H.—lH

6

of the Church of England made no provision for the religious teaching of children to be brought up in that faith. Any religious teaching afforded to such children was given by ministers of other Protestant denominations, at irregular times. On my assuming the duties of Honorary Inspector I was struck with the paucity of visits paid by ministers of the Protestant denominations. On reference to the attendance book it will be seen that during the preceding seven years the Roman Catholic clergy had visited the school 011 202 occasions; other clergymen on 37 occasions. I was so much struck that I drew the attention of Dr. Stuart, of Knox Church, to the fact, and to the number of Presbyterian children in the school. Immediately after a Presbyterian clergyman was appointed to Caversham, who made weekly visits. About the same time clergymen of the Church of England began to visit the school, and a young student, a Mr. Davis, belonging to the Church of England, began to give regular instruction. I believe it was in March, 1877, he commenced, and continued doing so until six months ago. lam not aware that any interruption was made to his teaching up to that time, two clergymen of the Church of England visiting the school during that time in turn with other Protestant ministers. The master complained to me about six months ago that he had not accommodation for three clergymen giving instruction at once —that was the Eoman Catholic priest, Mr. Davis, and the Presbyterian minister. I told the master to make the best arrangement ho could, so long as the discipline of the school was not interfered with. Subsequently I received a letter from the master, complaining of Mr. Davis's teaching, and the demand he was making for the separation of the Church of England children from all other Protestant children, and that he (the master) had no accommodation for such without disturbing the routine work of the school. The particular teaching complained of was, when addressing the whole of the Protestant children, he (Mr. Davis) stated that the Presbyterians and other dissenting bodies were further removed from the truth than the Eoman Catholics. I took no notice of this, but some time after Mr. Davis addressed a letter to the master, demanding as a right accommodation to be found for him to instruct the children of the Chareh of England. I told the master that his request could not be granted, and he must take his turn with the other clergymen of the Church of England. The other clergymen of that Church had made no demand for separate accommodation, or expressed any desire to teach the children of their Church separate from the other Protestant children. The first time I again heard of this matter was when I received from the master the letter of date 22nd July, 1880, received by him from Bishop Nevill. Elijah Titchener. —Mr. Davis commenced his visits in 1877. At this time the school was visited regularly every week by a minister of one of the Protestant denominations, including the Church of England. A register was kept, and each took it in turn. Mr. Davis, to my knowledge, refused to have his name placed in the same list as the others. To meet Mr. Davis's wishes, as he would not take his turn with the others, I allowed him to visit the school every Saturday evening, and this practice continued up to October, 1879. Mr. Davis then discontinued his visits. I heard nothing of him until two months ago, when I learned sickness had caused him to cease his visits. He about two months ago visited the school, and wished to instruct the children on Thursday afternoons. I told him he could not be accommodated, as the Eoman Catholic clergyman had one schoolroom and the Protestant clergyman the other. I had no place to give him on that day. The dining-room, which had at one time been allowed to bo used, could not now be, as it was required for a laundry. During the time that Mr. Davis came on the Saturday evenings he took the whole of the Protestant children to teach, not selecting those of his own faith; and it was on one of those evenings, while all the children were assembled, that he made use of the expressions I communicated to Mr. Houghton. I was present and heard the expressions, and drew his attention to them, and told him, if that was his teaching, I could not allow the children belonging to denominations other than the Church of England to receive his teaching. This was shortly before he was taken ill. On Mr. Davis's return I could not have given him Saturday evening, even if he wished, as I devote Saturday evenings to readings and music with the whole of the children. The Sev. Henry J. Davis states: I have been in the habit of visiting the Industrial School for about three years, or nearly so, weekly. TTn^ to about twelve months ago my visits were made on Thursday afternoons, at 3 p.m. For about th«f first nine months I had the whole of the children not classed as Eoman Catholics assembled in the schoolroom for religious instruction. I was the only one giving religious instruction at that time to the Protestant children. At the expiration of the first nine months a minister of some of the other Protestant denominations began to visit regularly on Thursday, when the Church of England children were separated, and I instructed them by themselves; and I think I did so for about eighteen months. The master then represented to me that it was inconvenient for me to visit on Thursday, and for some months I consequently made my visits on Saturday evening, being the day named by the master. On the Saturday evenings 1 taught all children sent to me. To the best of my belief there were only Church of England children sent; there may have been others. This arrangement lasted for four or five months, I should say, when the master represented to me that Saturday evening was an inconvenient time, being, in the summer time, the only opportunity the children had for recreation. I, in consequence, resumed my visits on Thursday afternoon. I was then allowed to have one or two class-rooms at 3 p.m., the other Protestant ministers having the use of the other room. This last arrangement continued until I took sick about April last. The Eev. Mr. Byng, of the Church of England, paid irregular visits during the period I have spoken of, and when he was there I gave way to him, and he taught the children. Mr. Byng taught the whole of the Protestant children on the occasions he was there. Up to the time I was ill the Eoman Catholics were accommodated in the dining-room, I believe. I was absent from the institution by reason of sickness for more than six weeks. I resumed my visits at the end of that period, and was told by the master that he had not sufficient accommodation to enable me to get a separate room, as the Eoman Catholics were occupying one of the schoolrooms now, and that I would require to take my turn monthly with other ministers, which I refused to do. He (the master) had previous to this to make arrangements with the other Protestant ministers as to, my visits. The master offered me the use of the schoolroom on Sundays if I would take it. My other arrangements would not admit of this. I have since then discontinued