1.—4

8

Monday, 17th Novembee, 1879. The Committee met pursuant to adjournment. Present: Mr. Bain, Mr. Ballance (Chairman), Mr. Bowen, Hon. Mr. Bryce, Mr. Bunny, Hon. Mr. Gisborne, Mr. Hislop, Mr. Macandrew, Mr. Montgomery, Hon. Mr. Eolleston, Mr. Wright. The minutes of the previous meeting were read and confirmed. Resolved, on the motion of Mr. Macandrew, That the following report be presented to the House: — The Select Committee to whom was referred the Bill intituled " The Wanganui Endowed School Act, 1879," having fully examined the persons chiefly concerned, and after careful consideration, have the honor to report that they have agreed to the following resolutions: — That, while in some respects the management of the Trust has not been satisfactory, the Committee are of opinion,— 1. That, from circumstances beyond the control of the Trustees, the original design of the endowment has not been and canuot now be fulfilled. 2. That the' primary object of the endowment was, under the management of the Church of England, to provide for the educational and industrial training of children of poor and destitute persons of all races. 3. That, with a view to making the most of the endowment, and to the more efficient carrying-out of the objects of the Trust as nearly as may be, the administration should be placed chiefly in the hands of persons residing in the immediate locality. 4. The Committee therefore recommend that the Bill which now stands referred to it should be passed : Provided it is so altered that the Board shall consist of nine members —four to be elected by the Wanganui District Education Board, and five to be elected by the General Synod of the Church of England : Provided that at least two of the members elected by the said Synod shall be persons resident within the Wanganui General Assembly Electoral District. Resolved, on the motion of the Hon. Mr. Gisborne, That the following be added to the above :— 5. That provision should be made for the education, partly on a free foundation, of children of all denominations, subject to a conscience clause. C. That the school should be subject to Government inspection, and the accounts be subject to Government audit. The Committee then adjourned.

Tuesday, 18'rn Novembee, 1879. The Committee met pursuant to notice. Present: Mr. Ballance (Chairman), Mr. Bowen, Hon. Mr. Bryce, Mr. Bunny, Hon. Mr. Gisborne, Mr. Hislop, Mr. Macandrew, Mr. Montgomery. The minutes of the previous meeting were read and confirmed. Resolved, on the motion of Mr. Montgomery, That the Eeport, as printed, be adopted after making the following alterations: —Clause 4—the words " General Assembly Electoral" be struck out, and the word "Education" inserted in lieu thereof. Clause s—the5 —the words "partly on a free foundation" be struck out. Resolved, on the motion of Mr. Hislop, That the Bill be left in the hands of the Chairman, to be amended in accordance with the terms of the Eeport. Resolved, on the motion of Mr. Montgomery, That all evidence given before the Committee be printed, and that the Chairman do report to the House this day. The Committee then adjourned.