a severe loss by fire, the school was discontinued. The object of the management since has been to improve the property until it should be capable of producing an income in some measure adequate to the support of a school. The annual profits beyond those which have accumulated in the form of improvements have been insufficient, after payment of current expenses and interest, to repay the moneys advanced and leave a debt due from the Estate, at the end of the year 186S, amounting to the sum of £767 7s. Id. The annual value of the Estate has been increased from £10 in 1853 to between £500 and £600 at the present time. The sheep have increased to the number of 6,137 at the muster in 1868, and it is clearly shown that the improvements of the property have been judiciously effected.

SECOND REPORT OF THE

A.—No. sa,

It will, nevertheless, be apparent that while the object of the management —the rendering the Estate productive of an available income—has been nearly attained, the children of the Native donors of the land have grown up to maturity deriving little or no benefit from the Trust. This has led to complaints from donors and representatives of donors, having some show of reason in them. The state of the accounts and rental of the Napier School Estate is very satisfactory. The land, two town allotments, in Napier, of one rood each, was purchased with a sum of £10, taken out of moneys originally contributed for the maintenance of a school in that town. The action of the Trustees towards establishing a school is in abeyance, pending the construction of a scheme for its management by His Honor Mr. Justice Johnston, to whom the papers and accounts relating to the property have been referred. The delay in the establishment of a school upon the scheme to be so devised will probably enable the funds (at present about £850) to accumulate until they become sufficient for the erection of convenient buildings, while the annual rental (£235 lGs.) will be a valuable endowment towards the expense of maintaining it. In respect of the Town of Clyde School Reserve, it appears, from the statement of Mr. Sturm, that before the Native title to the district in which this Reserve is situated Avas extinguished, a piece of land, part of the present Reserve was set apart for a school for the education of Native and Half-caste children; that Trustees were appointed, and a schoolhouse built, which is still standing and occupied; and Mr. McLean states that, when the district was ceded by the Natives, no express stipulation was made in respect of the land on which the schoolhouse stands. This land, as part of a larger quantity, has been reserved in the ordinary way for educational purposes. The propriety of measures to impress on the land, upon which the schoolhouse stands, the Trusts upon which it was originally given, has been suggested to the Commissioners. The Commissioners have to submit to your Excellency this their second Report. (1.5.) Alfred Domett, Chairman. (1.5.) E. D. Bell, (1.5.) G. S. Cooper, (1.5.) Robt. Hart, (1.5.) "W. Gisborne.

A.—No. sa,

PEOVINCE OP HAWKE'S BAT. Church of England. Fbidat, 9th Apeil, 1869. Present: —Mr. Hart. 593 acres, Poverty Bay, Bishop of Waiapu — -Native School. The Venerable Archdeacon Williams, being duly sworn, states: My name is William Leonard Williams. I reside at Poverty Bay. lam a Clerk in Holy Orders. (Eecord copy No. 4a., folio 33, produced.) I know the land comprised in this grant. The names of the present Trustees are, the Eight Eev. Bishop of Waiapu, the Eev. William Leonard Williams, Poehipi Tc Eohe, Henere Kepa Euru, Waircmu Pere, Matina Euta Toti, PitaTe Huhu, the five last-named being members of the tribe Te Whanau a Taupaia. The deed of appointment is, for safe custody, deposited in the Eegistry, Cathedral Library, Auckland. The land has all been enclosed. The greater portion is in grass. The outer fences are part post and rail, part wire, and part hawthorn fence. There are two buildings on the ground, one having been the Bishop's residence up to April, ISGS, the other having been occupied from some time in the year 1857, to August, 1865, as a Native and Half-caste girls' school. The returns of the numbers in attendance were sent in every month to the New Zealand Government. The schoolbuilding is a weather-boarded building containing nine rooms—four dormitories, schoolroom, schoolmistress' room, pantry, kitchen, and scullery. Previous to the year 1865, there wore, besides the abovementioned buildings, three dwelling-houses (occupied by myself, the Eev. E. B. Clarke, and the schoolmaster for the boys' school), a schoolroom for Maori and Half-caste men and boys, a store, kitchen and bakehouse, carpenters' shop, blacksmiths' shop, barn, dwelling-house for farming men, and a large shed used for carts and other purposes. These buildings were of timber, and shingled. Besides these, there were about fifteen good raupo and toe-toe houses occupied by the men, with their families, and the boys. The establishment at that time was supported in part by grants from the Government and in part by funds derived from private sources. The proceeds of the estate, with a very small exception, were consumed in the establishment; the proceeds of any sold were applied in providing necessaries for it. There is no one at present in occupation. The buildings, excepting the two first mentioned, were, in the month of November, 1865, destroyed by Hauhaus, and the two first mentioned were seriously injured at the same time. This was done immediately before the attack upon the Hauhau pa at Waerengahika. From that time the place remained untenanted till the Ist of April, 1867, when it was leased for two 3'ears to Mr. Samuel Clarke, at a yearly rental of £200, on condition that the tenant should put into good repair all the fences, ditches, &c., and the building formerly used as a girls' school; the money laid out by him for these purposes to be considered as a set-off' against the rent, and settled for as the rent became due. The last settlement we had was in July, 1868, up to which time all the rent accrued was absorbed in the expense of repairs. Since that time, Mr. Clarke has left the district, in consequence of the late disturbances, and there has been no opportunity as yet of making any further settlement. Some of the settlers who were killed by Te Kooti's party were living within two miles of the estate. I left Poverty Bay for Auckland in September last, and before I returned, in November, Mr. Clarke had left also. Mr. Clarke left people in charge of the estate, who left on the 10th November, 1868: since that time, the estate has been unoccupied. I visited it in February last, and found the fences considerably damaged, and the buildings also. During the present unsettled state of the country, the Trustees are unable to find any person who would take charge of the property. The estate is within the present disturbed district. The building known as the Bishop's house had the roo/ so damaged at the time of the Waerengahika fight, that it was necessary to get it re-shingled in order to preserve the building from decay. The expenses incurred for this purpose by the Bishop, amounting to nearly £50, are still chargeable to the estate ; and besides this, there is a further sum of about £45 (more or less) owing to the Bishop for previous current expenses, which would have been defrayed by the proceeds of the estate. The Trustees, Ihaia Te Noti and Te Teira Kupa, also named in the appointment of new Trustees, are since dead. The Bishop of Waiapu, being duly sworn, states: My name is William Williams. I reside in Napier, and am the Bishop of Waiapu. (Copy of Eecord of Crown Grant, Eeg. No. 4a., folio 33, produced.) I know the land comprised in this grant, and the buildings erected upon it, and the improvements. The money expended on those buildings was paid by myself, partly derived from grants from the Government, partly from private sources, and partly from the Church Missionary Society. The expenditure for buildings was £3,476 15s. 3d., being made up of cost of materials, £1,861 Bs. 5d., and carpenters' wages, £1,615 6s. lOd. ; the expenditure in fencing was £926 13s. 9d., and in draining £280 6s. 3d. ; these several sums make together £4,653 15s. 3d. The funds for this purpose were contributed as follows : —Moneys granted by the New Zealand Government, £1,848 75.; moneys granted by the Church Missionary Society, £1,266 13s. 4d.; from private sources, £982; and proceeds of cattle obtained from private sources, £586 14s. lid. : the original stock of these cattle was from private sources. I resided on the property from the year 1856 to the end of March, 1865, and had the oversight of the establishment. The institution was broken up in consequence of the arrival of the Hauhaus. If the estate had been sufficiently productive to have allowed of the repay-

MINUTES OF EVIDENCE.

A.—No. sa,

2

RELIGIOUS, CHARITABLE, AND

merit of the £952 above mentioned, it would have been repaid out of such proceeds, though there was no express stipulation to this effect. The pa occupied by the Hauhau Natives was near my residence. "When the Hauhaus who had been in communication with Mr. McLean found he would be no longer trifled with, and that the troops would be likely to attack their pa, they returned and set fire to the buildings of the station to prevent them affording a shelter to the troops, and they would have burned the residence but for a friendly chief nearly related to them, who had promised to protect the house, and who, with his family, resolutely remained in it till the arrival of the troops caused the rebels to withdraw. During the existence of the institution, the proceeds of the estate were all consumed for its benefit. The troops, while there, damaged the roof of the house to enable them to fire from it, and destroyed the surrounding fences for firewood. There was a crop of thirty acres of wheat just coming into ear, which was consumed and destroyed by the horses of the troops, and a crop of two acres of potatoes was consumed by the force. I will give the particulars of the claims referred to in the evidence of Archdeacon "Williams : Napier, 15th April, 1869. Sir, —I have received from Archdeacon "Williams the following memorandum, with the request that I would furnish the information it requires to yourself:— Hemorandum. " Furnish some account of the cost of buildings, &c, at "Waerengahika, showing how cost has been supplemented. Bishop to send a note of his claim against the estate." Cost of Buildings. Materials ... ... ... ... ... £1,861 8 5 Carpenters' wages ... ... ... ... 1,615 6 10 £3,470 15 3 Fencing ... ... ... ... ... ... 92G 13 9 Draining ... ... ... ... ... ... 280 6 3 £4,683 15 3 This expenditure has been defrayed as follows:—■ By Government grants ... ... ... ... ... £1,848 7 0 By grants from Church Missionary Society ... ... 1,266 13 4 From private sources ... ... ... ... ... 982 0 0 Proceeds of cattle obtained from private sources ... ... 586 14 11 £4,683 15 3 My personal claim upon the estate is for money advanced for buildings... £952 0 0 Loss of private property destroyed by the Government troops and by the Hauhaus ... ... ... ... ... ... 559 0 0 £1,541 0 0 Robert Hart, Esq., Commissioner on"} ■ Religious, Educational, and Charit- > I have, &c, able Trusts, "Wellington. ) "William "Waiapu. Monday, 12th Apeil, 1869. Present: —Mr. Hart. Four Grants, in all 7,779 acres, Te Ante, Bishop of New Zealand and others — Native School. (Copies of Grants recorded —No. 4, Eeg. xiv.; No. 5, Keg. xiv.; No. 12, Reg. xiv.; No. 1,650, Ecg. H.7 —produced.) Mr. James Henry Coleman, being duly sworn, states: My name is James Henry Coleman, of "Waitahora, near Havelock. I am a sheep and cattle farmer. I have resided in Hawkc's Bay nine and a half years. I know that there is a portion of land set apart for a school or college, commonly called the Te Auto School property, or Te Auto College reserve, about (5,000 or 7,000 acres. I lived for six years on this property as overseer —from the beginning of January, 1860, to about the end of 1865 or the beginning of 1866. I was engaged by the Rev. Samuel Williams. At the time I weut, there was very little done in the way of improvements. At that time a house was just completed or about completion: do not know how many rooms it contained. There was a small wool-shed, no stable, one or two small whares for men's accommodation, and an enclosed stockyard. There were two or three paddocks fenced in, but in an inferior style. The property was occupied with sheep and cattle during the time 1 was there. The land was not fully stocked when I first went, and about two-thirds stocked when I left the place. I cannot state the number of hands employed under me ; they varied very much. Considerable improvements were effected during my stay —fencing, and laying land down in grass. The block, containing about 5,500 acres, was fenced in when I came away. The wool-shed was enlarged whilst I was there. A good many of the sheep that were on the place were on terms. The Key. Mr. Williams kept his books regularly, and made them up during that period from materials which were in part supplied by myself. The expenses of the station are contained in those books. As the overseer, I made up my returns to Mr. Williams, who made up his books from them. The land was principally fern when I went there. A portion of the land \v;is ploughed. The ploughed paddocks laid down in grass were about 50 acres : a large number of other paddocks were made round those, " surface sown." There were some cattle sold whilst I was there. I took no account of the annual outlay and income, but merely supplied materials for making such account. The block not fenced in had sheep on it. A

EDUCATIONAL RESERVES.

