H.—l7.

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purpose, aud that, in view of such an association being formed, Government made it one of the conditions of the teacher's engagement iv England that he should reside in any part of the colony, and be subject to the control and supervision of any governing body which the Government may resolve upon. ' 3. That Government recognize your emineut fitness for the position of lady-superintendent and governess of a deaf and dumb institution, and would be glad to aid in securing your valuable services in that capacity; and that, in tho eveut of such an association as I have indicated being formed, and your services secured by the association, Government would contribute towards the expenses of the institution somewhat as follows :— (a.) By paying towards the rent of a suitable building for the first operations of the association a sum not exceeding, say, £65 a year ; (b.) By granting a subsidy towards current expenditure at the rate of one pound (£1) for every pound raised by the association from subscriptions, donations, aud payments by parents and guardians of the pupil inmates of the institution ; (c.) By paying a subsidy of probably not less than £20 per annum towards the board and education of every child whose parent or guardian may be unable to pay the full charge for admission ; (d.) By moving Parliament to vote a grant in aid of the association's efforts to erect suitable buildings of a permanent character for its institution upon freehold land which it may be able to secure by gift or otherwise. It is to be understood, however, that the association would have to be prepared to accept tho services of the teacher who may be appointed by the Agent-General ou such teacher's arrival in the colony, and that any arrangements now made as regards the staff would be subject to such modifications as may be found necessary in consequence. Government undertake, however, that the arrangemeuts connected with the engagement of such teacher shall be of a liberal character, and that your status and interests shall be protected. You are at liberty to make this communication public, for the information of those who are interested in the important and useful work to which you have devoted yourself. I have, &c, Miss Mitchell, Home Villa, Lyttelton. John Hislop.

No. 13. Mr. J. Hislop to Miss Mitchell. Madam, — Education Department, Wellington, 16th April, 1879. I have the honor, by direction of the Minister of Education, to acknowledge the receipt of of your letter of the sth instant, conveying to Government an offer by the Rev. Mr. Bradley, of Charteris Bay, of an acre of his land ou the shore of Lyttelton Harbour, as a site for the proposed deaf and dumb institution. I am to request you to be good enough to convey to Mr. Bradley the the thanks of Government for his handsome offer, which thoy would bo prepared to accept but for the following considerations: — As explained in my other letter to you of even date, Government would greatly prefer that a deaf aud dumb institution should be established and maintained by a voluntary association of persons interested in the work, aided by Parliamentary subsidy. It might probably assist the formation of such an association if Mr. Bradley were to kindly make the offer of a site to the promoters of the association, which, if accepted, would rank as a donation. I enclose, not for publication, but for the information of yourself and other friends of the deaf and dumb, a copy of the despatch from Government to the Agent-General respecting the appointment of a teacher. I have, &c, Miss Mitchell, Home Villa, Lyttelton. John Hislop.

No. 14. Mr. W. Eolleston to the Hon. the Minister of Education. Sir, — Christchurch, 27th April, 1879. I think it right to forward to you a copy of a letter which I have written to Miss Mitchell, in reply to a request from her that I would consent to form one of a committee to give effect to the proposals of the Government relating to an institution for deaf-mutes, as expressed to her in a letter from Mr. Hislop of the 18th April. You may not be aware of the circumstances under which the resolution referred to was passed in the House of Representatives. The House was clearly opposed to Mr. Stout's view of the question. Sir George Grey, who had been absent, came into the House and clearly gave the House to understand that the Government would comply with the resolution as proposed. You will pardon me, as one much interested in the matter, if I express the opinion that the proposal to make the gentleman sent for from England " subject to tho control and supervision of any governing body which the Government may resolve upon " is alien to the spirit of the resolution of the House, and likely to limit the number of applications from men capable of filling the post of head of the institution. It is certainly not in accord with the memorandum on the subject which I furnished to you, and in which I understood you to concur. I may further bo permitted to express my apprehensions that the leaving of the practical initiation of the institution to one, however capable, who would be subordinate to the teacher to be sent for from England, and to the committee to be organized for the purpose, will scarcely be likely to lead to satisfactory results. I have ventured to write this letter in explanation of my letter to Miss Mitchell, and of the course previously taken by me. I have, &c, The Hon. the Minister of Education, Wellington. W. Eolleston.