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sources as to the nature of building suitable for the purpose '? —Yes; information was obtained from New South Wales, and I believe the information was made use of. It has always been the object of the Board of Governors to show the agricultural community how things can best be done, and it has been its aim to do things as perfectly as it could. Competitive designs for a building were obtained, and the best one selected. 159. You said you had obtained annual balance-sheets of the farm ?—Yes ; and I believe the farm proper has paid its expenses. 160. The Chairman.'] Have you any idea why the number of students has fallen off?— The decrease for the last three or four years may be accounted for by the fact that times have been so bad farmers could not afford to send their sons : they could not spare their labour or pay the fees. I consider it was a mistake raising the fees. Hon. E. C. J. Stevens examined. 161. The Chairman.] You are one of the Governors of Canterbury College?— Yes. 162. How long have you held that position? —Since November, 1875. 163. You are aware that reserves of 100,000 acres of land were made by the Provincial Council of Canterbury as an endowment for a School of Agriculture?—l am aware that certain large reserves were made for that purpose. 164. Do you know what was the intention of the Council as to the vesting of these reserves ?— I have no special knowledge, as I was not a member of either the Provincial Council or the Government at the time, but I understood it was an endowment for a School of Agriculture. 165. On the 15th June, 1875, the Provincial Council elected eight gentlemen as trustees of a School of Agriculture, in accordance with the provisions of the resolution of the 19th December, 1872, under which the endowment was created: do you know why the trustees then elected did not take office ? —I do not know. 166. Do you know how these reserves came to be included in the schedule to "The Canterbury Educational Eeserves Sale and Leasing Act, 1876," which vested them in the Canterbury College ?—I have no exact knowledge, not having been called upon to act in the matter. 167. Do you consider the Board of Governors as at present constituted is such a Board as that which the Provincial Council intended the reserves to be vested in—viz., a Board of Agriculture? ■ —I do not think that the Canterbury College could be considered as in any sense answering the description of a Board of Agriculture. 168. Is the mode prescribed for filling up vacancies on the Board—viz., election by the graduates of the University—likely to have the effect of making it such a Board ? —I should say distinctly not. The graduates, as you are aware, graduate in classics, English, law, and certain sciences. No degrees are granted for agriculture, and the certificates granted to agricultural students do not confer the power of voting for members of the Board when vacancies arise. 169. You were a member of a committee appointed by the Board in November, 1876, to consider the best means of administering the agricultural trust ? —Yes. 170. Are you aware that a sum of £7,954, part of the proceeds of the endowment, was devoted to the purchase of sites and erection of buildings for Canterbury College, without any provision being made for repayment or for payment of interest ?—I can give no explanation of the transaction. I have no recollection of it, and think I may have been absent at the time. 171. Do you know whether the proceeds of the several endowments are kept entirely separate ? ■ —Yes ; they are supposed to be applicable to the special purposes for which they were made. 172. Do you consider that the term " invest," in the proviso to section 9 of "The Canterbury Educational Eeserves Sale and Leasing Act, 1876," has the same meaning as it has in the first part of the section ? —I consider this is a question of purely legal construction. 173. Assuming that the Board of Governors was justified in using £10,000 of the proceeds of the educational endowments for the purchase of sites and the erection of buildings for Canterbury College, do you consider £7,954 a fair proportion of that amount to charge to the School of Agriculture endowment ?—I think this opens up the whole question as to the legality of the transaction. Assuming the Board was justified in the action taken, I consider the question of proportion would not arise. Ido not suppose the buildings upon which the money was expended would benefit the School of Agriculture directly, but they might possibly have been considered to do so indirectly. 174. Are you aware that a portion of the income of the endowment—viz., £500 a year for five years, £250 a year for four years, and £125 for the year 1887—has been paid to the funds of the Canterbury College ?—Yes. I may say that I took an active part in endeavouring to get the amount reduced. I considered the amount out of all proportion to the work done. Eventually I succeeded, with the assistance of other members, , in getting it reduced. 175. For what purposes were these grants made ? —Towards the expenses of the general administration. 176. Are you aware whether the efficiency of the farm has been impaired for want of funds ?— Ido not think so, to any great extent. I think the farm efficient for the purpose intended. In some respects it would do better with more funds—by taking up, for instance, veterinary surgery, forestry, practical gardening, &c. I think it is very desirable that a good practical knowledge of veterinary surgery should be acquired by students. At present very little can be done in this respect. 177. Does the School of Agriculture utilise the teaching-power of the Canterbury College ? —At one time it did to some extent, but it was given up. 178. Then, is there any advantage to the school from its connection with Canterbury College ? ■ —None, except as a matter of government. It is entirely distinct from all other departments, and could be carried on alone if a machinery of government were provided for it. 179. Do you know from your knowledge of the accounts whether the farm proper has paid ? —.