A.—No. sa.

3

small portion of the land near tho homestead was very good, but a large portion of it was of a very inferior description. I would not have given a shilling an acre for it. Of the bulk of the land, I should estimate two and a half acres would be required for one sheep. In its natural state the block would have been worth about £100 per annum (or might be a little more), if let for such a term as to give tenant the prospect of recovering value of improvements. As to the present value, properties are •almost unsaleable at the present time, owing to the general depression and want of confidence. Taking into consideration the probable value of wool, and other circumstances, if the district were reduced into a state of security, and confidence were restored, I cannot say what would be the annual value of the property apart from the stock. I was there about twelve months ago for some little time, but had not then an opportunity of examining the property. I have been informed that considerable improvements have been made since I left. Ido not know of any building called the Te Aute School or College—there was none whilst I was on the property. lam not aware of any education having been afforded to the children of aboriginal Natives or other persons in connection with it whilst I was there. I know the inhabited neighbourhood called Te Aute. There used to be a Aiaori pa there. There was, while I was in the occupation of the property, no institution in the nature of a school maintained at Te Aute in connection with it. There had been, I have heard, previously. The buildings on the property were in very good repair when I left. lam aware that the value of the property has been considerably overestimated. The public road runs through the paddocks which contained the superior land to which I have referred, and persons passing aro induced to estimate the value of the whole by what they see of the smaller portion through which the road passes. The Rev. S. Williams —(lsth April, 1869),—being duly sworn, states: Aly name is Samuel AVilliams. I reside at To Aute. I know the lands comprised in the four grants, copies of which are before mo. (Record copies of Grants No. 4, Reg. xiv. ; No. 5, Reg. xiv. ; No. 12, Reg. xiv. ; No. 1,650, Reg. 47, produced.) These lands have been transferred to and are now vested in the Bishop of AVellington, Archdeacon Octavius Hatfield, AVilliam AlcCloud Bannatyne, George Hunter, and Robert Stokes. Though there is a distinction between the trust expressed in the first and second and that in the third and fourth, they have been managed as one property. The land comprised in grant referred to as No. 1,650, Reg. H. 7, and part of land comprised in grant referred to as No. 12, Reg. xiv., amounting to 244 acres, was granted in exchange for land—part of tho laud comprised in grant No. 5, Reg. xiv. I was not aware of any difference in the trusts till several years after entering upon the management of the property. lam in occupation of and have the management of the property. This commenced in 1854. There is a dwelling-house of timber, with shingle roof, containing four rooms on ground floor in main building, two rooms in shilling, four attic rooms, and a kitchen detached, occupied by myself and family; a wool-shed built of timber, two small houses in the occupation of farm servants, onestalled stable and cart-shed, and a shepherd's house and a milking-shed ; the shepherd's Jhouse is on No. 4, Reg. xiv. The other buildings are on No. 5, Reg. xiv. There are between twelve and thirteen miles of fencing on No. 5, Reg. xiv., and No. 12, Reg. xiv. ; and on No. 1,650, Reg. H. 7, fifty-five acres have been ploughed and are now laid down in English grasses, making, together with other lands which have been prepared by burning and surface-sowing, about 900 acres, which are enclosed in paddocks, besides other portions of the land which have been surface-sown. The land which has been surface-sown was fern land previously. The road passes through the edge of No. 5, Reg. xiv.; No. 12, Reg. xiv. ; and No. 16, Reg. xiv. The land through which the road passes in No. 5, Reg. xiv., is some of the best land in the whole property. Ido not consider there are 1,000 acres on the whole property of equal value to that on the side of the road in that block. The whole of the land now belonging to the estate is fenced in, except that comprised in No. 4, Reg, xiv. Of the land described in plan to grant No. 650, Reg. H. 7, together with 244 acres bounded by the edge of a swamp on the one side, and the original boundary of the land granted to the Bishop of AVellington, (in grant No. 12, Reg. xiv.), 4,244 acres were included instead of 4,000 intended to be granted, the extra 211 acres and the 382 acres described in grant 1,650, Reg. H. 7., having been given by the Government in exchange for the portion of land comprised in grant No. 5, Reg. xiv. Part of the land described in the plan annexed to the grant of section No. 19r., Te Aute, being land described in grant 1,650, Reg. H. 7, pencilled by me with the letter O and my initials, belong to the trust expressed in grant No. 5, Reg. xiv., tho portions comprised in the grant No. 1,650, Reg. H. 7, and the portion bordered by the swamp, having been granted in exchange for a portion of the land comprised in grant No. 5, Reg. xiv., and which was re-convej'ed to the Crown by the Trustees. AVhen the arrangement for the exchange was agreed to between the Government and myself, I was not aware of the difference between the trusts of the first and second above-mentioned grants and the thirdmentioned grant. The accounts of the receipts and expenditure have been rendered to the Trustees up to the end of 1567. Accounts for 1868 are not yet made up. The accounts are forwarded to the Bishop of AVellington. The merchants' accounts are made up in Alareh in every year, and my agent's account for IS6B has not yet been rendered. The balance of receipts and payments for 1861 was fas against the property upon the general account), £567 13s. 7d., and in 1562, £1,937 65.; in 1863, £3,120 10s. jin 1564, £2,898 17s. 4d.; in 1565, £2,869 55.; in LS66, £1,669 Is. 5d.; in 1567, £1,450 13s. 9d. I laid out, in completing the building, up to 1867, £356 ss. 2d. in excess of receipts. I have examined the account printed in Air. Russell's report in Parliamentary Paper, E. No. 4, Appendix to Journals of House of Representatives, Report of Inspectors on Native Schools, page 31. The sum mentioned in Air. Russell's report, of £167 17s. Hid. is included in the above sum of £356 ss. 2d. Since 1859 there has been no school or scholars on the estate. A promise was made to the Natives by the Governor, at the time the land was given up for the endowment of a school, that the Government would be at the expense of erecting a school upon the property, and renewed by Sir George Grey on his first visit to Hawke's Bay during the later period of his government of New Zealand, and also referred to by the Government of the Colony in communication with the Bishop of AVellington. The large amount I have expended necessarily in improving the property, with the view to making a permanent income, has prevented my attempting to erect a school. There were, in the first instance, temporary buildings at Te Aute for a school, wherein a school was

A.—No. sa,

RELIGIOUS, CHARITABLE, AND

4

opened in October, 1854, and closed ia Alareh, 1859. There were, in 1854, twelve scholars for three months ;in 1855, ten during the year; in 1856, fifteen during the year ; in 1857, thirteen during the year; in 1858, eight during the year; and in 1859, four for six months. The small number of scholars was due to several causes —first, the roughness and want of accommodation for a boarding-school at starting; second, to the hard work necessarily entailed on the scholars ; third, to the high wages offered bj the settlers in the neighbourhood for similar work ; fourth, the excited state of the Native mind on the land question, which led to the Hapuka feud. The school was closed in 1859 from the want of funds, in addition to a heavy loss by fire, and the total destruction of the new barn and wool-shed, containing a large quantity of grain, stores, and implements. I was then just on the point of building a school-house, the timber for which was mostly cut and on the ground. At the same time a change in the Government system of grants-in-aid took place, and seeing it impossible for me to continue the school under the new system, I used the most of the timber for the erection of the new barn and wool-shed, which were imperatively wanted. I had commenced the school, trusting to the terms of Sir George Grey's original charter for Native education, by which a certain allowance of at least £300 a year was placed at my disposal for the improvement of the school estate and for the current expenses of the school, including the maintenance and clothing of scholars and for payment of the salary of the schoolmaster during part of the time. Under the new system framed by the Government about 1858, and which came into operation during 1859, only a certain allowance for each scholar, amounting practically to about £8 per head, was at my disposal. This sum was found totally insufficient for the mere maintenance and clothing of the scholars, leaving the deficit, in addition to the cost of a schoolmaster and suitable buildings for their accommodation, to be provided otherwise. I therefore found it expedient to close the school for tho present, and to confine my attention to the improvement of the property, in order that it might at a future date better subserve tho objects of the grant. I examined the accounts rendered to Mr. Henry Robert Russell on the occasion of his making a report on tho Te Aute School, and can certify they are correct. The balance I have mentioned as appearing on the accounts rendered to the Trustees since 1861, were simply the balances due at the termination of each account. The balance mentioned as appearing in the account ending in December, 1867, was the sum (exclusive of the balance due on the building account) then duo to me from the estate. If the accounts furnished to the Bishop shall be found not available, I will promptly furnish to the Commissioners a copy of them. I believe they are in the hands of the Secretary to the Wellington Synod. The condition of the property when I first took it in hand was principally ferny. There were originally (in 1854) 250 ewes supplied to stock the land : they are accounted for in Air. Russell's report. Out of tho 250 and their increase I was required in 1.859 to deliver to the AVaikato School institution 100 ewes. The flock reported by Air. Russell in 1862 as numbering 1,448 was comprised of 702 ewes, 291 wethers, 216 ewe-hoggets, and 219 wether-hoggets. They have since increased, till at the mustering in 1868 there were returned—ewes, 3,300; wethers, 1,029 ; lambs, 1,808; making in the gross, 6,137. As tho property was originally placed in my hands it was principally covered with fern. The sheep were placed on the block No. 4, Reg. xiv.; the rest of the property was useless, with the exception of 4,000 acres, for which Air. Robert Pharazyn paid me at the rate of £4 3s. 4d. per annum for five years, being after the rate per acre charged by the Government, viz., from 1554 to 1858 inclusive, after which time Air. Pharazyn ceased to occupy the block. It remained unoccupied till the middle of 1562, when Air. James Smith paid me at the rate of £5 per month for seven months. In 1863, finding it impossible to occupy the property profitably without enclosing it, I commenced the boundary fence, and occupied it at the same time with sheep. The fence was commenced in 1863. In January, 1859,100 acres of the land were leased to Air. Pharazyn for ten years, at a rent of £10 per annum, upon condition that at the end of the term he should be allowed for all improvements made by him thereon at a valuation to the extent of £200. The rent is paid annually. This lease was granted by arrangement made by the Bishop of New Zealand, previous to the property being handed to tho Trustees. The improvements effected on the property will amount to much more in value than £200 at the end of the term. In the accounts of the estate furnished to the Trustees I have made no charge for management. I had an overseer working under me from 1860 to 1865, both inclusive, whoso salary has been charged in the accounts. Since then I have had a foreman employed. The Government charge for land of that character, at tho time wdien I took charge of it, would have been id. per acre I would not like to hazard an opinion as to the present annual value of the property. I have intimated to the Trustees that, whilst I have no wish to force them to deal with the property summarily, I should be glad to bo relieved of the management, which is a considerable tax on my time. Complaints have been made by Native chiefs of there having been no school built there, and expressions of disappointment have been made that the money promised by the Governor has not been forthcoming for the purpose. Aly dealing with the property has been under a power of attorney from the Trustees. There were some cattle occasionally on the land during the summer months, before it was laid down in grass, for the purpose of destroying the fern and spreading the grass-seed, but they belonged to a different fund. Any possible benefit derived to tho cattle has been compensated for by meat supplied to the establishment, and by pasturage for sheep belonging to the establishment in dry seasons upon another run not belonging to the trust. I have sometimes, from drought, been compelled to remove every sheep from the estate. The Rev. S. Williams' —(l6th April, 1869) —examination continued: The Te, Aute School estate is distant from Napier thirty-two miles in the interior. There is a good dray road all the way now: it was difficult of access at one time. Having several trust estates to manage, and no funds of this estate in hand, it will occupy me some time to make out the account for the year 1868. Aly avocations at the present, from the disturbed condition of the country and the extent of the district I have to visit, leave little time at my disposal. I will furnish the account as soon as I can. The balance is lessening, and if no further fall in the prices of stock and wool should take place, I hope by the end of the present current year there will be little or no balance against the estate. The accounts furnished to Mr. Russell were audited by him; the accounts furnished by me to the Trustees have not been audited. The increase of

