EDUCATIONAL RESERVES.

33

A.—No. 3

In carrying out these objects I should be guided by the means at my disposal, and provide that, while religious instruction should be given, it should be under a conscience clause, of which I heartily approve, provided it is not so worded or enforced as to prevent the imparting religious instruction as part of the school lessons, giving at the same time liberty and opportunity to parents who wished to withdraw their children at such times. With a conscience clause so administered I do not anticipate any so-called " religious difficulty." Provided that the Maoris, so long as they were in the neighbourhood, had tho first benefit of the trust, I should be glad to see the institution extend its operations, and it might form the nucleus of a large industrial school, not for its own vicinity, but for the country altogether—an area which is mentioned in the original trust deed, viz., islands in the Pacific Ocean. I venture to suggest that some clause enabling a revision of such trusts, to be made at distant intervals, might be inserted in making any such appropriations in future, as it would act as a stimulus to existing applications, and prevent accumulated abuses or funds laying wholly idle. I have, &c., To the Commissioners for inquiring into Andrew Burn Nelson. School Trusts, &c. Native School, Wakarewa. evening school. 1868. May ... Number on book ... 20 ... Average attendance ... 8t« June ... „ ... 17 ... „ ... 7 t 5t July ... „ ... 27 ... „ ... 13 t 6t August ... „ ... 28 ... „ ... 10H DAY SCHOOL. 1868. July ... Number on book ... 24 ... Average attendance ... 10i August ... „ ... 27 ... „ ... 81 The attendance for 1869, for the worst months in the year, when there is much money in the hands of the Natives :— Morning. Evening. 1869. January... ... ... 7 ... ... ... 4 ~ February ... ... 5 ... ... ... 3 March ... ... ... 6 ... ... ... G April ... ... ... 8 ... ... ... 6 May ... ... ... 4 ... ... ~. 4 The Natives are often away at different parts of the Bay for weeks together, during which time the teacher must of course still be at his post, unless he be a migratory teacher following them up wherever they go. Rental of the Wakarewa Estate. £ s. d. Income from rents, 1859 to 1863 ... ... ... ... 212 14 8 1863 to 1873 ... .. ... ... 329 0 6 1873 to 1880 ... ... ... ... 353 14 4 at which time, and in 1881, the leases will expire. I had thought two or three years ago of keeping Saxon's land open for the purpose of industrial training, but it would have been unproductive, and I certainly thought it would be more beneficial tothe trust to lease it, and it was leased accordingly. I think it would be highly beneficial if some person were appointed or constituted to make annual reports of the administration of trust estates, which might be published for general information. Nelson: Church Hill, 1 acre. —The objects of the trusts are carried out. Waimea South: No. 5, 10 acres 37 porches. —A church, in accordance with the trust, is on this section, and service is performed. A Sunday school is also carried on there. There is a Provincial Government school close by, which gives daily instruction. Waimea South : Endowment for a school, No. 6, 9 acres 2 roods 15 perches. —This land has hitherto been in possession of Mr. Squire, on an improving lease, with no money payment. It is leased now to Mr. John Berry. This grant is in my name. I have asked Messrs. Barnicoat and Baigent to act for me. Mr. Berry is to pay rent, which will be devoted to the maintenance of the Church of England Sunday School above alluded to. The clergyman, Mr. Tripp, lived on the land, on condition of paying £18 a year.

Letter from E. Baigent, Esq., to the Secretary of the Commission, respecting the two last-mentioned grants. Sir,— Wakefield, Waimea South, 7th March, 1870. I have the honor to report, for your consideration, upon the Religious and Educational Trust Property situate at Wakefield, Waimea South. As you request to know if the objects of the trust have been carried out with reference to two sections of land given for the above purpose, I would first beg leave to state that the two sections or blocks of land mentioned in your letter were one and the same gift to the district by the New Zealand Company's agent for the above object; but on. the Government of New Zealand taking the responsibility of the Company, and through the Crown Lands Commissioner having sold part of the block given to the people of this district by mistake to another person named Price, the inhabitants applied to Sir George Grey, explaining to His Excellency their grievance of being deprived of a portion of the block given for the above purpose. His Excellency therefore allowed another block to be selected of equal size in lieu of the land sold. I might here state that before the Crown Grant was issued the Land Claims Commissioner required to know on what grounds the district made claim to the second 9