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135. Suppose money was given instead of land, to be given to children—say, A and B—and other poor children—say, C and D—would it not imply that A and B were poor ?—A Court of law can alone determine the correct interpretation. I think my interpretation the correct one. 136. Have you ever had advice on this subject?—Tes; I once saw a letter from Sir William Martin, who, to the best of my recollection, took the same view as I do. 137. Would you bring it, please, if you could find it ?—I am afraid I cannot find it now ;it was not addressed to me. I saw it many years ago, and acted on it. 138. You will agree that it is meant for the poor children of some one ?—Quite so. For inhabitants of the Pacific Islands. 139. Tou have known some poor children attend the school ?—We had Maoris there for a long time receiving education free of charge. The master had positive instructions never to charge them, as shown by a resolution just read. 140. How long has that been in force?— Since the beginning of 1863. 141. Did you not know it was the intention of the Government when they endowed the school that children of the poorer class should be educated. Do you think it right to refuse them ?—Every effort was made at one time to carry out an industrial system with the money at our disposal. It was originally thought that the industrial school would be self-supporting. When, after many years, it was ascertained that it would not succeed, the Trustees laid out the land and leased it, and derived a revenue from it, and supported the school without the industrial system. As I said before it is simply impossible now to go on with it; the land has been leased, and no children would attend. 142.. Now, in regard to local management, would it not be rnoro likely that it would be better conducted under the eyes of people residing on the spot than under the exclusive supervision of persons living a hundred miles away ? —I think not. Complaints were always made when anything was wrong, which came to the ears of the Trustees. 143. Is it not possible that persons residing in the district could look after the management of the school ?—My opinion is that, with a good local agent, Trustees can manage it more dispassionately at a distance. 144. Do you see any objection to local bodies being appointed to manage the Trust? —My experience is it would be managed better by Trustees residing at a distance. 145. Mr. Montgomery.] The object of the Trust has been well carried out you say? — Tes, according to my interpretation of it. 146. Then you say the whole of the Trusts cannot be carried out without some modification having taken place in a Court of law ?—That is my opinion. We did all we could under the circumstances. What was not done we are not to be blamed for. We gave the children what amount of religious instruction we thought fit: it was a matter of funds. 147. That part of the Trust in regard to industrial training has not been carried out, has it ?—To a certain extent it has. 148. How much ? —lt was carried out as long as it could be, but was eventually stopped because no children attended. 149. What was taught them? —General farm-work—raising crops, &c, besides ordinary schoolwork. 150. How long has it been discontinued ?—I think it was started in 1853, and was kept up until 1857 or 1858. I was not appointed Trustee until 1860. 151. This land, then, that has been leased, was it submitted to public auction ? —Tes, within the last two years. 152. None has been let for two years ? —No, not that I am aware of. 153. What supervision have the Trustees exercised over this school ? —I have been the principal Trustee concerned in supervision, and generally go to Wanganui two or three times a year. 154. With regard to the inspection of the school, is it inspected by any person ?—No; I think not. 155. Are the reports from the school brought up at regular periods ?—Tes, annually. 156. Are any minutes kept of your meetings ?—Tes. 157. Do you remember how often you meet ?—Sometimes wdthin a month, at other times it may be six months. 158. What religious instruction has been given ? —Not much. A chapter out of the Bible. There is at present one of the masters who is preparing for the ministry of the Church. Of course there are a few remarks made relative to the chapter read, and so on. 159. Tou say there were similar grants given to other bodies ?—Tes. 160. Made at the same time ? —Tes. 161. In Wanganui? —Kai-iwi, nine miles from it, to the Wesleyans. 162. Tou think it requires legislation before these Trusts can be properly carried out? —Possibly some of them are now obsolete. But I believe the Supreme Court wrould sanction a scheme ci pres, which would do what was needed. 163. Which do you consider obsolete ? —The industrial is the chief one. 164. Tou still think if the Trust was amended you could carry on the school r—Yes ; I am certain we could. The industrial system is the only difficulty. 165. Mr. Bain.] For what periods were these leases granted for? —The whole of them will be laid before the Committee. I have telegraphed for a schedule of them. [Vide Appendix B.] 166. Tou have cut the land up in five-acre blocks ? —ln different sizes. 167. Do you uot think the revenue would have been much larger if you had cut your land so as to follow the line of the roads ?—I think not; we took the advice of the best business men in Wanganui—namely, Messrs. Churton, Jackson, and Jones. If those gentleman had deemed it advisable to have cut it up as you suggest, it would have been done. I am prepared to prove that the laud given to the Corporation for a hospital has not been turned to so good au account as the school estate. 2—l. 4.