EDUCATIONAL RESERVES.

5

A.—No. sa.

the flock was derived, to a great extent, from sheep taken on terms for the benefit of the property. The sales of wool appear in the accounts. Prom 1860 to the present time, the cattle referred to in my former evidence had the use of 40 acres of the paddocks at the homestead of the estate, principally milking cows. Another block of about 50 acres has been used for the cattle during the last two years. There is also an enclosure of scrub and bush, containing about 300 or 400 acres (which is unfit for depasturing sheep), into which cattle wore turned, whose services in breaking down the bush and scrub, and extending the grass, greatly benefited the property. The sheep on the estate have had the use, in addition, of 200 acres of grass land of a superior character, not belonging to the estate, during the same period that the cattle have been upon the bush laud referred to. When I first occupied (in 1863) the lands contained in the grants referred to —No. 12, Beg. xiv. ; .No. 1,050, Reg. H.7—they only carried 1,000 sheep, but they now carry 3,000, and keep tliein in a better condition. Mr. Stokes, one of the Trustees, has or had the plans showing the exchanges made, and their boundaries. The Eev. S. Williams —(21th April, ISO 9) —further examined: I wish to correct a statement in my evidence given on the 16th inst. The portion to which I refer is as follows : —" The balance is lessening, and if no further fall in the prices of stock and wool should take place, I hope by the end of the present current year there will be little or no balance against the estate." Since giving that evidence I have ascertained that prices are so very low that it would be wrong to hold out such an expectation. The amount of the balance will entirely depend on the prices to be realized by sale of the wool and surplus stock. The promise of Sir George Grey, mentioned in the evidence of TeWaaka Eowharewha, was, not that he would give 500 sheep but that he would give £500 iv money to be laid out in sheep. The moneys paid to me iv respect of this promise are credited, and the application of them shown in the accounts appended to Mr. Bussell's report before referred to. Sheep at the time these sums were received were at a price of thirty-seven shillings and sixpence to two guineas. I paid thirty-seven shillings and sixpence for the sheep I bought. Mr. Tatham occupies the block of land originally leased to Mr. Pharazyn, and is, I believe, the assignee of his lease. The term for which this property was let is now terminated, and the Trustees are liable to pay the £200 stipulated for improvements. It is under consideration by the Trustees to endeavour to effect an arrangement with the occupier, whereby, in consideration of sinking the claim to the £200, he might have an extended term, or if the Trustees should pay the £200, that he would continue in occupation at an improved rent. The quantity of 900 acres mentioned in my evidence (15th April) as having been prepared by burning, and surface sown, includes a portion of the bush enclosure. Mr. Purvis Russell —(19th April, 1569) —examined (Copies of Crown Grants recorded—No. 4, Beg. xiv.; No. 5, Eeg. xiv.; No. 12, Beg. xiv. ; No. 1,650, Beg. H. 7; produced) :My name is Thomas Purvis Bussell. I reside at Waipukurau, and am a sheep farmer. I have known the property generally known as the Te Aute College or School estate, comprising about 7,000 acres, from the year 1553. When I first travelled through it it was almost impenetrable fern, with small clumps of bush. For the whole estate upon a lease for fourteen years you could not have obtained a rental of more than £10 a year. Before' any benefit could be derived from it, considerable outlay must be incurred in grassing it, which has been done. Its size was against its realizing a large rent. It was surrounded by the different runs there, and possessed no natural boundaries, so that the expense of shepherding would be great. It was off the main line to Napier, and the difficulty of carriage of produce to Napier, partly by canoe and partly by land, was very great. I should think the carriage of wool must have cost Mr. Bobert Pharazyn, who occupied part of the land, from lid. to 2d. per pound. Ido not know the extent of fencing nor quantity of land, but can state generally that the estate has been greatly improved, and rendered valuable for occupation. As near as I can recollect, the road was commenced about 1859, running through part of the Te Aute estate. This road caused a gradual reduction in the cost of carriage of from £10 to £2 10s. per ton. I would not like to stock the property as it now stands with more than 5,000 or 6,000 sheep, which would yield no higher rental than from £600 to £650 per annum. Having regard to the nature and value of the improvements, and the flock of sheep stated by the Bey. Samuel Williams, in his evidence, to belong to the estate, and to the amount of debt stated in his evidence to be a charge upon the estate, I am of opinion that the estate has greatly benefited by the occupation. Mr. Samuel Locke —(24th April, 1869) —being duly sworn, states: My name is Samuel Locke, and I reside at Napier. lam a surveyor by profession. I have resided in the Province of Hawke's Bay about ten years. I have been accustomed during that time to the examination and valuation of land. (Copies of Crown Grants No. 4, Beg. xiv.; No. 5, Beg. xiv.; No. 12, Beg. xiv. ; and No. 1,650, Beg. H. 7, produced.) I know the land comprised in the Crown Grants of which the produced papers are copies. On Monday evening and Tuesday morning, the 19th and 20th instant, I examined the land. I found the fences and buildings in very good order. There is on No. 12, Beg. xiv., a six or sevenroomed house, in which the Bey. S. Williams resides; a detached kitchen and other outbuildings, an overseer's house of two rooms, another small house in which the cook lives, and in which the men take their meals ; a stable to accommodate five horses, with coach-house under the same roof; a very good wool-shed, sufficient to accommodate twelve shearers. There is also a stockyard, and sheep-pens in yard, proportioned to the size of the wool-shed; and on another part of the estate a dwelling-house formerly occupied by Mr. Pharazyn, since by Mr. G. S. Cooper, and now sub-let to a Mr. Tatham—l do not know upon what terms. There is a small detached building connected with this, and some enclosed paddocks let with the house, containing, I should judge, about 30 acres, one of which is ploughed. I found the land comprised in grant referred to as No. 12, Beg. xiv., and part of land in No. 5, Beg. xiv., fenced on all sides except about one mile and a half of irregular boundary, whereto a swamp serves as a fence. The fencing was of good wire fencing. About 1,200 acres of this are divided into eight or nine paddocks by similar wire fencing and a few chains of white thorn fencing. One of the paddocks contains about 600 acres, the residue is in paddocks of various sizes. Nearly all this land in the paddocks is well down in grass, mostly surface-sown, but well laid down. The rest of the land in No. 5, Beg. xiv., and No. 12, Beg. xiv., is enclosed in one paddock (except the portion leased to Mr. Tatham). About 1,000 acres of that is very hilly, and may almost be called useless —very poor 2

