1.—4.

4

MINUTES OF EVIDENCE.

Tuesday, 28th Octobee, 1879. Mr. Geokge Hunter examined. 1. The Chairman.'] Have you read this Bill, the second reading of which is passed? —Yes. 2. Have you anything to say in regard to the Trustees ? —I came here to answer questions, not to make a statement. 3. Have you read the report of the Eoyal Commissioners ?—I have read a portion of it. It was only published a few days ago, I think. 4. Have you read Mr. Peat's evidence ? —No. I have only just looked at it since I came up to the Buildings. 5. Mr. Peat states the average attendance of the school is only 25. Is that correct?— His Lordship the Bishop will betible to give fuller information on that point. The three last months, I believe, averaged 36, of children between the ages of 11 and 14. 6. Then you have nothing to say in regard to that ? —I think not. The Bishop has been in Wanganui for the last six months, and will be able to inform you. 7. Do you know if any information has been given to the Trustees in regard to the present year ? —No. I believe the attendance has been better this year. 8. Have any quarterly returns been presented to the Trustees ? —As far as I remember, yearly returns have always been forwarded. 9. Have you been in Wanganui lately ? —No. 10. I believe the school is managed by Mr. Churton? —Mr. Churton is attorney for the Trustees. 11. What are his duties? —To collect the rents, &c, and report to the Trustees. 12. Has he any control over the school ?—Do you mean personally ? 13. Tes ?—I think not. 14. Is there any person in Wanganui who has a personal control over the school ? —Not substantially so. 15. Is there any official person having control appointed by the Trustees to superintend the management of the school? —Daily, do you mean ? 16. Generally ? —The Bishop of Wellington. 17. How does Mr. Churton hold his authority ? —Under the Trustees. 18. The legal power, I suppose ? —I would not go so far as to say that. 19. Has he the right to grant leases ? —No ; not without consulting. 20. How are the leases granted, as a rule ? —-Applications are received by him, he reports to the Trustees, and they accede to his recommendations or not, as the case may be. 21. What has been the practice with regard to leases in the past ?—The applications were dealt with here. 22. By public tender ? —Tes, publicly tendered for. 23. Can you tell us whether the leases that fell in in 1877 were relet by auction ?—I believe they were. 24. Mr. Bunny.] And the leases that fall in now will go by auction?—Tes. 25. The Chairman,] Have any leases been sold by auction ? —I believe not. 26. Are you aware if any discontent exists as to the management of these Trustees ? —I am aware, of course, of what was brought before Parliament in the year 1876. 27. Can you state whether the terms of the Trust have been fulfilled in regard to the management of the school? —I believe so. The Trustees did what they considered right and just to the best of their ability. 28. Do you know if all the scholars are paying fees ?■ —Tes ; I believe the bulk of them are. 29. Do you know what the fees are ? —Between £6 and £7 a year. 30. There are no girls attending school, are there ? —I believe not, at present. 31. Some action was taken by the Trustees, was there not, to confine the school entirely to boys?— Not absolutely. It was a simple question of ways and means. 32. I think it is stated in one of the questions in the printed report, that instructions were given not to allow girls ? —Tes. 33. Have they been readmitted since ? —No. 34. Tou are aware of the terms of the trust or deed—namely, that "it shall provide for the education of children of our subjects of all races, and of children of other poor and destitute persons being inhabitants of islands in the Pacific Ocean" ? —As far as fees and money have permitted, everything has been done to carry out the terms of the trust. 35. Do you not think it would be well to have the power of management in Wanganui?—That is' a question of opinion entirely. 36. We want it ?—I am not called upon to give answers of that kind. 37. Very well. Do you see any advantage in the present Trustees managing the trust over bodies locally constituted ?—That is also a matter of opinion. 38. But you must have some knowledge one way or the other?— Not having been in Wanganui lately I cannot say. Of course I know the general feeling in Wanganui; but whether that is right or not I would not venture to say. 39. Do you know what was done with the money for compensation in regard to the railway ? —lt was lent to the Trustees simply as a loan. 40. Do you know how the money has been invested ? —The Bishop will bo able to inform you on that point better than I can,