A.—No. 3,

54

RELIGIOUS, CHARITABLE, AND

I will prepare and furnish to the Commissioners a list of the reserves granted to the Superintendent, and by him conveyed to the Church Property Trustees, and specifying what has been done with the same, and whether let or unlet, and if let, showing the respective annual rents. This I can only furnish from inquiry. Respecting sections 535 and 880, Christchurch, I am unable to trace what has become of them. They are not now in the possession of the Church Property Trustees, or, at all events, they have not been previously been called to my attention. I produce a list marked G, containing the numbers of the rural sections granted to the Church Property Trustees, specifying the annual rents of such of them as have been let, distinguishing such of them as have been sold, and. specifying the prices realized upon such sale. And also distinguishing such of the sections so granted, namely, sections 319, 322, and 323, which have been transferred to Christ's College, and are included in the list of property belonging to that College. I except sections Nos. 320, 321, and 330, concerning which the information I possess is incomplete. I will forward this information with the other which I am to furnish. I produce a paper marked H, which contains a list of lands purchased by the Church Property Trustees, and now vested in them. The purchase moneys were paid out of moneys produced by sales of land belonging to the Church Property Trustees under contracts entered into by Mr. Sewell before they were handed over to the trustees. This list shows the numbers of the sections, the annual rents of such of them as are let, and distinguishing such of them as are unlet. I have before me the ledger of the Treasurer of the Church Property Trustees. It therein appears that all moneys received by the trustees from sales of land belonging to that portion of the estate subject to the General Trust which has not been reinvested in the purchase of lands, has been transferred to the Parsonage Building Fund. The Report of the Commission previously referred to in my evidence, shows the division and appropriation of the property up to 1864. I will endeavour to furnish a report containing this information to the present time, so far as that information is left unfurnished by the pajjers which I have already handed in.

Saturday, Bth January, 1870. Mr. Tancred, being duly sworn, states: My name is Henry John Tancred. I reside near Christchurch. lam the Chairman of the Board of Education for the Province of Canterbury. The reserves comprised in the grants dated 3rd September, 1867, and recorded C. 25, pp. 238, 239, 240, 241, 242, and consecutively to 250 inclusive, and C. 26, pp. 1 to 10 consecutively and inclusive, and 26th October, 1867, C. 27, pp. 151 to 158 inclusive, were made pursuant to a resolution of the Provincial Council of Canterbury, and selected, with my approval, by the Provincial Surveyor. Mr. Alexander Lane, of Christchurch, architect, has been, appointed agent for letting these reserves, and collecting the rents thereof. He is appointed by the Superintendent. It is contemplated by the Board to make application to the Superintendent and Provincial Council for a grant of money to enable the necessary buildings to be erected for a classical school, and, should the application fail, to accumulate the rents until they suffice for the purpose. If the money is granted the rents will be applied to the maintenance of the school. The delay in commencing operations has arisen from the want of funds. Under " The Board of Education Ordinance, 1863," the funds, as they arise, will be administered by the Board of Education constituted pursuant to that Ordinance. This Board is charged with the administration of all funds in the hands of the Provincial Government for the purposes of education. This applies to the revenues derivable from all other lands granted to the Superintendent, or appropriated for purposes of education in this Province. In the month of March, 1869, I prepared a report of the state of the superior schools of the Province then in existence. Since that time the school known as the Lyttelton High School has been reduced to the status of a common school by the Provincial Council. I will furnish a copy of the report. (A., pp. 58-61.) On Saturday afternoon the Commissioners visited the cemetery of the Church of England, in the Road. The ground is fenced in, and laid out and planted with considerable taste. There is a quaintly-built mortuary chapel, the windows of which are, with one exception, memorial windows of stained glass. The ground is kept in very good order, and is worthy the notice of any stranger visiting Christchurch. The cemetery on the opposite side of the road, in which the Roman Catholics bury, and the portion in which members of other denominations bury, is fenced in, and to some extent planted, but seems to have no regular labour bestowed apon it. It presents, therefore, a contrast to the orderly and pleasing appearance of the cemetery of the Church of England.

Tuesday, 11th January, 1870. Mr. Gordon, being duly sworn, states: My name is George Gordon (of Springfield Road, near Christchurch, Town Clerk of Christchurch). Reserve No. 9 (mentioned in grant recorded book 6, p. 327) is situate in Oxford Terrace Christchurch, and contains 16 perches, is used as a City Council yard for workshops and other purposes connected with the town works. It is just newly fenced in on three sides with galvanized iron. Has buildings and part of the old fence on the fourth side. Reserve No. 10 (also so mentioned) is in Worcester Street and Oxford Terrace, and contains 16 perches. The Resident Magistrate's Court, and Council Chamber, and offices of the City Council, are built upon it. The Magistrate's Court was originally built by the Canterbury Association. Since the conveyance to the City Council the building has been enlarged and new offices added. For the use of these the New Zealand Government pays to the City Council £125 per annum, which forms part of the revenue of the Municipality, and is spent upon the public works in Christchurch. Reserve No. 15 (also so mentioned) is in two blocks, each containing 29 perches, situate in Market Place, Christchurch. The one fronting on Colombo Street is occupied, by the General