A.—No. sa,

6

RELIGIOUS, CHARITABLE, AND

indeed. The rest of it is very fair land, and has been partially surface-sown. The land comprised in grant referred to as No. 4, Reg. xiv., is hilly land of the average character of the common sheeprun. It has been to a considerable extent surface-sown, but with only partial success. It has not been fenced in. I found tufts of grass growing here and there about this land, confirming the statement of the overseer as to the extent of the surface-sowing. Of the land in No. 12, Reg. xiv., about 200 or 300 acres are bush, from which supplies for firewood and fencing are taken. The sheep on the property were looking very well: I was unable to estimate their numbers. There were a good many cattle about the property ; some upon the estate, and some upon the land adjoining (bought by the Rev. S. "Williams from the Natives). I think the value of the whole estate to let per annum, if the times were as they were about four or five years ago, and the estate in its present condition, exclusive of the stock upon it, would be about £900 or £1,000 ; but at the present moment, if the country were in a state of peace, the estate would be worth from £500 to £GOO per annum. Having heard read the description of the land as it was in 1853, in Mr. Purvis Russell's evidence, I should think the improvements and the sheep—■ if, as represented, numbering about 6,000 of all ages —would, less about £1,000 said to be chargeable against the estate, represent a fairly accumulated rental for the property during the time from 1853 to the present time. Ko te Waaka RewTiareivha (examined through the interpretation of Mr. Samuel Locke, Mr. Locke being first duly sworn truly to interpret) states : lam Tc Waaka Kewharcwha. I live at Te Aute, and am a Christian teacher under the Rev. Samuel Williams. On the first occasion when Sir George Grey came into the district, he was accompanied by Bishop Selwyn and Mr. Tollemache. At a meeting between him and several Natives at the banks of the Roto-o-Hara, he (Governor Grey) asked c Taranone, c Hone Waikato, c Paora Kopakau (since deceased), Noa Taikiroa (since deceased), and myself to give the land to the Bishop and the Governor, for Mr. Williams to establish a school, and the Governor said he would give 500 sheep, the produce of which would go to the school. These sheep were given : I helped to shear them. After the land was given, Mr. Williams came to Te Aute from Awapone. A meeting was held, at which some children from Te Aute and the district were given him to take charge of. He took them to Otaki, and stayed there some time : it might have been about a year. He then returned to Te Aute with his wife and family and those children. Very shortly after the return of the children from Otaki they went back to their parents. I was a teacher at Te Aute at the time the land was ceded by the Natives, and have been so ever since. Between the years 1854 and 1859 there were a few boys at the place, but it was not what we expected when the land was given for a school. The boys being there entirely ended shortly after the fight between Hapuka and Moanamii in the Big Bush, at which Puhara was killed. (See Parliamentary Papers, C.—No. 1, p.p. 335 and 336, in completion of papers presented 14th June, 1861.) Some considerable time after the school ceased, the three Natives —Hone Waikato, Haurangi te Wahiku, and Paore Hopakau—went to Mr. Williams's house. I saw them go. Mr. Williams afterwards told me that they had been to him, asking him for money for the use of the land, as there was no school there. He explained to me and others that ho could give no money for the use of the land, as the land had been given for the school to the Bishop and others connected with the Government, and he was only in charge of it. Mr. Williams did at one time say that if the Government would give him money he would build a school. There was, some time last year, a stir made among the Natives by Renata te Pukututu and others, to obtain an inquiry by the Government into the position of the property, with a view to its return to the Natives, there being no school kept in respect of it. Some are in favour of the land being returned to the Natives; some are in favour of the income being applied in support of a school in the district, in some more convenient situation than the estate. My opinion is that the land should bo given back, or that there should be a rent paid for it. Mr. Locke produces a letter from Renata te Pukutupu, who was unable to attend, which letter he (being first duly sworn) translates as follows, and ho says : I received the letter marked A. now in my hand from Renata te Pukutupu, who personally delivered it to me. The contents are as follows : — "To the Govetinoe. Sir — "To Aute, 20th April, 1869. " Salutations to you. Mr. Locke has been here, asking for some man to give evidence of the reason why we gave the land for the school at Te Aute. I will tell you all about it. The reason why we gave that land was because the Governor and Bishop Selwyn asked for it in the year 1850, or some time after, as a place for teaching for our children and a place for our children to be fed at. That is the reason why we gave it, at the request of the Governor and the Bishop. It was done. But no school has been on the land at Te Aute up to the present time. This is what I have to say is, that the land given belonged to myself and Hoani Waikato. What we are very desirous is, that a school should be built on the land forthwith, as we have a great many children growing up ignorant and foolish, and untaught in the good work of the school. That is all. From "Renata Te Pukutupu." Tuesday, Ist June, ISG9. Wellington. Present:—Mr. Hart. The Venerable Archdeacon Iladjield, being duly sworn, states: lam one of the Trustees of the Te Aute College or School estate, in the Province of Hawke's Bay. I produce certain accounts received by the Trustees in Wellington from the Rev. Samuel Williams, of Te Aute. They are respectively marked A., 8., C, and D., and are accompanied by a letter of explanation marked E. These are the only accounts I can find relating to the estate referred to. They were in the hands of the Bishop of Wellington until his departure, since which they have been in my custody. I wish to have the accounts produced returned to me when the purpose for which they are required shall have teen served.

EDUCATIONAL RESERVES.

7

A.—No. sa.

A. — Te Ante School Sheep Account.

Dh. To moneys paid for 250 owes from Mr. P. Russell, at 37s. Gd. 8 rams, at 30s. Driving sheep from Waipukurau... Sheep-shears and crooks, Dixon ... Palings for pens Washing and shearing expenses ... Wool-sacks Cai'riago to port Shipping wool, Newton and Co. ... Strychnine Newton and Co., pitch Hohipuka, salary Pineaha ... Man building hut for shepherd ... Curb chain for dog Timber for wool-press Sheep-tax Fowling-piece, Austin Balance ... £ s. d. 46S 15 0 12 0 0 1 10 0 13 1 6 0 0 GOG 4 2 0 4 2 6 15 0 12 6 0 18 9 7 9 0 0 6 0 2 10 0 0 2 G 0 15 0 0 10 2i 10 0 0 12 1 9} £540 13 10 £540 13 10 1855 Ob. £ s. d. By moneys from the Bishop of New Zealand, less 1 per cent, remittance "Wool sold in "Wellington 495 0 0 45 13 10 £540 13 10 185G De. £ s. d. £ s. d. To shearing expenses Carriage of wool Freight to Auckland ... Landing charges Fitzgerald, tar and pitch Hohipuka, shepherd ... Wool-packs Sheep-tax Sheep-shears Dog-chains Driving rams Ferry rams Sheep-pen Balance ... 6 s 4i 5 10 0 (i s 64 0 3 0 2 5 0 0 18 9 0 17 6 0 5 8 0 11 0 0 5 0 4 0 7 18 9 11 0 9 8^ 10 0 0 9 9 1 53 5 4i £91 14 1|£91 14 n 1856 Cb. £ s. d. By balance, 1855 Wool sold in Auckland 12 1 9J 79 12 31 £91 14 H 1857 Dr. £ s. d. £ s. d. To the Otaki School, for rams Balance ... 100 0 0 191 7 Hi 291 7 11* 1857 By wool sold by J. N. Williams Ewes sold Mutton sold Balance, 1S5G Cr. £ B. d. 118 12 6 02 10 0 57 0 1 53 5 4} £291 7 llf

A.—No. sa.

8

RELIGIOUS, CHARITABLE, AND

1858 De. £ s. d. To shearing expenses, including bales, as per account, J. N. AY. Fred. AVheeler, shepherding Hohipuka, shepherding Mr. Harding, for ewes Smith, pitch and far ... Mr. Bishop, strychnine Sheep-tax Balance ... 21 6 0 9 0 0 40 0 0 56 5 0 0 6 11 110 0 16 11 252 9 8i £380 19 7| £3S0 19 7A • t 1858 Cr. £ s. d. By balance, 1857 Wool sold by Mr. J. N. AVilliams Mutton sold 191 7 llf 181 11 0 8 o 7* £3S0 19 7 £3S0 19 7 1859 Dr. £ s. d. £ s. d. To shearers ... Bales Sheep-tax 11 3 4 3 3 0 0 IS 6| F. Wheeler, shepherding Hohipuka Peter McHardy Ted Hunter Sheep from Mr. Gollon Sheep from Mr. Pharazyn for Mr. AVheeler, bought for school Rifle from Mr. Poudrill Eight pairs sheep-shears, Maltby and Co. Herrings for dogs, Maltby and Co. 1 16 0 0 3 0 15 4 10i 25 0 0 40 0 0 2 0 0 8 12 0 10 0 0 11 0 0 GOO 1 19 0 Tea kettle, Ac, from Mr. Smith (for shepherd) Hohipuka, for 10 sheep 10 Otaki rams 18 7 10 0 0 30 0 0 Transferred to current expenditure Balance transferred to building account 41 8 0 103 10 11 231 2 11| £490 17 8f 1859 Cr. £ s. d. By balance, 1858 AVool at lOd. per lb., paid 1860 ... Mutton sold Balance over advance on wool 252 9 8* 174 10 8 63 5 9', 12 0 0 £490 17 8* 1860 Dr. £ s. d. £ s. d. To shearing expenses and bales, including half sheep on terms Sheep-tax 13 8 2 0 19 2 14 7 4 Tom Tait, shepherding Fred. AVheeler, shepherding Hunter, shepherding... 56 10 0 3 10 0 1 19 G James Thorpe, for fowling-piece ... Edmonds, gunsmith, repairs Newton, strychnine, 21s.; herrings, 7s. Matiu and Renata, killing dogs ... Ammunition, Maltby and Co, Do. Thorpe Mr. Bourke, herrings Otaki rams, 18 at £3 Balance carried to current expenses, school, Ac, 1861 ... Gl 19 6 8 0 0 14 0 18 0 10 0 1 11 0 0 14 0 0 4 0 54 0 0 267 4 0 £411 11 10

EDUCATIONAL RESERVES

9

A.—No. sa,

1860 Cr. By wool Half Coleman grass ... Mutton sold Use of rams for church endowment sheep £ s, d. 171 19 9. 64 2 0 169 0 0. 6 10 0 £411 11 10 1861 May. Dr. To sheep from Mr. Buckland, Auckland Expenses on ditto, Mr. Smith, freight Ditto Mr. Marshall Ditto Mr. Arthur Heyland £ s. d. 15 3 0 2 13 0 0 10 0 0 9 0 £ s. d. 18 15 0 April 20. Dec. Sheep from Mr. Tanner Mr. Danvers, wethers and rams ... AVilliam Edwards for two days' docking William Edwards for three ewes and increase Sheep-tax 1 10 0 35 5 0 0 14 0 5 5 0 1 10 0 44 4 0 Tom Tait, shepherding McKenzie do. Chepnell do. Falkner do. 38 7 G 22 10 0 16 16 0 17 0 Nov. 28. Mr. Buckland, for rams Shearing expenses : — Mr. S. Begg, 41bs. best sewing twine Messrs. Stewart and Kinross, 12 wool bales, at 5s. Gd ... Twine ... 5 gallons tar, 4s. 6d. 3 G 0 0 5 0 1 2 G 79 0 0 23 18 10 0 9 0 4 13 6 Mr. S. Edmonds, 23 wool bales, including freight, storage, and draying Shearers, cook, Ac... Do. for drafting ... 7 9 6 34 IG 0 1 8 G 43 13 0 June. Mr. Janisch, freight of rams from Auckland ... Bray, hay and driver's expenses ... ... ... Mr. Coleman's expenses at Havelock do. do. 10 0 0 12 0 0 5 G 0 6 0 2 3 G £216 17 4 1S61 Cr. £ s. d. By Mr. Hunter, for rams, £54—less remittance order to AVellington, 10s. lOd. Mutton sold, to 31st December ... Balance ... 53 9 2 33 3 1 130 5 1 £210 17 4 1862 Dr. To balance ... Rent paid to Natives £200, less by rent received for school land, £63 Heslop, shepherding ... Smith do. A. Heyland do. McDonald do. Shearers ... Bales and twine Sheep-tax Interest ... Balance ... £ s. d. 23 14 8 4 12 6 18 0 0 27 16 8 25 11 0 8 6 0 19 2 5 19 0 29 9 2 £ s. d. 130 5 1 137 0 0 144 18 2 P4f n :i £412 3 O 3 tv_i_ a •>

A—No. sa,

10

RELIGIOUS, CHARITABLE, AND

1862 Cb. By wool of 1861,sold January, 1862... Shearing charges for sheep on terms 19 old rams sold Use of ram, from Church Endowment Fund ... Mutton sold £ s. d. 360 8 4 20 14 2 10 0 0 8 10 0 12 10 9 £412 3 B 1863 De. April 23. To Arthur Heyland, shepherding H. Easter do. Dec. 24. Heslop do. Sutton do. Feb. 26. Edwards, shepherding rams June 30. Use of English rams from Coleman and J. N. Williams — ten rams at £10... Dec. 31. J. N. Williams for English sheep Sheep-tax Shearing 3,490 sheep and rams ... Wool-bales and twine £ s. d. 16 0 O 26 0 0 26 0 0 20 10 0 10 0 100 0 0 240 0 0 1 19 5 36 10 0 13 11 0 -t'/iQi in k 1863 Ce. By balance from last account April31. Wool of 18G2 sold in 1863 Dec. 31. Mutton sold, year ending December, 1863 Mar. 9. Earns sold Shearing expenses, sheep on terms Oct. 8. On exchange of rams... Balance carried forward to next year £481 10 5 £ s. d. 29 9 2 325 8 11 5 13 3 100 0 0 8 13 4 8 0 0 4 5 9 £481 10 5 £481 10 5 186-1 De. Jan. 1. To balance from last year April 2. Tiffen for five pure-bred sheep June 28. Tiffen for three French rams Feb. 2. Coleman's travelling expenses : — Selecting rams Ear mark for sheep April 4. Shepherd's expenses driving sheep D. Meddins, shepherd O'Callaghan, Dennis Shearing 4,408 sheep... Extra for rams Bales and twine Sheep tax-on 2,900 sheep H. Easter, shepherd, E.K. Hoani Waikato, for nine young rams Balance carried to general account £ s. d. 4 5 9 75 0 0 157 18 G 1 10 0 0 8 6 110 6 16 0 30 0 0 44 13 6 8 11 3 15 12 6 3 0 3 22 5 0 18 15 0 1,287 14 8 £1,667 11 11 1864 Cb. By rams sold during the year Hire of rams during 1863 Shearing expenses, sheep on terms Mutton sold, to December 31st, 1864 Wethers sold March 3. Wool money Do. do., long wool Balance ... £ s. d. 671 5 0 33 15 0 12 0 0 10 IS 6 301 10 0 54G 1 9 56 16 3 35 5 5 £1,667 11 11

EDUCATIONAL RESERVES.

