23

1.-4

Islands, and the Tongau Islands and Loyalty Group were prepared to come into the system. Well, the whole of that has broken down, and it is a great question whether, when the scheme in which these endowments were granted, has disappeared, and the endowments themselves are in existence, some new plan should not be formed. 513. Mr. Montgomery.] I understand that the whole scheme has broken down, and that it no longer appertains to the purpose for which the grants were given? —Yes; that is the main fact. I said there were about 150 children. I believe I must reckon that there w-ere 300 native children from the islands here. 514. Then how could a law Court draw up a scheme for the management of a Trust the objects of which it is quite impossible to accomplish?— They would do it under the system, as near as possible, as Mr. Travers has pointed out, but still it is a question, in my mind, whether the whole plan should be altered or reviewed. 515. Mr. Travers.] Sir George Grey is no doubt aware that the Wesleyans sold their land for a sum of money, and applied it to another purpose altogether. 516. Mr. Macandrew.] They had the authority of law ? —A provincial Act. 517. No; a colonial Act?—l understand that there is some mismanagement of the funds. It might be desirable that a great college should be set up there. I only look at the thing as a whole, but if there has been a misapplication of the funds, that is a totally different thing from what I understood from the questions put to me. It is quite clear that a plan which was suited to the circumstances of former times has broken down from the circumstances having entirely altered, and clearly the Legislature has a right to interfere in such a case. 518. I look upon these endowments as capable of giving education to hundreds of children, and not only that, but maintenance also ; but how is that to be done ? —lt might be done in various ways. It might be necessary to have an institution for orphans under the Church of England, and the rest might be devoted to a college. 519. I suppose the endowments would be worth £3,000 a year ?—I think they would be worth much more. 520. The Chairman.] Mr. Peat says in his evidence that if the Trust were properly managed, it would be worth £2,000 a year. It appears to me there is no difficulty in carrying out industrial training under the grant ? —I think, if the estate is so large as that, it would be quite possible to leave a portion for a charitable institution under the Church of England for orphans and others, and still leave a large fund for other purposes.

APPENDICES. APPENDIX A. Sir,— Mulgrave Street, 30th October, 1879. I have the honor to inform you that, in accordance with what the Select Committee agreed to yesterday, the Trustees have appointed Mr. W. T. L. Travers to appear before tho Select Committee on their behalf as counsel. He will attend when informed by you that it is convenient that he should do so. I have, &c, The Chairman of tho Select Committee, 0. Wellington. Wanganui Industrial School. Sir,— Mulgrave Street, 31st October, 1879. When asked by Mr. Gisborne on Wednesday, during my examination, how I reconciled my assertion that Mr. Hart, the Eoyal Commissioner, had admitted that tho grant was made to the Church of England, I was unable, not having read his report for three years, to remember his words. They are as follows : " This was a grant of about one-third of the then existing town-site of Wanganui to Trustees of one religious denomination." It being a grant to the Bishop of New Zealand and his successors, there can be no doubt what that " denomination " was. May I ask to have this letter included in my evidence. I have, &c, The Chairman, Wanganui Endowed School Bill Committee. O. Wellington. Sir,— Mulgrave Street, 3rd November, 1879. I have the honor herewith to return the shorthand writer's report of my evidence. It is a very unsatisfactory report of what was really said, and I very much regret that, even with all the corrections I have made, it should appear as my evidence. Iv several instances I have been unable to recognize either the questions as those addressed to me, or the answers as in any respect mine. The report of my evidence given before the Eoyal Commission needed only the most trifling corrections. I must now ask to be allowed before the evidence is closed to put in a brief statement of the main points given in my evidence. I have, &c, The Chairman, Wanganui Endowed School Bill Committee. O. Wellington. My Lord, — House of Eepresentatives, Wellington, 4th November, 1879. I have the honor, by direction of the Wanganui Endowed School Bill Committee, to return the corrected copy of the evidence given by your Lordship before the Committee for your signature, and to request that the same may be retransmitted to me at your earliest convenience. I am also directed to acquaint your Lordship that any written statement which you may be pleased to forward will be received by the Committee. I have, &c, J. Ballance, His Lordship the Bishop of Wellington. Chairman.