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doubt, send them to the governing bodies or trust to which they severally relate, with a request that they would as soon as possible supply all the information wanted in column 7 and immediately thereafter return the schedules to you for completion. If you have any difficulty in obtaining, within a reasonable time, the required information from any governing body or trust, you will be good enough to report on the case. On receiving the information as to the particulars of lease or occupation, you will be the better able to fill in columns 7 and 9, which you will necessarily have to do to the best of your own judgment, aided by such reliable advice and information as you may be able to obtain. In arriving at an estimate in each case of the " capital value," and of the " probable income to be derived from renewed tenancy or occupation," it would be necessary to follow, as nearly as circumstances will admit, some fixed and intelligible general principle. In regard to the capital value, your own local knowledge will enable you to arrive at a tolerably fair estimate of the present selling value of the several reserves, as if unencumbered with a lease, and excluding the value of buildings and fences under the lease. If it should be afterwards desired to arrive at an estimate of the capital value, subject to the encumbrance of the existing lease, the price fixed by you, and the data furnished by the sub-columns of column 7, will enable a calculation to be made. ■\Vith regard to column 11 ("Education District wherein situate"), I may mention that the definition of the several education districts is given in the Second Schedule to "The Education Act, 1877." It is not necessary that you should enter together the reserves in the different education districts, if this should in any way interfere with the other grouping already specified. It will be quite enough to enter the proper education district in column 11. You will please notice that the resolution also asks for information as to "the method which it would be most expedient to adopt for the permanent management and disposal of the reserves." No column has been given for this subject, as it is obviously unnecessary that a recommendation should be made in regard to each reserve. You will, however, be good enough to favour the Government' with your opinion on this point regarding different classes of reserves, in so far as you feel warranted or able to give an opinion. I need scarcely say that it is very desirable, that the return should bo furnished at the earliest possible date, consistent with completeness and accuracy. In addition to the New Zealand Gazettes, No. 55, 12th June, 187S; No. GB, 11th July, 1878; and No. 12G, 16th December, 1878, containing the arbitrators' awards under "The Education Eeserves Act, 1577," and the several Gazettes in which the setting apart or making of other education reserves is proclaimed, I may refer you to "lie-turn of Education Reserves," H.-35, printed in the Appendix to the Journals of the House of Representatives, 1870, Vol. ii. I have, &c, H. J. H. Eliott, The Commissioner of Crown Lands. Under Secretary. Sib, — General Crown Lands Office, Wellington, 21st March, 1879. Referring to my circular of the lSih ultimo, respecting education reserves returns, I have the honor, by direction of the Minister of Lands, in addition to the information therein asked for, to request vou to be good enough to furnish him with a report containing— 1. A list and description of lauds reserved for educational purposes which have been sold under authority of any Ordinance or Act of a Provincial Council, or any Act of the General Assembly, or otherwise (specifying the particular object of the reserve) ; 2. The name of the Act or Ordinance, or other authority, by virtue of which the land has been sold : 3. The date or dates of sale, and the amount or amounts realized from such sale or sales ; 4. The manner in which the proceeds of such sale or sales have been invested or otherwise disposed of ; o. If invested for endowment purposes, the annual proceeds of the investment, and how the proceeds are disposed of; 6. Any other information which you may be able to furnish, and which you believe will be serviceable in placing before Parliament full and clear knowledge of the condition of the class of educational endowments herein referred to. In any case where you have not all the requisite information already in your possession, you will be good enough to apply for such information to the governors, trustees, or other body having the management of the reserves or endowments in questiou. In the event of your having any difficulty in obtaining the requisite information within a reasonable time, you will be good enough to report on the case. I have, &c. H. J. H. Elioxt, The Commissioner of Crown Lands. Under Secretary for Crown Lands. Sin, — General Crown Lands Office, "Wellington, oth July, 1879. I have the honor, by direction of the Minister of Lands, to refer you to the last clause of the resolution of the Legislative Council of 29th October, 1878, relating to a report on education reserves, and to the third last paragraph of my circular of ISth February, 1879, relating to the same subject, and to request you to be good enough to furnish Government with any suggestions or recommendations vou may be prepared to make as to the method which it would be most expedient to adopt for the permanent management and disposal of the education reserves. Please reply to this circular as soon as convenient. I have, &c, 11. J. H. Eliott, The Commissioner of Crown Lands. Under Secretary.

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