11

A.—No. sa.

1865 Dr. April 7. To Herbert, for half-bred ewe Sheep-tax on 3,224 sheep Jan. 2.* Shearing expenses, 3,121 sheep ... Extra shearing, rams... Bales and twine Balance ... £ s. d. 1 10 0 3 7 2 31 4 2 1 11 7 7 3 9 1,007 7 4 £1,152 4 0 1865 Cr. May 1. By net proceeds of wool Oct. 31. AVethers sold Rams sold during the year Mutton sold Ten wethers sold Ten wethers omitted last year Use of rams from English Church Endowment Fund £ s. d. 708 19 0 67 10 0 332 0 0 2 5 0 4 0 0 7 10 0 30 0 0 £1,152 4 0 1866 To John Heslop for three wethers Sheep-tax ... Shearing expenses: — Shearers Bales, twine, Ac. ... Dr. £ s. d. 11 14 2 15 2 3 £ s. d. 2 8 0 4 9 11 Balance ... 5G 16 5 2,076 14 2 £2,140 8 6 1866 Sep. 10. By net proceeds of wool Wethers sold Use of rams ... ' Do. do. Sale of rams Mutton sold Ewes sold Cr. £ s. d. 810 15 5 85 4 10 18 15 0 48 10 0 978 10 0 8 13 3 190 0 0 £2,140 8 6 B. — Te Aute School Property. 1866 Dr. To balance from 1865 Current expenses 1866 Interest of money £ s. d. 2,869 5 0 710 12 0 256 5 6 £3,836 2 6 186G Cr. By balance sheep and wool account ... R. Stokes, Esq., for boundary fence Balance ... £ s. d. 2,076 14 2 90 6 11 1.669 1 5 £3,836 2 G C. — Te Ante School Property. 1867 To balance from 1866 Current expenses Interest of money Dr. £ s. d. 1,669 1 5 665 9 10 143 17 9 £2,478 9 0

A.—No. sa.

12

RELIGIOUS, CHARITABLE, AND

1867 To Kinross and Co.,hides and skins ... Fellmongers' skins ... Balance sheep and wool account ... Carting ... Rent, Tatham Mr. II. Tift'en, share of fence Balance ... Cr. £ s. 5 13 5 13 956 9 10 0 30 0 19 18 1,450 13 d. 9 0 1 9 0 8 9 £2,478 9 0 D. — Current Expenses, Te Aute School Property. 1S6G Wages:— £. s. d. Mr. Far... ... ... ... ... 25 0 0 AV. Hopper ... ... ... ... 52 0 0 R. Spiimor ... ... ... ... 50 0 0 J. May-ill ... ... ... ... 59 0 0 Bowser ... ... ... ... ... 40 10 0 G. Sullivan ... ... ... ... 368 Peacham ... ... ... ... 2 5 0 J. Hadfield ... ... ... ... 11 7 7 Campbell ... ... ... ... 5 0 0 A. Abbott ... ... ... ... 3 0 0 T. Sullivan ... ... ... ... 14 10 0 T. Carmichael ... ... ... ... 5 0 0 AV. McLean ... ... ... ... 2 0 0 Nott, mowing ... ... ... ... 0 18 0 AV. Edwards, fencing, hanging gates, Ac. ... ... 7 14 G Do. cutting grass seed... ... ... 2 0 0 Anderson, making gates ... ... ... 150 J.Morgan ... ... ... ... 0 G 8 Carmichael, one and a half week ... ... 1 10 0 £ s. d. 286 13 5 Provisions: — Flour ... ... ... ... ... 46 16 0 Sugar ... ... ... ... ... 24 0 0 Tea ... ... ... ... ... 19 10 5 Potatoes ... ... ... ... 10 9 7 Salt ... ... ... ... ... 2 3 4 Rice ... ... ... ... ... 1 11 9 Paints, oils, brushes, Ac, from London 104 11 21 12 1 G Steel (blacksmith) : — Two pairs large gate hinges, catches, Ac. ... ... 4170 Shoeing horses ... ... ... ... 1 15 0 Repairing thrashing machine ... ... ... 0 2 (! Fencing tools, and repairing ditto ... ... ISO One set gate hinges... ... ... ... 2 12 0 Repairing bullock gear and dray ... ... 4 16 G AVedges for scythes ... ... ... ... 030 15 14 6 Frank Flidc: — July 14. Splitting timber, and erecting 2,850 links wire fencing at Pataugata ... ... ... ... 17 0 0 Fencing on hill through bush, 2,200 links ... ... 11 0 0 Do. do. 4,928 links, 8s. 9d. ... ... 2111 0 Do. iu paddocks, 1,789 links, 10s. ... ... 8 19 0 Do. by road, 2,975 links ... ... ... 12 13 9 Four gateways ... ... ... ... 2 0 0 Two ' do. ... ... ... ... 2 0 0 Splitting timber ... ... ... ... 2 8 4 77 12 1 Hambury: — Mar. 21. Clearing bush for fence and carrying timber ... GOO July 5. Two weeks'two days'general station work ... ... 2 G 8 Sept. 27. 818 links post and rail fence ... ... ... 836 Three gateways ... ... ... ... 1 10 0 Splitting 638 small posts ... ... ... 7 19 0 Carrying posts up hill ... ... ... 050 26 4 2 Carried forward £532 7 9

13

A.—No. sa.

EDUCATIONAL RESERVES.

Brought forward Floyd :— 173 totara posts T. Felham :— Splitting 671 totara posts Do. 17 streamers Do. 13 slabs ... Cutting bush road ... Carting fencing timber Two bullock yokes and chains ... £ a. d. 8 8 9 1 14 0 0 6 6 0 10 0 3 10 0 3 0 0 £ 532 5 8. d. 7 9 3 9 17 9 3 Eenata Pukututu:— Timber for rails J. N. Williams :— Mar. 5. One Californian pump Grass seed Thirteen sacks 242 lbs. clover seed ... 11 10 0 49 14 0 0 19 6 12 2 0 2 0 0 74 5 6 Hoani Waikato:—• Feed for young rams Messrs. Kinross and Co. : — Feb. 9. One tin 3-inch nails... One tin 2-inch nails... Mar. 20. 8 cwt. fencing wire, No. 6 „ 26. 10 do. do. April 4. One tin teapot (station hands) ... One saucepan „ One tin can „ One pie dish „ May 7. 188 screw bolts (fences) Sept. 17. Two drums boiled oil One drum tar Three bags oats 6 lbs. ruddle One hair broom One dozen iron spoons One pair snuffers 2 lbs. blue stone Sept. 30. One cart from Sydney Nov. 21. 3 scythe handles, <fcc. G scythe stones Dec. 17. 3 paint brushes 1 tarpaulin Lamp-black 2 5 0 2 10 0 7 12 0 9 10 0 0 9 G 0 7 G 0 8 6 0 3 0 7 G 8 3 15 0 12 0 3 10 2 0 6 0 0 5 6 0 6 0 0 3 6 0 3 0 23 17 11 1 19 0 0 6 0 0 7 6 5 0 0 0 12 0 7 0 0 72 5 9 £710 12 0 Current Expenses, Te Aute School Account. Wages : — L. lloper ... Tom Bishop Joe Brunkcr B. Spinner Jas. Melville... John Samson John Armstrong John Barns William Hopper Charles Mohr Jas. Halival Tom Ellingham McKenzie... ... ... ... ... Onslow Fitzgerald... Joseph James William Edwards George Brewer £ s. d. 13 17 0 52 13 5 36 0 0 50 0 0 12 13 4 6 4 0 5 0 0 18 0 0 10 0 0 6 0 0 5 8 4 2 8 0 2 8 0 1 10 0 14 0 110 13 17 6 1 11 G £ s. d. Expenses " Te Pohonga" block 239 16 1 28 17 11 Carried forward £268 14 0 4

A.—No. sa,

14

RELIGIOUS, CHARITABLE, AND

Brought forward £ s. d. £ s. d. 268 14 0 Provisions: — Flour Sugar Tea Potatoes ... Salt Eaisins Eice 21 19 5 21 5 8 11 2 9 10 17 1 0 19 6 13 4 0 G 8 67 14 5 Messrs. Kinross and Co.: — Jan. 8. 2 scythes ... 3 cwt. wire Mar. 25. 1 drum oil... April 15. Gibs, ruddle 1 keg 2-in. Ewbanks ... 1 keg 3-in. do. 4-in. spikes Nov. 4. 1 bullock chain 0 13 0 3 6 0 1 15 0 0 G 0 1 16 G 1 13 0 0 6 8 0 8 6 10 4 8 "William Ellingham: — 1 cask P. Firth :— Feb. 2. 1 tin can... 1 axe handle Mar. 2. 1 adze 1 spado Mar. 29. Nails April 17. Screws May 16. Axe handles June 9. 1 tin can ... Aug. 19. Axe handles Nov. 17. 1 tin can ... Nov. 28. Axe handles Dec. Frying-pan Axe and handles 0 3 0 0 2 3 0 8 0 0 7 0 0 3 6 0 3 G 0 4 6 0 2 6 0 2 0 0 5 0 0 2 3 0 4 6 0 16 9 0 6 0 3 4 9 "William Eathbone : — Mar. 23. 1 adze handle 2 files June 2. Tomahawk 0 2 0 0 18 0 5 6 0 9 2 £350 13 0 Sheep and Wool Account, Te Aute School Estate. 18GS Dr. To sheep-tax... Shearers ... Bales and twine Balance ... £ s. d. 5 4 7 47 G 0 17 10 7 1,153 G 11 £1,223 8 1 1868 Ce. By sales of sheep-sldns ... Sales of wethers Net proceeds of wool Sale of rams Hire of rams Sale of Mutton £ s. d. 12 7 3 149 3 0 952 16 6 8 0 0 21 14 0 79 7 4 £1,223 8 1 Balance sheet. To balance, 18G7 Current expenses Interest of money De. £ s. d. 1,450 13 9 350 13 0 131 3 3 £1,932 12 0

EDUCATIONAL RESERVES.

