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colony. Considerable reductions might be made on the travelling expenses now paid. A portion of the funds should be devoted to scholarships, and the Government should be asked to supplement the amount by, say, one-third— i.e., the Government should grant one scholarship for every two given by the school. 10. What portion of the endowment should be devoted to experiments ?—The whole endowment should be applied to three purposes only—viz., first, payment of Director and professors; second, scholarships ; and, third, experimental purposes. The farm and the fees should pay all the rest. 11. Mr. Murphy:] Do you know any reason for the school being unpopular ?—No, beyond what I have stated as the causes of the failure of the institution. What I fear is that the place may become under the present management merely an expensive toy instead of the useful and profitable institution it should be. Mr. F. G. Stbdman examined. 12. The Chairman.] You are Eegistrar of the Canterbury College?— Yes. 13. Is the School of Agriculture under the jurisdiction of the College ?—Yes. 14. How was the Board of Governors constituted ? —-Under " The College Ordinance, 1873." 15. By whom are vacancies on the Board filled ?—By the graduates of the University of New Zealand continuing on the books of the Canterbury College, see clause 18 of " The College Ordinance, 1873." Before there were thirty graduates, vacancies were filled by the Board. 16. Is there a committee appointed to look specially after the interests of the School of Agriculture ?—Yes. 17. Who are the members?— The Hon. E. C. J.. Stevens, Messrs. J. Grigg, L. Harper, B. Westenra, W. H. Spackman, W. C. Walker, F. D. S. Neave, and Hon. J. T. Peacock; and also the Chairman of the Board ex officio. 18. (a) Are the accounts of the School of Agriculture kept distinct from those of other departments of the Canterbury College, and (b) separately audited ?— (a) Yes. (b) No. 19. The statements produced are correct statements of the receipts and expenditure on account of the School of Agriculture on (1) capital or endowment account, (2) buildings account, (3) current account, to the 31st December, 1887 ?—Yes. 20. A sum of £7,954 appears to have been taken from the endowment as a " contribution to College buildings : " what buildings are referred to ?—School of Art, £4,182 ; and College, £3,772. 21. When was the money transferred, and under what authority?— Under authority of the Governor in Council; £4,500 on the 13th May, 1878, and £5,500 on the 20th December, 1878. [Copies of letters produced—Appendix L.] 22. Mr. Murphy.] What was the authority for taking the money from the endowment for the School of Agriculture ?—" The Canterbury Educational Beserves Sale and Leasing Act, 1876," section 9, authorised the Board, with the sanction of the Governor in Council, to expend £10,000 on College buildings. The amount was taken from the several endowments in proportion to the value of land sold up to the date of the authority. 23. The Chairman.] What interest is being paid for the money ?—None. 24. What provision is made for repaying it ? —None, as the Board considered they had received authority from the Governor to expend the money, and did not regard it in the light of a loan. 25. Has not the land for the farm'also been paid for out of the endowment ?—Yes. 26. What was the cost, area, and date of purchase ? —Total area, 662 acres and 38J perches, costing £17,563155., exclusive of legal fees, surveys, &c, £144 Is. Bd. The dates of purchase were— 21st September, 1877, 42 acres; 20th October, 1877, 41 acres; 4th April, 1878, 132 acres 1 rood -, 23rd July, 1878, 39 acres 1 rood 38J perches; 21st August, 1879, 100 acres ; Ist November, 1879, 147 acres 2 roods; and 21st July, 1881, 160 acres. 27. What did the school-buildings cost? —Total cost of buildings, £34,043 11s. 7d., viz.: school-buildings, £30,507 12s. lid.; farm-buildings, £3,535 18s. Bd. 28. From what fund was the cost provided ?—£28,000 from borrowed money, the balance from revenue from reserves. 29. What interest is paid on the borrowed money ?—Seven per cent. 30. What has been spent on permanent improvements and plantations ? —Permanent improvements, £2,348 ss. Bd.; plantations, £1,006 13s. 6d. 31. What is the area of the plantations ? —Seven acres. 32. The School of Agriculture is charged with an annual contribution to Canterbury College : what is this for, and on what principle has the amount been determined?— The Agricultural Committee recommended that the amount should be charged as a contribution towards expenses of the department, such as managing the estate, &c.; also the professors of chemistry and geology. The amount was voted each year by the Board of Governors when considering the annual estimates for all departments. 33.. Why was the amount reduced from £500 to £250, and again from £250 to £125 ?—Because the Agricultural Committee reported that the School of Agriculture could not afford to pay £500. 34. When was the school opened ?—l9fch July, 1880. 35. When was the Director appointed ?—3oth March, 1873. He arrived in May. 36. Why was the Director appointed two years before the school was opened?— The Director was required to advise the Board in organizing the school, planning the buildings, working and laying out the farm, &c. 37. Have students to pass any examination before admission ?—Not now; they had at one time, but it was discontinued. 38. Why was the examination abandoned?—lt was found to deter students from joining the school. ' : ■" .