EDUCATIONAL RESERVES

A.— Ho. 3.

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Friday, 26th Novembee, 1869. The Rev. Jean Baptiste Petit Jean, being duly sworn, states : My name is Jean Baptiste Petit Jean. Grant, 108 acres, Porirua. No. 1 (N.M. Miscellaneous, p. 35, area 108 acres). —This land was granted for a school, but after the lapse of some years' expectation, there being no funds for a school at Porirua, the proceeds have been applied to the institution at Wellington. The land was ultimately let to Mr Taylor, first at £10, now at £30 a year, which ho wants diminished. The rents have been spent exclusively on the education of Maori girls at Wellington, at the St. Joseph's Providence. Returns are made every three months to the Native Office, whence they go to the Treasury. At present, I think there arc about fifteen girls receiving education. They are taught all the ordinary subjects of an English girl's education, and the reports can be referred to, which are highly complimentary as to their proficiency, and which are published by the Government. His Honor Mr. Justice Johnston and Mr. Fitzherbert have been the visitors, and the last was Mr. Bowden, the Inspector of Schools. Grant, 1 acre, Wellington. No. 2 (N.M. Miscellaneous, p. 36, area 1 acre). —This is the land fronting on Hawkstone Street on which the St. Joseph's Providence is built. A school has been established and in operation on this section since about 1851 for female children, in accordance with the terms of grant, viz., the girls chiefly educated are Maori and half-caste, and occasionally European. The number of the former is about fifteen at present, —three Maori and ten half-caste girls ; the Europeans are three in number. What has been said above as to the Porirua Grant refers to this school, the rent of tho Porirua land being appropriated to the maintenance of the latter. The grant does not specify that the education is to be denominational or tho reverse. It is given to the Roman Catholic Bishop, and religious education is required to be given. The inference seems to be, that the religious education is to be Catholic, which is in accordance with the spirit in which tho grant was made. Protestant children are educated, and do attend religious exercises every morning and evening, as it would be injurious to the children, in our opinion, to separate the scholars at the time of such exercises being celebrated. The industrial training is comprised in sewing and other domestic occupations, making bread, cooking, &c. Grant, 2 roods, Wellington. No. 3 (N.M. Miscellaneous, p. 72, area 2 roods). —This is the land in Manners Street on which the Chapel of the Nativity stands. The Union Bank intimated to Sir Charles Clifford that they had great need of a small additional piece of ground to make a road to the stable. Sir Charles Clifford mentioned it to the Bishop (Monseigneur Viard), and it was arranged that it should be sold to the Bank for £30. Ido not know how the purchase money was applied by Father O'Reilly. It was for religious purposes no doubt. Grant, 1 acre, Lower DZutl. No. 3 (N.M. Miscellaneous, p. 92, area 1 acre).—This acre was given for a cemetery. Only a portion of it is fenced in for that purpose; tho rest", is included in the five or six acres fenced in by the Natives for gardens and paddocks, and used by them as such. The land was given by Te Puni, under an arrangement made by the Hon. Henry Petre and the Governor. 3

HE iELIGIOTJS. -DtTCATIOKAL. ani HABITABLE rusts ai Lm: ;on — com 'inuet

tore situated. ft 11 Quantity of Land. Destination. By Grant or Purchase. Observations. I Wellington ... 4 5 6 7 22-J- perches 2 acres 1 acre 1 acre Trust for education Religious and educational Religious and educational St. Joseph's Providence— Educational Educational Religious and educational Catholic Cemetery Given by the Government Bought by the P. C. Bishop Given by Dord Petre Given by the Government Porirua Dower Hutt... 8 1 2 108 acres 2 acres 20 perches ... 1 acre Ditto Given by the Hon. II. Petre Given by Te Puni ... 1 acre washed awa; f acre oceupiei and retained b; his son. Upper Hutt ,., Wairarapa— Greytown ... 2 1 acre Religious and educational Given by the Hon. II. Petre Carterton ... 1 2 1 2 1 acre (less than) ... 2 acres 9 acres (more or less) 2 acres Religious and educational Catholic Cemetery Religious and educational Catholic Cemetery Given by Mr. Clifford Given by the Provincial Government Bought by the Congregation Given by the Provincial Government Given by the Trustees Masterton... 1 1 acre Religious and educational 8th Novembe: -, 1869.