A.—No. sa,

15

Cn. £ a. d. By balance, sheep and wool account... ... ... ... 1,153 6 11 T. Tatham (rent) ... ... ... ... ... 10 0 0 Kinross and Co., return cans ... ... ... ... 116 0 Balance ... ... ... ... ... ... 767 9 1 £1,932 12 0 Report of the Te Ante School Property. July, 1868. In giving the present report, I cannot do so without some degree of disappointment, inasmuch as I had hoped by this time very nearly, if not altogether, to have relieved the property from debt; but in consequence of the low price obtained for the wool last year, the great fall in the value of stock, and the very small demand for rams, I have not been able to reduce the debt by more than £219 7s. Bd., after paying the current expenses and the cost of further improvement of the property, together with the interest of borrowed money, and an outlay for sawn timber which was cut in anticipation of the Bishop of AVaiapu being provided with the necessary funds for the erection of the school-buildings. It should, however, be borne in mind that the property had been very partially improved, with but a very moderate number of sheep belonging to it; and that, whilst trying to reduce the debt, the improvement and grassing of the property has been steadily continued, as well as the increase of the flock of sheep. All the land, with the exception of the detached block of 1,748 acres, has been enclosed with a substantial fence of posts of the heart of totara and the best galvanized fencing wire, which has cost more money than was at first contemplated, in consequence of the very broken nature of the land, together with the dense forest on part of the line. Seven hundred acres have been well laid down in English grass and clover, and subdivided into nine paddocks of various sizes, besides which, a fence has been erected to cut oft' about 500 acres of what was by far the roughest part of the run, including about 100 acres of forest, the open portion of which is now getting nicely covered with English grass and clover. A large quantity of English grass seeds have also been sown on various parts of the run. The detached block of 1,748 acres has been managed as a section of a neighbouring run with sheep to the extent of its grazing capabilities, thereby securing a better return with less expense in every respect than otherwise could have been obtained. The number of the flock of sheep was as follows, at last shearing :—Ewes, 3,300 ; wethers, 1,029 ; rams, 201 ; lambs, I,BoB—total, 6,338. The wool-shed, which was rather small for the purpose, has been enlarged and fitted up with a screw press, at a cost of nearly £200, for the better management of the wool. A cart-shed, with a loose box for a stable— twenty-six feet by fourteen feet in all —has been erected during last year. The dwelling-house which I inhabit, having been in a very unfinished state, has had a further sum of £172 14s. 9d. expended upon it, making in all £340 12s. Bd. in excess of amounts received for that purpose. Samuel Williams.

-+ Miscellaneous Grants. Tuesday, 13th Apeil, 18G9. Present:—Mr. Hart. Various Lots — Educational Purposes. Captain Carter, being duly sworn, states : My name is John Chilton Lambton Carter. I reside at Maretara, western side of the harbour, Napier. lam Commissioner of Crown Lands and Provincial Treasurer. The lands referred to in the returns marked A. and B. in the book produced show the different sections of land in the Province of Hawke's Bay reserved for schools and educational purposes. Of these, in page No. 1 of the return, the section with the words "not granted " against it, has not yet been granted ; and the sections beginning with the section in Havelock and continuing to the end of the return, are not granted. All the reserved sections in the Town of Napier mentioned in that return, except section No. 523, are affected by the Act of Session 3, No. 1, of the Provincial Council of Hawke's Bay. Under the powers created by the Act, section No. 142 has been let, subdivided in two lots, one of which is leased for twenty-one years, commencing 27th August, 1863, at a rent of £66 a year ; the other portion is let from the 2Sth April, 1868, at a rental of £37 2s. 6d., for twenty-one years. Section 201 is let for twenty-one years, at rents for the first seven years, of £8 ss. ; the second seven years, £16 10s.; and the third seven years, £24 15s. Section 407 is let for twenty-one years from the Ist October, 1862, at rents for the first seven years, of £2 10s.; the second seven years at £5 ; and the third seven years at £7 10s. Section 421 is let for twenty-one years from Ist October, 1862, at a rental of £1 los. for the first seven years ; for the second seven years, £3 10s.; and for the third seven years, £4 15s. Section 469 is let for twenty-one years from the 28th April, 1868, at a rental of £2 4s. Suburban section 34 is divided into two lots, 34a. and 34b. 34a. is let from the Ist October, 1862, for twenty-one years, at a rental of £6 ss. for the first seven years ; at £12 10s. for the second seven years ; and £18 15s. for the third seven years. 34b. is let from Ist October, 1862, for twentyone years, at a rental of £3 for the first seven years ;at £6 for the second seven years; and at £9 for the third seven years. Suburban section No. 90 is divided into four parts. Section No. 90 2 and section No. 90 3 are let for a period of twenty-one years from the 15th April, 1862, at a rental of £6 14s. 6d. Section 90* is let for a period of twenty-one years from the 15th April, 1862, at a rental of £4 15s. Section 90 5 is let for a period of twenty-one years from 15th April, 1862, at a rental of £14 19s. Suburban section No. 35, on the western side of the harbour, is let for a period of twenty-one years from the 30th July, 1866, at a rental of £4 Bs. Town sections Nos. 30, 31, and 147, Hamp'den, are let for a period of twenty-one years from the sth July, 1865, at a rental of £3 for the first seven years ; £6 for the second seven years ; and £9 for the third seven years. Suburban sections Nos. 76 and 83,

A.—No. sa,

16

RELIGIOUS, CHARITABLE, AND

Hampden, are let for a period of twenty-one years, at a rental of £12 9s. Some of the other lands mentioned in the schedule have been let, but the leases have fallen through by default of the tenants. None of the other lands mentioned in the return are at present let. Section No. 100, Hampden, is appropriated as a site for a common schoolhouse, under Act, Session 8, No. 11, of the Provincial Council, and there is a building on it used as a common school. On section No. 107, Town of Clive, there is a school-building for the purpose of a common school. On section No. 75, Havelock, there is a school-building for a common school; and on section No. 70, Petane, there is a common school for boys and girls : the master lives on the ground, in a part of the house used as a schoolhouse. In the township of Clyde, "Wairoa, sections Nos. 467 to 473 inclusive, G37 to G43 inclusive, Gsl to 657 inclusive, and Sls to 821 inclusive, were reserved, at the time of the purchase from the Natives, as an endowment for a school for Natives and Europeans. There is a schoolhouse, partly on section 471 and partly on section 639. The rents are appropriated by the Educational Eeserves Act, Session 3, No. 1. The rents of the sections let, when received for the current financial year, will be added to the amount produced by the educational rate. There is a school at Waipukerau on land given by Mr. Henry Russell, and another at Waipawa on land given by Mr. Abbott. There is a reserve in Napier of land known as the public cemetery, containing 2 acres 2 roods 3 perches. By an Act of the Provincial Council, Session 12, No. 4, power is given to deal with this reserve for the purposes for which it was made. The town sections Nos. 164, 165, 166, 190, and 191, Clive, containing 1 acre 1 rood 18 perches, are set apart as a burial reserve; also rural section, Patency, unnumbered, containing 5 acres —a portion is used as a burial reserve, and is fenced in. Suburban section, Havelock, No. 49, is also set apart as a burial reserve. Suburban section, No. 54, Clyde, "Wairoa, containing 9 acres 32 perches, is also set apart for a burial reserve. The town section in Napier, known as the hospital reserve, containing 1 acre 3 roods, is occupied as a hospital. There is a reserve at Papakura, which an Act of the Provincial Council, Session 11, No. 4, authorizes the Superintendent, by the advice of the Executive Council, to demise and lease to Trustees there named, for a term, with certain powers, and authorizing the Trustees to apply the rents arising therefrom towards the purpose of any botanical garden or park within the Province. This reserve contains 39 acres 2 roods, being section No. 19 and a portion of No. 20, Meanee South. The land comprised in the last-mentioned Act of the Provincial Council was exempted from the operation of " The Hawke's Bay Land Regulation Act, 1866," by " The Hawke's Bay Land Regulation Extension Act Amendment Act, 1868," of the General Assembly. The reserve of 14 acres next the burial reserve, granted by grant No. 960, under " The Public Reserves Act, 1854," to the Superintendent of the Province of Hawke's Bay and his successors, for the purpose of public utility, is at present unoccupied. Captain Carter re-examined—("Wednesday, 14th April, 1869), —states : I produce the Eecord copy of Grant No. 598 under the land regulations of the Province of "Wellington. Tuesday, 13th April, 1869. Present: —Mr. Hart. Cemetery — Napier. Mr. Tiffen examined: My name is Henry Stokes Tiffen. I reside at Napier, and am a sheep farmer. I know the land set apart as a cemetery in the town of Napier. It is divided into five portions ; one portion appropriated to the Roman Catholics, one to members of the United Church of England and Ireland, one to Wesleyan Methodists, and one to the Presbyterians: the remaining portion, which had been used in common before the division, is left to be used in common. The ground is entirely fenced in, and the portion appropriated to the Roman Catholics is separately fenced. The outer fence does not follow the actual boundary of the reserve. The change in the form of the ground was made by arrangement with the Superintendent, for convenience of access and for convenience of fencing. A fee of 10s. is charged for each burial. The fees produced were employed in payment of a sexton until they became insufficient for the purpose. The small excess in the charge over the expense of digging each grave, is at present applied towards the payment of a small debt owing to the Trustees. "With the reserve next the cemetery, originally marked as Botanical Reserve, nothing has been done beyond a few huts built by the military, and the Provincial powder magazine and a military well. The reserves at Papakura, entitled Public Park and Botanical Garden, mentioned in Act, Session 11, No. 4, was let to a good tenant, at a rent proportioned to its value, until the lands comprised therein were covered with sand by a flood, and rendered valueless for the purposes of occupation. In the same manner the land referred to in the Hawke's Bay Agricultural Society Act, Session 10, No. 3, of the Provincial Council, was let, until by similar means it was rendered valueless for occupation. It was in May, 1867, the 26th and 27th. No rent was ever received. The leases were never completed. The piece of land used as a school at Meanee, containing half an acre, was bought of me with the amount of my subscription to the school. A site for a school and church in one building, at Kaikoura, was given by Mr. Edward "Watts. Wednesday, 14th Apkil, 1869. Present:—Mr. Hart. 2 roods, J. Curling, fyc, Napier — School. Mr. Catchpool, being duly sworn, states :My name is Edward Catchpool. I reside at Napier, and am a retired Officer of Customs. lam one of the Trustees named in the grant referred to, comprising sections numbered 136 and 137 on the plan of the Town of Napier : the Trustees named therein are still the Trustees of the land. Subsequent to the date of grant there was a schoolroom erected on the land, which was burnt down in the fire which consumed Ferrers' Hotel and other buildings in the neighbourhood. On the 4th day of November, 1863, a meeting was held of the subscribers to the Napier school, pursuant to advertisement in the Hawke's Bay Herald, at which His Honor the Superintendent presided, and at which it was proposed, seconded, and carried unanimously, " That it

EDUCATIONAL RESERVES.

