H.—2l

6

MINUTES OF EVIDENCE.

PROVINCE OF AUCKLAND. Church of England. Monday, 22nd March, 1869. Present:—Mr. Hart and Mr. Gisborne. Lots 19-22, Section 30, 1 acre 6 perches, City of Auckland — -Church Site. Mr. George Patrick Pierce, being duly sworn, states (Eecord copy, Book 4, No. 5, page 9, Grant of 1 acre 16 perches in Wellesley Street, Hobson Street, Auckland, produced) : I know this property. There is a church, schoolhouse, and parsonage erected thereon—parsonage occupied by the Eev. D. Jones, minister of St. Matthew's (which is the name of the church) —all wooden buildings. There is a very flourishing day school there. Do not know number of scholars. Church is new building. The other buildings are tolerably good. The Provincial Government used to grant a capitation allowance to this and other schools, which ceased about eighteen months ago. The fees paid by scholars, ranging from 6d. to Is. per week, are applied towards the maintenance of the school. Mr. George Patrick Pierce, being duly sworn, states (Eecord copy, Eeg. iv., No. 8, Grant of 1 rood 20 perches in Shortland and Princes Streets, Auckland, produced) : I know this property. On this allotment is erected St. Paul's Church, a brick edifice, capable of seating about 850 persons, and used for the purposes stated in the Grant. City of Auckland, 1 rood 23 perches — St Barnabas' Church Site. Mr. George Patrick Pierce, being duly sworn, states (Eecord copy, Eeg. iv., No. 21, Grant of 1 rood 23 perches, situate in Selwyn Terrace, Parnell, produced): I know this property. On it is erected a church, a wooden edifice, used occasionally for Divine service according to the use of the Church of England, in the Maori language. Lot 35, Section 2, 3 roods 36 perches, Takapuna — Church and School. Mr. George Patrick Pierce, being duly sworn, states (Eecord copy, Eeg. iv., No. 105, Grant of 3 roods 36 perches, allotment 35 of section 2, Parish of Takapuna, produced) : I know this property, for which lam a trustee. There is a wooden building erected on this property, which is used as a church, in which the Eev. B. Y. Ashwell officiates at present. The building will accommodate about 300 persons. Divine service is regularly performed here every Sunday. I am not aware of any school being maintained here. City of Auckland, 8 acres 3 roods 5 perches—Cemetery. Mr. George Patrick Pierce, being duly sworn, states (Eecord copy, Eeg. iv., No. 1, Grant of 8 acres 3 roods 5 perches in the suburbs of Auckland, also Eeg. iv., No. 3, 3 roods 30 perches of the same, produced) : I know these properties, for which lam a trustee. They are occupied as a cemetery, having been duly consecrated for that purpose. The General Synod having imposed fees for the privilege of erecting fences round graves, there is an amount of revenue accruing, the proceeds of which are invested at interest, and this interest is applied to the improvement of the ground. There are no burial fees. The amount at present invested as above on mortgage security, at 10 per cent., is £250. There is a balance to credit in the Union Bank of Australia of £97 10s. Id. Accounts are rendered to the Diocesan Synod at each annual, and to the General Synod at each triennial meeting of those bodies. Lot part of 26a of Section 2, 1 acre 1 rood 16 perches, Takapuna — Cemetery. Mr. George Patrick Pierce, being duly sworn, states (Eecord copy, Eeg. iv., No. 106, Grant of part of allotment 26a of Section 2, Parish of Takapuna, produced) : I am not personally acquainted with this property, which is managed under my general directions by Captain Burgess, the Harbourmaster, who is resident at the North Shore. The same rule as to charges for fencing round graves which has been established in respect of the cemetery at Auckland applies to this also. I have handed to Captain Burgess blank forms of licenses for fencing, and he is to account to me for the fees on their issue. Captain I. J. Burgess —(Wednesday, 24th March, 1869), —being duly sworn, states : My name is Isaac James Burgess; lam resident at Devonport, North Shore, and I am Harbourmaster. I am acquainted with the allotment No. 26a of Section 2, Parish of Takapuna, which is used as the Church of England Cemetery, at the North Shore. It was fenced partly by private contribution, partly by a grant from the Bishop. The whole of the ground is not enclosed as yet. The proceeds of the fees for fencing graves are employed in keeping the place in repair, and in enclosing the remainder of the ground. The portion as yet enclosed is becoming quickly filled, in consequence of the numerous deaths occurring amongst invalids removed to the North Shore, and from its being used by out-settlers as well as residents. The books are in the keeping of Mr. Beddoes, and I could not procure them to bring with me to-day. The accounts of the cemetery are printed in the Church Almanac produced.