H.—2la

4

stock of these cattle was from private sources. I resided on the property from the year 1856 to the end of March, 1865,. and had the oversight of the establishment. The institution was broken up in consequence of the arrival of the Hauhaus. If the estate had been sufficiently productive to have allowed of the repayment of the £982 above mentioned, it would have been repaid out of such proceeds, though there was no express stipulation to this effect. The pa occupied by the Hauhau Natives was near my residence. When the Hauhaus who had been in communication with Mr. McLean found he would be no longer trifled with, and that the troops would be likely to attack their pa, they returned and set fire to the buildings of the station to prevent them affording a shelter to the troops, and they would have burned the residence but for a friendly chief nearly related to them, who had promised to protect the house, and who, with his family, resolutely remained in it till the arrival of the troops caused the rebels to withdraw. During the existence of the institution, the proceeds of the estate were all consumed for its benefit. The troops, while there, damaged the roof of the house to enable them to fire from it, and destroyed the surrounding fences for firewood. There was a crop of thirty acres of wheat just coming into ear, which was consumed and destroyed by the horses of the troops, and a crop of two acres of potatoes was consumed by the force. I will give the particulars of the claims referred to in the evidence of Archdeacon Williams : Napier, 15th April, 1869. Sir,—I have received from Archdeacon Williams the following memorandum, with the request that I would furnish the information it requires to yourself:— Memorandum. " Furnish some account of the cost of buildings, &c, at Waerengahika, showing how cost has been supplemented. Bishop to send a note of his claim against the estate." Cost of Buildings. Materials ... .. ... ..." ... £1,861 8 5 Carpenters' wages ... ... ... ... 1,615 610 £3,476 15 3 Fencing ... ... ... ... ... ... 926 13 9 Draining ... ... ... ... ... ... 280 6 3 £4,683 15 3 This expenditure has been defrayed as follows :— By Government grants ... ... ... ... £1,848 7 0 By grants from Church Missionary Society ... ... 1,266 13 4 From private sources ... ... ... ... ... 982 0 0 Proceeds of cattle obtained from private sources ... ... 586 14 11 £4,683 15 3 My personal claim upon the estate is for money advanced for buildings... £982 0 0 Loss of private property destroyed by the Government troops and by the Hauhaus ... ... ... ... ... 559 0 0 £1,541 0 0 Eobert Hart, Esq.. Commissioner Eeligious, Educational, and Charit-1- I have, &c. able Trusts, Wellington. j William Waiapu.

Monday, 12th April, 1869. Present:—Mr. Hart. Four Grants, in all 7,779 acres, Te Aute, Bishop of Neiv Zealand and others — -Native School. (Copies of Grants recorded—No. 4, Eeg. xiv. ; No. 5, Eeg. xiv.; No. 12, Reg. xiv. ; No. 1,650, Reg. H.7—produced.) Mr. James Henry Coleman, being duly sworn, states : My name is James Henry Coleman, of Waitahora, near Havelock. lam a sheep and cattle farmer. I have resided in Hawke's Bay nine and a half years. I know that there is a portion of land set apart for a school or college, commonly called the Te Aute School property, or Te Aute College reserve, about 6,000 or 7,000 acres. I lived for six years on this property as overseer—from the beginning of January, 1860, to about the end of 1865 or the beginning of 1866. I was engaged by the Rev. Samuel Williams. At the time I went, there was very little done in the way of improvements. At that time a house was just completed or about completion : do not know how many rooms it contained. There was a small wool-shed, no stable, one or two small whares for men's accommodation, and an enclosed stockyard. There were two or three paddocks fenced in, but in an inferior style. The property was occupied with sheep and cattle during the time I was there. The land was not fully stocked when I first went, and about two-thirds Stocked when I left the place. I cannot state the number of hands employed under me ; they varied very much. Considerable improvements were effected during my stay—fencing, and laying land down in grass. The block, containing about 5,500 acres, was fenced in when I came away. The wool-shed was enlarged whilst I was there. A good many of the sheep that were on the place were on terms. The Rev. Mr. Williams kept his books regularly and made them up during that period from materials which were in part