17

A.—No. sa.

was the opinion of the meeting that the sections held in trust for the Napier school should be leased, and that, in order to obtain the full market value of the land, the same should be put up to public auction in suitable blocks ; and it was further resolved that the Trustees be requested to take measures for carrying out the foregoing resolution, and to prepare such conditions of lease as may be necessary to prevent the land from being used for unsuitable purposes or from being sub-let without consent of the Trustees, and also to fix suitable reserve rates as the minimum rate of each allotment; and the said Trustees be requested to hold such rents as may accrue therefrom for such educational purposes as may be resolved upon at a future meeting of subscribers." The paper writing I produced marked A. is signed by Donald McLean, the chairman of that meeting. There was a subsequent meeting of subscribers convened by advertisement, at which certain resolutions were passed for the establishment of a school in Napier, and the application for one year of a part of the funds accruing from the estate. The Trustees thereupon took the advice of a solicitor, acting upon which they have taken no steps towards the establishment of a school. At an adjourned meeting of the subscribers, an arrangement was entered into for leaving the papers in the hands of the Judge of the Supreme Court (Mr. Justice Johnston), to devise a scheme consistent with the powers of the Trustees for the establishment of a school or schools in Napier. Copies of all papers connected with the trust, or such original papers, were forwarded to His Honor Mr. Justice Johnston about a year and a half ago, but no decision has been communicated to the Trustees. Pursuant to the resolution of the meeting first referred to, every part of the property was offered for leasing to public competition, and 42 feet fronting Hastings Street and next Tenison Street, was leased to Thomas Kenedy Newton and James Irvine for a term of twentyone years, at a rental of £90 Gs. per annum, such term commencing on 2nd January, 1864: 30 feet next adjoining was also leased to the same parties for a term of twenty-one years, commencing 12th February, 1864, at a rental of £34 10s. per annum. After several further attempts at letting by the same means, the 60 feet of frontage to Hastings Street remaining was let to Andrew H. Blake for a term of twenty-one years, commencing 14th December, 1866, at a rental of £78 per annum; and at the same time thirty-three feet fronting Tenison Street was let to Messrs. Newton and Irvine for a term of twenty-one years at £33 per annum. The total rental is £235 16s. I receive the rents. No appropriation has been made of the funds to the support of any school; they have been permitted to accumulate. On account of the accumulations there is invested on mortgage, at an interest of 10 per cent, per annum, sums amounting to £410, and there is a balance in the Bank of New Zealand amounting to £447 Is. The greater part of the money had been previously deposited in the Savings Bank, but, pending the decision of His Honor the Judge as to the appropriation of the funds, the Trustees considered they could employ the moneys more profitably. No charges have been made for the collection. I will send a memorandum of the expenses that have been incurred by the Trustees since the resolution referred to. The building originally on the land was for a time insured at the expense of Mr. Newton, but the school funds proving insufficient to bear the expense of the insurance, it was discontinued previous to the fire. The Trustees have since, out of the rents, repaid Mr. Newton his outlay for insurance. In consequence of a communication from Mr. Justice Johnston to Mr. James Anderson, through whom the papers were forwarded to His Honor, and of circulars addressed by Mr. Anderson to the subscribers to the school fund, a great majority of the subscribers forwarded letters expressing their opinions with respect to the mode of apj)ropriating the funds arising from the property. Those letters, with a synoptical schedule of them, were handed to Mr. Justice Johnston at the time the other papers were delivered. Total amount expended by Trustees of Napier School Trust, up to the present date, from the Bents received by them from the several Lessees on Allotments of Town Sections Nos. 136 and 137 of the Town of Napier : — 1864 Touchers. Jan. 2. To V. Janisch, auctioneer, for commission and charges on allotments offered for lease by public auction, including printing conditions of sale and costs of advertising No. 1. ... 10 2 9 Feb. 12. To V. Janisch ditto. ditto. ... 5 9 6 Also for amount paid by him to Mr. Fitzgerald, surveyor, for marking out boundaries of allotments on town sections as above ... ... ... No. 2. 412 6 1865 10 2 0 May 13. To Jas. "Wood for stationery, and for advertising sundry meetings of subscribers and trustees ... ... No. 3. ... 3 12 9 May 31. To V. Janisch, commission and charges on allotments offered for lease, including advertisements in newspapers. No sales effected. (See memo.) ... No. 4. ... 7 10 6 1866 Aug. 31. To T. K. Newton, being refund of an advance made by him for insurance of school-building in 1860 ... No. 5. ... 3 19 0 Dec. 14. To Eoutledge, Kennedy & Co., auctioneers, for commission and charges on allotments offered for lease, and for advertising ... ... ... ... No. 6. ... 8 0 6 £43 7 6 Note.—All allotments now leased. . Edwaeb Catciipool, Napier, 14th April, 1869. Acting Trustee. Memo. —By special arrangement the auctioneers were to be allowed 10s. 6d. for each allotment put up by them in cases where no sales were effected. —E.C. 5

A.—No. sa,

18

RELIGIOUS, CHARITABLE, AND

Saturday, 17th April, 1869. Present: —Mr. Hart. Napier Hospital Reserve. Dr. Hitchings examined: My name is Thomas Hitchings. I reside at Napier, and am a surgeon. lam surgeon to the Napier Hospital. It is built on what is known as the Napier Hospital reserve. It is a weatherboard building, shingle roof; contains seven rooms, affording accommodation for sixteen or seventeen patients, but on emergencies we have accommodated forty to fifty wounded Natives. A portion of the reserve may have been devoted to the purposes of a road for the general accommodation of the neighbourhood. There is an outbuilding used as a wash-house. I believe the enclosure and buildings used for meteorological purposes are a portion of the reserve. A portion of the ground is used as a grass plot for the recreation of the convalescent. A small garden is cultivated by the master, and another portion is used as a yard for the ordinary purposes of the institution. The institution is supported by the Province, assisted by a small charge, to such patients as can afford to pay it, of 2s. per diem. Tuesday, 27th April, 1869. Present: —Mr. Hart. Lots in Town of Clyde — School. In reference to sections Nos. 467 to 473, 637 to 643, 651 to 657, 815 to 821, consecutively and inclusively, in the town of Clyde, Mr. Sturm tenders the following information : My name is Frederick William Christian Sturm. I reside at Napier, and am a nurseryman and seedsman. From 1839 to 1866, on and off, I lived at Mohaka, twenty miles north of the Wairoa. In the beginning of 1856 there were a number of Half-caste children, the "Wairoa being the residence of whalers in the summer time. In the year in which Hawke's Bay was separated from "Wellington, the Natives having in 1856, about February, agreed to give the land for a school, I applied to Dr. Featherston for assistance, which he promised. This was never fulfilled by reason of the separation. The whaling having fallen off, we could not raise the funds for the building until the Hawke's Bay Province contributed a moiety of the cost. About 1860 wo fenced in the land. Mr. Joseph Carroll, who lives at the "Wairoa, kept the accounts, paid the moneys for the school building, and has the deed, I believe, unless he has given it up to Mr. McLean. The Natives gave the land that it should be for the benefit of Native children as well as of Half-castes or European children, so long as they came clean and neat, the parents paying the usual school fee, it being understood that they would bo taught the English language. The Trustees were at first Messrs. Joseph Carroll, John Mitchell, and William Morris ; the next were Carroll, Morris, and myself. Morris and I have ceased to be Trustees, and I do not know if any others have been appointed in our places. Some of the settlers objected to Maori children being admitted, but I remonstrated, and it was settled that, if clean and neat, they had a right to be admitted. There have been as many pupils at one time as twenty-nine, at least. These were all Half-castes. I only know of two Maori children being there at any one time. Mr. Joseph Carroll has resided there continuously, and can give full information. Donald McLean, Superintendent of Hawke's Bay, tenders the following information : I acted for the Province of Hawke's Bay on the purchase from the Maoris of the district known as the township of Clyde at the Wairoa. This took place in or about the year 1864. Previous to this, namely, about 1860, the Maoris had given a piece of land to Trustees for a school. This land was not in terms excepted from the land ceded by the Maoris by their deed of the 2nd November, 1864, but it was my intention that the object for which the land was set apart should be continued. The Government had assisted from 1860 or thereabouts, and the school had been under Government inspection, and was provided with the usual appliances in use in Provincial schools. There was no express stipulation made at the time of the purchase, but the land was partly fenced in and the school was built. Samuel Locke, being duly sworn, states : I am a surveyor, and reside at Napier. In 1864 and 1865, I was in charge of the Wairoa District, as a Government Agent for the carrying out of the land purchases, then in progress, from the Natives, and watch the progress of the Natives. From the Maori chiefs, and from Messrs. Carroll, Sturm, and Morris, who acted as Trustees of the land in the township of Clyde, in that district, I learned that the land the possession of which was, before the sale to the Government of the district delivered to those gentlemen as Trustees for school purposes, was so delivered upon the trust and understanding that the teacher appointed should be competent to instruct Maoris as well as Europeans. I have heard that there was a deed of trust at the time, but I have never seen it. When I first went there, there were two acres of the land fenced in, a decent weatherboarded schoolhouso and dwellings. After I went there the school was re-opened, but I am not aware that any Maori children have been taught there of late. ♦ Eoman Catholic Church. Friday, 9th April, 1869. Present :— St. Joseph Providence Lnstitution. The following information is supplied by Father Eeignier: My name is Euloge Eeignier. I reside at Meanee, and am a Eoman Catholic priest, having charge of the Province except the town of Napier. I was connected with the St. Joseph Providence Institution in Napier. The sum of £100 was contributed to the buildings by the Government. It has been open six months. It has sixteen boarders, but there is accommodation for nearly thirty. I have been trying to increase the number. The disturbed

EDUCATIONAL RESERVES.

