A.—No. 3

10

RELIGIOUS, CHARITABLE, AND

Grant, 22^ perches, Wellington. No. 5 (N.M. Miscellaneous, p. 93, area 22J perches). —This land is on Lambton Quay. It is let for £20 a year, which is too low a rent. Mr. George Moore is the tenant. He had it previously for £14 per annum for ten years. Mr. Brandon managed the leasing. It was probably let at a low rent as Mr. Moore had it previously for ten years and had made no use of it. The proceeds are applied to the repairs or maintenance of the St. Joseph's Providence. Grant, 2 roods 34 perches, Wellington. No. 6 (N.M. Miscellaneous, p. 30, area 2 roods 34 perches). —This land is in Boulcott Street. No trust is declared in the grant. This land was intended for a church site. It was not a gift, but was bought originally by Father O'Reilly. It is not let, or if any rent is specified none is paid, as the tenant is a poor old woman without any means to pay it. Grant, 2 acres 3 roods 20 perches, Wellington. No. 7 (N.M. Miscellaneous, p. 73, area 2 acres 3 roods 20 perches). —This land has always been used as a cemetery, and temporarily a portion of it is used as the site of a residence for Father O'Reilly, and at present for the sexton and his family. Grant, 2 acres, Lower Hutt. No. B.—This is a piece of land consisting of two acres that was bought of the Hon. Henry Petre for a sum of money, the interest of which was paid for a considerable period. The section was finally given to the Church by Mr. Petre. It is not the subject of a direct grant from the Crown to the Catholic Church. Grant, Lower Ilutt. No. 9.-—This section was also given to the Church by the Hon. Henry Petre, and is not the subject of a direct grant from the Crown. Grant, Greytown. No. 10. —The land at Greytown was a gift from Sir Charles Clifford. Grant, 2 acres, Greytown. No. 11. —This consists of two acres of land, and was taken out of the Public Reserves when each denomination received ground for a cemetery from the Provincial Government. Ido not know if a grant has been issued for this land or not. Grant, Carterton. No. 12.- —This religious and educational reserve was bought by the congregation. The cemetery was given by the Provincial Government, as at Greytown. Grant, 1 acre, Masterton. No. 13. —This land consists of one acre for religious and educational purposes. It was given by the Trustees of the Small Farm Settlement at Masterton. I think this is kept for a cemetery, whether actually used or not I. cannot say.

Wesleyan Church.

Evidence taken before Mr. Hart, at 'Wanganui. Tuesday, 12th Octobee, 1869. Wanganui Town, 1 rood. — Church Site. The Rev. George Stannard, being duly sworn, states: My name is George Stannard. I reside in Wanganui, and am a Wesleyan missionary. I know the land comprised in the Crown Grant, of which the copy is produced and referred to as No. 127, Record iv. A. It was reserved for the special purpose by the New Zealand Company. In 1859 a church was first erected on the ground, which has since been enlarged. There is also on the ground a building used for a Sabbath school. It has been used as a day school, but is not at present. The church and school are of timber, and. shingled. The church contains 320 sittings. The sittings are not all let (about 130 are). Such as are let are charged for at the rate of 10s. per annum. It is the usage in our churches to reserve a considerable number of sittings as free scats. There is no other income derivable from the ground. Divine service has been celebrated in the church from 1859 to the present time. The church is supported by voluntary contributions, supplemented by a grant from tho Home Mission Sustentation Fund. The average attendance at worship will be 200; that in the Sabbath school will be about 120. The cost of building the church and enlargement, and school-house and manse, was about £600. I know the land (385 acres) comprised in section numbered two hundred and forty (240) on the plan of the right bank of the Wanganui River. It was purchased by me of the New Zealand Government, with funds supplied by the Wesleyan Mission, to provide against the contingency of their failing to acquire a grant of land in the Ngatiruanui country, which contingency happened. The cost of the buildings and improvements of the land, and of the stock afterwards placed upon it, was defrayed out of funds supplied by the New Zealand Government, in this way : Out of the £7,000 annually appropriated for Native educational purposes, £700 per annum was granted to the Southern Wesleyan District. In 1856 expenditure commenced, in the fencing of the land and erection of a minister's house and school-house, and dormitories and refectory were afterwards added. These buildings were of timber and ehingled. There were rough Native buildings for tho farming man. employed, and a stockyard enclosed. Farming operations were carried on —first preparatory to putting on stock, and afterwards in support of the Natives residing there, and towards the support of the establishment. From 1858 until the commencement of the war, the school was prosperous, having fifty resident Natives. It was at its great height before the war commenced. When the war commenced the school declined; and when the Ngatiruatfuis became involved in war with the Europeans in the Wanganui District, their children, who formed the scholars, were withdrawn from the school. This was about the year 1863. After the complete withdrawal of the children, the missionary in