G.—4,

14

No. 13. The Hon. the Natiye Minister to Henry Churton, Esq., Wanganui. Sir,— Native Office, Wellington, 26th May, 1877. I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of date 17th May, in which you desire to be informed, — 1. To what extent you may rely upon the assistance of the Government towards the erection of the proposed building for the Maori girls' boarding-school; and 2. If any future subsidy will be given towards its maintenance. Tou also express your willingness to make over the control and management of the school to the Government. On all these points I shall be prepared to meet your views. If you will convey the land (10 acres) proposed as the site of the school to the Public Trustee, the Government will ask Parliament to provide one-half of tho cost of the buildings. If you will make the necessary provision for endowing the school permanently with an income of £1,200 per annum, the Government will provide so much money annually in addition as may be required to defray the charges of the maintenance and education of forty-five pupils at the school. The Government will also, as you desire, undertake the charge of the school; and if, as is probable, an Act of the Assembly be required to secure the establishment and maintenance of the institution on the basis now proposed, will take the necessary steps for that purpose. I have, &c, Henry Churton, Esq., Wanganui. Daniel Pollen.

No. 14. Henry Churton, Esq., Wanganui, to the Hon. the Native Minister. Sir, — Wanganui, 4th June, 1877. In reply to yours of the 26th ultimo, I beg to say that I am satisfied with the arrangement proposed therein. I will send the deeds of title of the land for you to have conveyed in any way you think correct. I do not quite see how I am to make the required provision for the endowment of the £1,200 during my life. My income is derived principally from rents, mortgages, &c, which are continually falling in or renewed, some at present only paying 6 or 7 per cent., which probably in future will produce 10 per cent.. While I live, I can attend to these things, which of course require constant looking after. I have made my will, by which all my property is left to be devoted to this or more schools of a similar nature. There can be no doubt of the amount £1,200 being paid, as my income is now a good deal above that, is annually increasing, and my expenses are very small. Still, if the Government require a guarantee, and will propose what kind of security is required, I dare say it may be arranged. I may state that Ido not wish this establishment to be quite a charity school. I hope the Maoris will pay something, if. only to the amount of clothing for their children ; and I am sanguine enough to believe that in future times many will be glad to pay the whole cost of maintenance, &c, for the sake of giving a good education to their children at so small a cost. Besides, I have no doubt there are many fathers of half-caste children who will be glad to take advantage of the same ; and in this case more children can be admitted, at the cost only to the funds of the endowment of extra a"?ommodation for the children. Any other suggestions you may make, I shall be happy to attend to. Please forward the plans as soon as possible. I have, &c, The Hon. Dr. Pollen, Native Office, Wellington. H. Churton. P.S.—You did not reply to my request contained in note enclosed in my letter of 17th May.—H. C.

No. 15. The Under Secretary, Native Department, to H. Churton, Esq., Wanganui. Sir,— Native Office, Wellington, 18th June, 1877. I have the honor, by direction of the Hon. the Native Minister, to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the 4th instant, and, in reply, to inform you that the plans forwarded to you in July, 1872, cannot be found in the Native Office, nor is there any record in the office of the Colonial Architect of your having returned them. Will you be good enough to have a plan showing the section of the land and the site of the proposed building sent to this office as soon as possible, in order that the Colonial Architect may be directed to prepare new plans without delay ? I have, &c, H. Churton, Esq., Wanganui. H. T. Clarke, . Under Secretary.

No. 16. The Rev. J. W. Stack to the Under Secretary, Native Department. Sib,— Christchurch, 12th June, 1877. I have the honor to forward herewith the report of my inspection of the Native schools in the South Island for 1877.