19

A.—No. sa.

state of the country and depression of the times, added to the expenses of the building, and finishing and furnishing thereof, have prevented further progress for the present. There are, besides the Saint Joseph Providence Institution, three other Catholic schools open to children of persons of all denominations. A ladies' school, having thirty scholars, some being boarders and some day scholars, under an English lady teacher; a middle-class girls' school, having upon an average sixty scholars, with two English lady teachers. There is in connection with the ladies' school what we call an ouvreoir, an apartment in which dressmaking and fancy work are taught. There is a boys' school also, attended by about fifty boys, open to all denominations. In our institutions, when we desire religious instruction to the children of Catholics, the other children are dismissed. Including the whole of these institutions, the average attendance is 150.

APPENDIX TO EVIDENCE TAKEN AT NAPIEE. No. 1. Grant of 593 acres, Poverty Hay — Church of England Native and Half-caste School. (No. 128 of Eeg. No. 4a.) Victoeia, by the grace of God of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, Queen: To all to whom these presents shall come, greeting: Kxow te that for good considerations us thereunto moving, we for us, our heirs and successors, do hereby grant unto the Might Reverend Father in God, William, Bishop of Waiapu, and his successors, all that piece or parcel of land in the Province of Auckland, in our Colony of New Zealand, containing by admeasurement five hundred and ninety-three acres three roods, more or less, bounded by a line commencing at its northwesternmost angle at Hurikitahawai, and running thence N. 79° E. eight thousand eight hundred and seventy-one links to Otarewa, and four hundred and fifty links to the Makakahi stream, thence up that stream S. 146° 30' E. three hundred links in a straight l;ne to Umuinanga, thence S. 236° 30' W. four thousand three hundred and thirty links, thence S. 223° W. three thousand and sixty-four links to Tarewapatuiwi, thence S. 221° W. two thousand and thirty-one links, thence N. 278° W. one thousand and ninety-two links to a kahikatea tree to Motumanawawai, thence N. 294° W. three thousand four hundred and seventy-seven links to Mataaniho, thence N. 4° 30' E. five thousand four hundred and ninety-nine links to Hurikitahawai aforesaid, as the same is delineated on the plan drawn in the margin hereof, with all the rights and appurtenances thereto belonging, to hold unto the said Right Reverend Father in God, William, Bishop of Waiapu, and his successors for ever upon trust for a site and endoimnent for a school for Natives and Halfcastes, in connection with the United Church of England and Ireland, and upon further trust to convey the same to such Trustees as may be nominated in that behalf by or by authority of the General Synod of the United Church of England and Ireland in New Zealand, to be by them held upon the trust and for the purposes aforesaid: Provided always that some of the said Trustees be of the aboriginal tribe called Te Whauau o Taupara. In testimony whereof we have caused this our grant to be sealed with the seal of our said Colony of New Zealand. Witness our trusty and well-beloved Thomas Gore Browne, C.8., Governor and Commander-in-Chief in and over the Colony of New Zealand, at Auckland, this seventh day of May, in the twenty-third year of our reign, and in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and sixty. Thomas Goee Beowxe. Entered on record this third day of September, 1860. W. Gisboene, For the Colonial Secretary and Eegistrar. With the advice and consent of the Executive Council. Eredk. Whitaker Henry John Tancred.

No. 2. Foue Geants for Te Aute School. (No. 4 of Eeg. No. 14.) Victoeia, by the grace of God of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, Queen: To all to whom these presents shall come, greeting : Know te that for good considerations us thereunto moving, we for us, our heirs and successors, do hereby grant unto the Right Jicvcrcnd George Augustus, Lord Bishop of New Zealand, and his successors, all that parcel of land in our Province of Wellington, in our Colony of New Zealand, containing by admeasurement one thousand seven hundred and forty-five acres (more or less), situate in the District of Ahuriri, and whereof the boundary begins at Te Koto Akiwa and runs in the Wai o Pakini stream to Te Eoto Atara, and follows the edge of the swamp till it reaches Ohinemauwhiri, and goes along the

A.—No. sa.

20

RELIGIOUS, CHARITABLE, AND

hill till it reaches Whatupungapunga, thence to Waipapa, thence to Te Horo, thence to Oreke, thence to Te Kohai, where it breaks off and runs to Te Raroa and follows the gully down to Te Roto Okiwa, as the same is delineated on the plan drawn in the margin hereof, with all the rights and appurtenances thereto belonging, to hold unto the said George Augustus, Lord Bishop of New Zealand, and his successors for ever upon trust as an endowment for a school to be maintained at Te Aute, in the District of Ahuriri aforesaid, for the benefit of the Aboriginal inhabitants of New Zealand. In testimony whereof we have caused this our grant to be sealed with the seal of our Colony of New Zealand. Witness our trusty and well-beloved Thomas Gore Browne, C.8., Governor and Commander-in-Chief in and over the Colony of New Zealand, at Auckland, this tenth day of June, in the twentieth year of our reign, and in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and fifty-seven. Thomas Goee Beowne. Entered on record this tenth day of June, 1857. E. W. Staffoed, Colonial Secretary and Registrar. With the advice and consent of the Executive Council. R. H. Wynyard. E. W. Stafford. Fredk. Whitaker. C. W. Richmond. (No. 5 of Reg. No. 14.) Yictokia, by the grace of God of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, Queen: To all to whom these presents shall come, greeting: Kkow te that for good considerations us thereunto moving, we for us, our heirs and successors, do hereby grant unto the Sight Severend George Augustus, Lord Bishop of New Zealand, and his successors, all that parcel of land in our Province of Wellington, in our Colony of New Zealand, containing by admeasurement one thousand four hundred and eight acres {more or less), situate in the District of Ahuriri, and whereof the boundary begins at Te Arawhata o Makomako and runs to Korakonui, thence to Tarewatanga o te Ruatiti, thence to Te Tringa a Kura, thence to Matatuawhiro, thence to Takangaotamakura, thence to Ngapunaamaniairangi, thence to Te Korora, thence to Te Pakehiuroanitu, crossing the Mangaotai, and thence to Maramatitaha, thence to Ruakaka, thence to Te Ahitara Ote Koukura, where it turns and runs on to the boundary of the land sold to the Queen, and follows the said boundary back to the commencement at Te Arawhataomakomako, as the same is delineated on the plan drawn in the margin hereof, with all the rights and appurtenances thereto belonging, to hold unto the said George Augustus, Lord Bishop of New Zealand, and his successors for ever upon trust as an endowment for a school to be maintained at Te Aute, in the District of Ahuriri aforesaid, for the benefit of the Aboriginal inhabitants of New Zealand. In testimony whereof we have caused this our grant to be sealed with the seal of our Colony of New Zealand. Witness our trusty and well-beloved Thomas Gore Browne, C.8., Governor and Commander-in-Chief in and over the Colony of New Zealand, at Auckland, this tenth day of June, in the twentieth year of our reign, and in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and fifty-seven. Thomas Goee Beowite. Entered on record this tenth day of June, 1857. E. W. Staffoed, Colonial Secretary and Registrar. With the advice and consent of the Executive Council. R. H. Wynyard. E. W. Stafford. Tredk. Whitaker. C. W. Richmond. (No. 12 of Reg. No. 14.) Victoeia, by the grace of God of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, Queen: To all to whom these presents shall come, greeting: Know te that for good considerations us thereunto moving, we for us, our heirs and successors, do hereby grant unto the Sight Severend George Augustus, Lord Bishop of Neiv Zealand, all that parcel of land in our Province of Wellington, in our Colony of New Zealand, containing by admeasurement four thousand two hundred and forty-four acres (more or less), situated in the District of Ahuriri, and bounded on the north by land granted to the Bishop of New Zealand upon trust as an endowment for a school one hundred and thirty-seven chains, on the east by the Roto Atara swamp and by a line bearing 183° twenty-nine chains, on the south by a line bearing 282° two hundred and thirty-nine chains, on the west by a line bearing 17° 30' twenty-one chains, thence by a line bearing 28° 20' ninetytwo chains, thence by a line bearing 23° 50' forty-seven chains fifty links, thence by a line bearing 16° 15' sixty-seven chains to its intersection with the southern boundary of the land granted to the Bishop of New Zealand as aforesaid, excepting so much of the hereinbefore described land as may be necessary for the making of a road not exceeding sixty-six feet in width in through or over the said

EDUCATIONAL RESERVES.

21

A.—No. sa.

parcel of land, and which, said parcel of land hereby granted is delineated on the plan drawn in the margin hereof, with all the rights and appurtenances thereto belonging, to hold unto the said George Augustus, Lord Bishop of New Zealand, and Ids successors for ever, upon trust as an endowment for a school, to lie maintained in the District of Ahuriri aforesaid, for the education of children of our subjects of both races in New Zealand. In testimony whereof we have caused this our grant to be sealed with the seal of our Colony of New Zealand. Witness our trusty and well-beloved Thomas Gore Browne, C.8., Governor and Coinmander-in-Chief in and over the Colony of New Zealand, at Auckland, this seventh day of July, in the twenty-first year of our reign, and in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and fifty-seven. Thomas G-ore Browne. Entered on record this sixteenth day of July, 1867. E. "W. Stafford, Colonial Secretary and Registrar. (No. 169 of Beg. No. H7.) Victoria, by the grace of God of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, Queen : To all to whom these presents shall come, greeting: Know te that for good considerations us thereunto moving, we for us, our heirs and successors, do hereby grant unto the Bight Reverend Charles John, Bishop of Wellington ; the Venerable Octavius Hadfield, Archdeacon of Kapiti; William McLeod Bannatj/ne, George Hunter, and Robert Stokes, all of Wellington, Esquires, Trustees appointed by the General Synod of the branch of the United Church of England and Ireland in JSlew Zealand, all that parcel of land in our Province of Hawke's Bay, in our Colony of New Zealand, containing by admeasurement three hundred and eighty-two acres (more or less), being section numbered nineteen X, situated at Te Aute, bounded towards the north by land granted to the Bishop of New Zealand " upon trust as an endowment for a school," twenty-three thousand nine hundred links, towards the east by Native land, consisting of an irregular line of a swamp and a line bearing 54° one thousand two hundred links, towards the south by a line bearing 282° a distance of twenty-four thousand two hundred and seventy-eight links, and towards the west partly by a line bearing 17° 30' a distance of one thousand four hundred and ninety-two links, and partly by a line bearing 183° a distance of two thousand two hundred and forty links, as the same is delineated on the plan drawn in the margin hereof, with all the rights and appurtenances thereto belonging, to hold unto the said Charles John, Bishop of Wellington; Archdeacon Octavius Sadfield, William McLeod Bannatyne, George Hunter, and Robert Stokes, for ever, upon trust as an endowment for a school, to be maintained in the District of Ahuriri, for the education of children of our subjects of both races in New Zealand. In testimony whereof we have caused this our grant to be sealed with the seal of our Colony of New Zealand. "Witness our trusty and well-beloved Sir George Grey, X.C.8., Governor and Commander-in-Chief in and over the Colony of New Zealand, at "Wellington, this twenty-eighth day of November, in the thirtieth year of our reign, and in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and sixty-six. G. Grey. Entered on record this twenty-ninth day of November, 1866. A. Domett, Secretary for Crown Lands.