TE AUTE COMMISSION.

Gisborne Times, 18 May 1906, Page 3

TE AUTE COMMISSION.

(Par Press Awtodation.)

Napier, last night. When tho Te Auto Trus) Commission resumed to-day, it was slated by tho Chairman that tho Eiuoation Department had intimated they had no desire to be represented other than by Mr Bird, Inspector of Native Schools, as o witnoss. Mr J. B. Fieldtr, one of tho trustees, deposed that prior to his appointment in 1900 no minute bock was kept of the doiDgs of the Trust. The trustees did not keep a baoking aooouot, the whole of the fioaDoial arrangement beiog left with Arohdeaoon Williams, who had expended large sums in improving tbo estate apart from the reut paid under tho lease.

THE OTHER SIDE OF THE QUESTION.

TBE ARCHDEACON'S EVIDENCE,

(Per Press Association.)

Napier, las) night. Later.—The Billing of the Native Education Endowments Commission was resumed to-day. J. B. Fielder, one of ths trustees of the Te Auie Trust, gave evidence as to the leasing of the land under the Trust to Archdeacon S. Williams, and to the regular rendering of aoeounts to <hv general Synod and the Diocesan Trust Board. The management of the Trust was left to Arobdeaoon Wilhacne, but the trustees bad a general knowledge of what was being donp, and were quite satisfied. la addition to the published accounts the Archdeacon bad given several sums not reooidsd, and he had also expended largo sums in improvements to the estate, in addition to the rents ho paid. Amongst the gifts by the Archdeacon which were reoorded in the accounts was one of £IBOS Is 41 to Hokarere. The trustees sanctioned the exohange of two email pieces of land on the valuation of Mr Horace Baker, who reported that the land offered in exchange would be of great advantage to tho Trust in increasing its utility. The general Synod had also approved of the exchange. The present lease of 6870 acres was for twelve years at an annual rental of £2200, an increase of L2OO on the previous rent, and the trustees were fully of opinion that having regard to the whole of the eiroumstanees, this was to the best advantage of the Trust. Tae Government in January, 1906, offered to take over a portion of the estate, some 23UJ acres, for close settlement ; but this was not entertained, and a reply to that effect was sent in EebNo complaints had ever been received regarding tbo administration of the estate, and the only suggestion oi that sort that witness knew of were tome anonymous letters which appealed in the press. Arohdeaoon Williams, in evidence, stated that he had been in charge of the missionary distrioi at Otaki in 1852, having bsen asked to go there io 1847 by the fiisbop of New Zealand to endeavor to settle a disagreement between the natives and tbe Government. He succeeded in paoifyiug the natives and made considerable progress in their educatOD, founding several schools. In 1853, si tne pressing instigation of Sir George Grey, witness undertook lo try and promote education amongst the Natives of Hawke’s B iy, and some land was set aside by the Government and some given by the Natives for that purpose. The land granted by the Government was for Natives and Europeans, and that given by the Natives was for Native education. This letter was given on tbo distinct understanding that witness stopped there. Witness had administered tho estate as manager of tbe trust for several years, erecting a 1 the bui.dings, and providing a schoolmaster for three or four years. Three hundred pounds had been granted fry the Oburoh Missionary Society to assist. Witness had spent much of his own money in fenoing and improving his property, and as he was ruoning into debt, be reluotantly oame to tbe cjnolusion that he would have to olcso. He was, however, urged to oontinuj, and subsequently was granted a lease at £soo a year. This rent bad been eontinually increased at eaoh --renewal, though all the money spent on improvements had been done by witness. Ho could have got other laud at much loss oost than ho had paid out for the Trust property, but as tbo money was to be expended for the schools he was content to pay what was arranged. Ho bad continued to administer the estate, and would still do bo a 3 long as he was trusted. Ho fell annoyed at the trusters fixing tho rent for tbo last lease at £IOO more than ths valuo fixed by their own valuer, but he consented to pay it. Ho could supply a list of 84 purely European children who had passed through tho Te Auto Collrgo The sitting adjourned until to-morrow,