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operation is required, or any animal is sick, it is brought before the class, and the treatment explained to the students. 130. Mr. Murphy.] If scholarships were re-established, would you pay the holders for their labour ? —Yes, for economical reasons, as explained in my letter to the Board. 131. The staff as at present constituted is not to your satisfaction ?—No. 132. Mr, Overtoil.'] Why was the dairy-work discontinued ?—Because we had to bay milk, and it did not pay at the price, and we had no funds to purchase more cows of our own. 133. Mr. Murphy.] How is it that you are now able to resume dairying ?—I recommended that a co-operative dairy company should be established, but the Board preferred to vote money for resuming the work ourselves. Tuesday, 19th Febbuaby, 1889. Mr. H. E. Webb examined. 134. The Chairman.] You are Acting-Chairman of the Board of Governors of Canterbury College ? —Yes. 135. How long have you been a member of the Board ? —Ever since the Act was brought into force. I was one of the original Trustees of the Museum and Technical Science Trust, which merged into the Board of Governors. 136. You have the control and management of reserves as endowments for the School of Agriculture ?—Yes. 137. You have also the control of other reserves ?—Yes. 138. Do you keep the proceeds of the agricultural endowments entirely separate from the others ?—They are kept separate. 139. Are you aware that the reserves contain 8,000 acres more than you receive rent for?—l cannot say. I believe the whole of the estate is let. 140. Can you explain why the sum of £7,954, part of the proceeds of the agricultural endowment, was taken to erect buildings in Christchurch in no way connected with the School of Agriculture ? —The Board was empowered to do it, with the sanction of the Governor in Council, under " The Canterbury Educational Eeserves Sale and Leasing Act, 1876," section 9. 141. Do you think the erection of buildings can be termed an " investment " within the meaning of the Act ? —Yes, I think so. 142. Would not this be investing moneys of one trust to erect buildings for another trust?—l consider the money all belongs to one trust. The separate trusts were all dissolved and merged into one trust. 143. Do you consider the Canterbury College buildings have anything to do with the School of Agriculture ?—I considered they were in connection with the school. 144. On what basis was the sum of £500 per annum, and afterwards the reduced amounts of £250 and £125, charged as a contribution to Canterbury College ? —The amount was originally fixed as a contribution towards the general management and also part of the lecturers' salaries, &c. The amount was reduced when the machinery was established at Lincoln. 145. Were the accounts so kept that you could tell how much per cent, per annum was annually paid for interest, and how much per cent, per annum was received by the Board on the accrued funds ? —I cannot say. The Eegistrar can give the information. 146. Why was such a large sum spent on buildings —viz., £34,043? —The Board thought it would make the institution as perfect as possible. I considered that a plainer building giving the necessary accommodation might be erected, and that a less pretentious building would do; but the Board decided to have a building with some architectural pretensions. 147. Why was a Director appointed so long before the school was ready?— The Board wished to get the benefit of his experience in making the necessary arrangements. 148. You are Chairman of the School of Agriculture Committee ? —Yes, at present, ex officio, as Acting-Chairman of the Board. lam not a member of the Committee. 149. Have you had any reason to be dissatisfied with the farm ?—None at all. 150. The Commission understand the Director has to submit estimates of the expenditure required on the farm annually?— Yes. 151. When considering these estimates has the Board before it statements of the income and expenditure of the preceding year, also an estimate of the net revenue for the coming year ?—Yes, always. 152. Have the Board been in the habit of , requiring annual accounts of the working of the farm to be furnished to them ?—Yes. 153. I mean a balance-sheet of the farm proper?— Yes. 154. You would know, then, whether the farm has been paying?—As a farm, I believe it has paid expenses. 155. A sum of £100 a year is placed on the estimates for entertaining visitors : is so large a sum necessary for the purpose ? —The Board does not think the Director shall bear this expense himself. 156. How often does the Agricultural Committee meet, or visit the school ? —The Committee meets as occasion requires. I cannot say how often it visits the school. The. Board has on several occasions done so. When Mr. J. N. Tosswill acted as an executive officer of the Board he and others, I believe, visited it weekly. 157. Is the Director present at the meetings of the Agricultural Committee ?—I cannot say. He has been in attendance at meetings when I have been present, in case he should be required. 158. Mr. Murphy.] Before erecting the buildings was information sought from practical