H.—l.

11

Satobday, Ist Febeuaey, 1879. The Commission met at Parliament Buildings, Wellington, at a quarter to 10 o'clock a.m. Present: Mr. O'Eorke, Chairman; Professors Brown and Cook, Mr. Cutten, Eev. W. J. Habens (Secretary), Drs. Hector and Macdonald, Professors Sale, Shand, and Ulrich, Dr. Wallis. The minutes of the proceedings of the Commission at last meeting were read and confirmed. The Secretary having reported that Mr. 11. J. Tancred, Chancellor of the New Zealand University, and Mr. W. M. Maskell, Eegistrar of tho University, were in a_tendai.ee, those gentlemen were called in, and Mr. Tancred, being duly sworn, was examined. Professor Shand having asked the witness the question, "Was the University of Otago thereby deprived of the opportunity cf exercising the power conferred upon it under the Act ? " — The Eev. W. J. Habens moved, That the Chancellor be requested to withdraw, in order that the Commission may consider the question. The question having been put and agreed to, the Chancellor withdrew. The Eev. W. J. Habens moved, and Professor Brown seconded, That the next question on the list, as prepared by the Commission, be put before that of Professor Shand. The question having been put, the Commission divided, with the following result: —Ayes, 5 : Professor Brown, Professor Cook, Eev. W. J. Habens, Dr. Macdonald, and Dr. Wallis. Noes, 6 : Mr. Cutten, Dr. Hector, Mr. O'Eorke, Professors Sale, Shand, and Ulrich. The motion was consequently negatived. The Chancellor having been called in, his examination was resumed. On the motion of Professor Brown, the Commission adjourned, to meet again at the same place on Monday next at 10 o'clock a.m,

Monday, 3ed Febeuaey, 1879. The Commission met at Parliament Buildings, Wellington, at 10 o'clock a.m. Present: Mr. O'Eorke, Chairman ; Professors Brown and Cook, Mr. Cutten, Eev. W. J. Habens (Secretary), Dr. Hector, Dr. Macdonald, Professors Sale, Shand, and Ulrich. The minutes of the proceedings of the Commission at last meeting were read and confirmed. The Secretary read a letter from Mr. H. P. Maeklin, of the High School, Blenheim, offering to give evidence before the Commission. On the motion of Professor Saie, seconded by Professor Shand, Resolved, That the Secretary be instructed to inform Mr. Maeklin that the elementary school system will not come under the consideration of tho Commission, except in its relation to the secondary schools, and to request Mr. Maeklin to furnish a written statement of the heads under which he would desire to give evidence. On the motion of Dr. Macdonald, seconded by Professor Sale, Resolved, That the report of the Committee on Secondary Education be adopted, as under Heads L, 11., and IV.; and that the consideration of the subject of Private Secondary Schools, as under Head 111., be deferred. The Eev. W. J. Habens brought up the report of the Committee on Order of Business, which was read as follows :— The Committee reports that, at a meeting held on the lst of February, 1879 (present: Professor Brown, Eev. W. J. Habens, Professor Shaud, and Dr. Wallis), it was resolved to recommend, — 1. That the Commissioner, proceed to Auckland not later than the 10th instant. 2. That Mr. O'Eorke and Dr. Wallis bo authorized to apply to the Government for leave to the Commissioners to be conveyed to Auckland in the " Hinemoa," and to hold their meetings in tho offices of the Supreme Court at Auckland. 3. That the Commissioners proceed without delay to obtain the remainder of the evidence of the Chancellor of the University of New Zealand, and the evidence of the Eegistrar. 4*. That, in the next place, questions be prepared for officers of affiliated institutions and of secondary schools, and for other witnesses who may be required to give evidence regarding professional and technical schools, and the general subjectmatter of the inquiry with which the Commission is charged. 5. That, in tho preparation of such questions, cure be taken to make them applicable to the mattevß which are to be inquired into at Auckland, including reserves and endowments there. 6. That the Secretary be instructed to endeavour to obtain, in time for the meetings at Auckland, returns to circulars addressed to persons residing there. On the motion of the Eov. W. J. Habens the report was adopted. Mr. Tancred was further examined. The Commission prepared certain questions to be put to the Eegistrar of the University at his examination, which were adopted. Two additional questions for the Chancellor were also prepared and adopted. On the motion of the Eev. W. J. Habens, seconded by Professor Brown, Resolved, That Professors Ulrich and Shand, and Drs. Macdonald and Hector, be a Committee to prepare, by to-morrow morning, questions to be put to the Chancellor as to the relations of the University on the one hand, and secondary and technical schools on the other. The Commission adjourned, to meet again at the same place next day at 10 o'clock a.m.

Tuesday, 4th Febeuaey, 1879. The Commission met at Parliament Buildings, Wellington, at 10 o'clock a.m. Present: Mr. O'Eorke, Chairman ; Professors Brown and Cook, Mr. Cutten, Hon. W. Gisborne, Eev. W. J. Habens (Secretary), Drs. Hector and Macdonald, Professors Sale, Shand, and Ulrich. The minutes of the proceedings of the Commission at last meeting were read and confirmed. Professor Shand submitted certain questions to be put to the Chancellor of the University and others, which were read and adopted. Mr. H. J. Tancred was further examined. Mr. W. M. Haskell, Eegistrar of the University, was examined. On the motion of Professor Shand, seconded by Professor Cook, Resolved, That the following Committees be appointed to arrange preparatory work prior to the visit of the Commission to Auckland :— Endowments Committee : Mr. O'Borke, Professor Cook, Hon. W. Gisborne, and Mr. Cutten. Affiliated Institutions Committee : Professors Brown, Sale, and Ulrich, and Dr. Hector. Secondary Schools Committee : Dr. Macdonald, the Eev. W. J. Habens, and Professor Shand. The Commission adjourned, to meet again at the same place next day at 10 o'clock a.m.

Wednesday, sth Febeuaey, 1879. The Commission met at Parliament Buildings, Wellington, at 10 o'clock a.m. Present: Mr. O'Eorke, Chairman; Professors Brown and Cook, Eev. W J. Habens (Secretary), Professors Sale, Shand, and Ulrich. The minutes of the proceedings of the Commission at last meeting were read and confirmed. The Secretary laid the following books upon the table : —l. Eeport of Eoyal Commissioners on the Universities of Scotland, 1878, Vol. 11. 2. Twenty-first Eeport of the Inspector on the Eeformatory and Industrial Schools of Great Britain, 1878. 3. Eeport of the President of Queen's College, Gal way, 1876-77. 4. Eeport of the President of Queen's College, Belfast, 1877-78. 5. Twenty-fifth Eeport of the Science and Art Department of the Committee of Council on Education, 1878. 6. Fifth Annual Eeport of the Board of Education for Scotland, IS7B,