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on, except by the tenants on their own account. Under the circumstances in which the lands adjoining the College now stand, no improvements are at present being carried on. There was no iedger kept, nor accounts to which I have access, in which the capital account of the College was entered as distinct from the annual current revenue and expenditure. The Bishop, no doubt, possesses such. The Education Act of 1857 provided for a system of special inspection in cases of denominational differences. We and other religious bodies generally were well satisfied with the working of that Act. On the other hand, the working of the Public Schools Act of New South Wales has not been at all satisfactory to the members of the Eoman Catholic Church in that Colony, who could not conscientiously accept the benefits offered by that Act. I fear that something of the same sort might result if any uniform system were attempted to be enforced in a central institution, such as has been proposed by some to be substituted for the present three denominational schools. The repeal of " The Education Act, 1857," and the failure of the Acts proposed to be substituted for it, have had a very seriously injurious effect upon the schools, many of which have in consequence collapsed, and proved a heavy burden upon the clergy and laity, who have been obliged to supply by private contribution what should have been, and was formerly, provided by the Government. I consider that the withdrawal of the Government aid from the certificated teachers was one of the causes which led to the failure of the College at the North Shore. The house mentioned at Freeman's Bay as partly a catechist's residence and partly a house of prayer was built out of the proceeds of the Nelson Street property (allotment 9 of section 25); and the proceeds and rents of the property at Freeman's Bay are devoted to the support of the Nazareth Institution. The objects of this are the reception of Native and Half-caste girls. We have in Auckland eleven schools now in operation, well supplied with all school furniture, &c, and the premises and buildings kept in creditable condition. The aggregate numbers attending average 400. We have also five churches and two private chapels within the city district. We are careful to maintain both churches and schools in the highest order. The contributions raised towards church, school, and charitable purposes, exclusive of the support of the clergy, have amounted to at least £3,000 during the last seven years. This sum has been raised, by voluntary contributions only, by myself. Extract from evidence of Mr. Beader Wood, Architect and Estate Agent, taken on sth April, 1869. On Saturday, the 3rd April, I visited the College of St. Mary, at the North Shore. It consists of—l. A large building of scoria, seventy-five feet by twenty-five feet, two stories in height, with basement floor (unoccupied), well and substantially built, but ill-finished inside. There is a schoolroom on the ground floor, parlour, and some small rooms used as bedrooms; upstairs is a large loft, open to the roof, and four small bedrooms. Value, about £800. 2. On one side of the above is a cooking-house of wood. 3. A small chapel. The land is good, and well situated at the head of Shoal Bay. I cannot assign a value to the buildings with the four acres surrounding. The twenty acres of section 77, Takapuna, are good ground, and worth perhaps about £10 per acre. I was employed in the erection of the buildings, but I knew no other person in the matter except Bishop Viard, then administering the diocese. There were six children, three Europeans and three Maoris, at the time of my visit; they were occupied in scrubbing the floors of the building. I was told that there were sometimes more and sometimes less, as they went and came. They appeared clean and well cared for. The buildings were also kept clean. There is accommodation for perhaps 120 or 130. On the sth (this day) I inspected the Nazareth Institution, near Freeman's Bay, used for educational purposes, and built, as I was informed, partly from public funds and partly from mission funds. The buildings, of timber, are in the form of a quadrangle. The front, of two stories, contains a little chapel, and apartments occupied by nuns. One side consists of a schoolroom and dormitories ; on the opposite side are the kitchen and refectories. The buildings are in good tenantable repair, but are in want of painting. The value may be estimated at £500. There are also about 5 acres 3 roods held under a free grant from Sir G. Grey, with a frontage to Freeman's Bay, a little distance off. This land is fenced and partly cultivated, and there are on it two small dwelling-houses —one a small three-roomed house, the other a long low building, surmounted with a cross. The value of these may be £50 each. The land was let, the proceeds being devoted to the Nazareth Institution, but is not now let. The land is worthless except for building sites. For this purpose it would be worth from £80 to £90 an acre. At the Nazareth Institution there are three Maori and seven Half-caste girls, in all 10. It would accommodate three times that number. They are taught by the Sisters of Mercy. The whole place was very clean and nice. Single iron bedsteads are provided for the inmates. I tried some of the girls in reading. They read well in English ; they also wrote fairly. Having heard the evidence of Mr. Mcllhone read respecting the terms on which the endowment land of the North Shore College is leased, I think those terms are as advantageous as could at present be reasonably expected. Note. — The remainder of Mr. Wood's evidence is published with the evidence on the estates to which it respectively relates. Mr. P. Dignan, being duly sworn, states :My name is Patrick Dignan. I reside in Auckland, and am a settler. I have been resident here about twenty-seven years, and during that period have been constantly a member of the Eoman Catholic community here, and have interested myself actively in the conduct of its affairs up to the period of the passing of " The Eoman Catholic Endowments Sales Act, 1858."