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CHAPTER V.—EARLY ADMINISTRATION. 1. Sir George Grey's Native Policy. It has been said that the Native policy adopted by Governor Grey " was judicious, far-sighted, and founded on sound principles'^ 1 ), and attention has already been drawn to his efforts to better the conditions of the Maoris by caring for their health and educating their children. In 1847 he introduced " An Ordinance for promoting the Education of Youth in the Colony of New Zealand," which passed the Legislative Council and subsequently received the Royal assent. In framing this measure, which was to apply chiefly to Maori children, he pointed out that the three religious bodies belonging respectively to the Church of England, the Church of Rome, and the Wesleyans had already made some provision for the education of youth, although their funds for this object were limited and their efforts had been in a great measure lost for the want of centralization. They, nevertheless, formed in the country bodies whose influence and power of usefulness was great, and their energies, if properly directed, appeared capable of accomplishing a great and lasting good. He thought it wiser, therefore, to avail himself of the extensive and really admirable machinery then in existence rather than to waste time and money by attempting to create a system of national education which would cost large sums of money in introducing it, and which would entail a serious loss of time. It was proposed, therefore, to support from the public funds the different religious bodies now in the country, but such support was to be confined to those schools in which a religious education, industrial training, and instruction in the English language formed a necessary part of the system. The Act provided for the establishment and maintenance of schools out of the public funds of the colony, the amount to be advanced in any one year not to exceed one-twentieth of the revenue of the colony.( 2 ) In less than two years' time Governor Grey was able to report that his Education Ordinance had proved a success and the desire of the Natives to secure a good education for their children had increased. In one Wesleyan institution alone 130 children were being boarded and taught, and many others were desirous of obtaining admission to the same school. In a despatch to the Colonial Office the Governor pointed out that the difficulty was now to maintain a proper supply of food for the various institutions already in progress, although, as these institutions were conducted on the industrial system, the pupils could, if there were a sufficiency of land at their disposal, not only produce sufficient supplies for their own support, but they would at the same time be instructed in improved modes of agriculture. There was no difficulty in obtaining sufficient land for each school in its immediate vicinity, but without express instructions on the subject he did not feel authorized in conveying lands to these institutions unless they could pay for them in cash. Under the circumstances he felt justified, pending further instructions, in directing that sufficient reserves for the wants of the Maori children to be boarded and educated should be kept apart for the use of each institution ; and as a considerable value would be given to these reserved lands by the improvements that would be made upon them, he thought that it would be an equitable rule to allow each religious denomination, at any time within ten years, to purchase these lands at the upset price of fl per acre, at the same time making it a condition of these grants, that the lands could not be disposed of.( 3 ) In signifying his approval of these proposals Earl Grey, Secretary of State for the Colonies, said, — " Attaching, as I do, great importance to the successful development of such a plan, I do not hesitate to sanction the arrangement which you propose, and I should further be prepared to approve of your granting still more favourable terms, if you should think proper, to such schools, either by allowing the purchase to be made at a lower price than £1, or even by allotting the lands to the schools gratuitously, provided due security could be taken for their proper use. It may, however, be a reason against choosing this last course that one of the best securities for the improvement of the land occupied by those institutions may be derived from their being aware that they will eventually have a moderate price to pay for it."( 4 ) Referring to Earl Grey's sanction to endow certain Native schools with land, Governor Grey (now Sir George Grey) reported in 1851 that several large institutions conducted respectively by the three Churches were now in full and successful operation, and that grants for the portions of land requisite for the growth and production of the necessaries of life required by the children had been issued gratuitously to these institutions, conveying the lands in trust for the use and towards the maintenance of such schools, so long as religious education, industrial training, and instruction in the English language were given. Further, the grants had been enlarged to include " children of our subjects of all races being inhabitants of islands in the Pacific Ocean," as he considered it to be absolutely necessary for the protection of the interests of Christianity and civilization, as also for the protection of the interests of our commerce and shipping, that the inhabitants of these islands should be converted and civilized.( 5 ) Earl Grey, in his reply, approved of the scheme as being salutary and politic, and expressed his satisfaction of the general sufficiency of the instrument creating the trust.( 6 ) Numerous grants of Crown lands appear to have been made to different schools, and these call for no comment, but in 1853, for reasons not stated, certain of the New Zealand Company's reserves were included in educational endowments.

( 1 ) " New Zealand Rulers and Statesmen," by William Gisbome. ( 2 ) Governor Grey to Barl Grey, 9/12/47 : Great Britain —Papers relating to New Zealand, 1848, p. 48. ( 3 ) Governor Grey to Barl Grey, 22/3/49 : Great Britain —Papers relating to New Zealand, 1850, p. 68. ( 4 ) Earl Grey to Governor Grey, 16/10/49: Great Britain —Papers relating to New Zealand, 1850, p. 237. ( 5 ) Sir George Grey to Earl Grey, 29/1/51 : Great Britain —Papers relating to New Zealand, 1851, p. 122. ( B ) Earl Grey to Sir George Grey, 3/8/51 : Ibid., p. 218.