H.—2l

14

In respect of most of these lands, the amounts reserved have been nearly identical in area with the original Grants, but they are not exactly on the same lines, a fresh arrangement of boundaries roads, &c, having been made. Note.—For information as to position of Waikato Eeligious and Educational Grants, see letter of Mr. Commissioner Heale, 17th April, 1869, Appendix. Mr. A. Sinclair, having been previously duly sworn, states: I produce a copy of Neiv Zealand Government Gazette of the 12th August, 1868, No. 48, containing a schedule of the Eeligious, Charitable, and Educational Eeserves made in the Waikato District, along with reserves made there for other purposes. I also furnish a statement of the present reservations made to replace the Grants that were within the confiscated district, and which had accordingly lapsed. Having reference to the lands in Mechanics' Bay, granted for the site of the Native hostelry, they are under the management of Mr. Mackay, the Civil Commissioner. Two lots, measuring one quarter acre each, are let to Messrs. Archard and Brown and to Messrs. Hunter and Son respectively, at £20 per annum each ; one from the lst April, 1868, payable half-yearly in advance, and the other from the 16th of the same month. In reference to the Onehunga Hostelry Eeserve, I will endeavour to ascertain and communicate information, but I can give no evidence of my own knowledge on this head. The allotment No. 4 of section 12 of the City of Auckland is unoccupied by any individual, and part of it will be required for the construction of a road. I think it ought to remain unappropriated. No leases have been executed to Messrs. Hunter and Son, and Archard and Brown.

Roman Catholic Church. Thursday, 25th March, 1869. Present: —Mr 4 . Hart and Mr. Gisborne. Lots 22, 23, 32, 37, 39, and 50, 376 acres 1 rood 28 perches, Takapuna, North Shore — St. Mary's College and Industrial School. Mr. H. Mcllhone, being duly sworn, states: My name is Hugh Mcllhone. I reside at the North Shore, and am a school teacher and Manager of the Eoman Catholic College at that place. (Eecord copy, Eeg. iv., No. 30, Grant of 376 acres 1 rood 28 perches, allotments 22, 23, 32, 37, 39, and 50, Parish of Takapuna, produced.) I know the properties comprised in this Grant. The whole of this land, except about five or six acres, is at present leased, in different portions, for periods of twenty-one years. I will furnish a list of the tenants, rentals, and unexpired terms of these leases. The rents are at the rate of 2s. 6d. per acre for the first seven years, ss. for the second period of seven years and I think 7s. 6d. or 10s. per acre for the third period of seven years. I receive these rents as part of my general duties. Prior to the departure of Bishop Pompallier for Europe during last year, these rents were applied partly to the maintenance of the school and partly to pay the interest on a sum of money, about £600, which Bishop Pompallier states he borrowed and expended for the use of the institution in the years, I think, 1863 and 1864. I was first appointed to the school 2nd November, 1864, but did not undertake the management of the institution till March, 1865. The money above referred to was not expended while I was in charge of the institution. Prior to my taking charge of it it was under the direction of the Eev. Laurence Vinay, now resident at Eangiaohia. The amount I have received since I took the management of the estate to the present date is £151 12s. 3d.; there are at this date about £60 outstanding as arrears, of which I consider about £20 as bad. I have expended the bulk of this money on the general management of the institution. The money does not go through the hands of Bishop Pompallier at all. I only submit accounts to him. The accounts were inspected by two priests, sent by the Bishop for the purpose, periodically. These gentlemen examined the accounts both of receipts and expenditure, and signed the books in token of their satisfaction with the correctness of the accounts. [Book produced and signatures exhibited.] The books were last examined for the period ended 30th June, 1868. Vouchers were regularly required in support of my accounts. I will produce at my next examination, or forward to the Commissioners, a summary of receipts from various sources on account of the College for the several years since I assumed the management, and a similar return, under general heads, of expenditure on its account. Prior to the leasing of the College lands a considerable sum of money was spent in improvements on the estate, a good deal of it being fenced. This portion was then not leased, but is now leased at a higher rental than the residue. Since I have been in charge no money has been spent except by the lessees. A school has been erected upon an acre of land reserved out of the part last mentioned, I believe, by private contributions of the inhabitants, and used for the education of their children. There was a schoolmaster, paid in the ordinary way under the Education Act, and holding a Government certificate. The school is now vacant. The gross rental of the estate is about £90 per annum. The portion above referred to as let at a higher rental is 100 acres. This is let for eleven years at £50 per annum, and for the residue of ten years at £60 per annum. Most of the tenants have erected buildings on their holdings, in all about six—some of wood and others of brick. The lands are in cultivation as a whole. They lie about a furlong from the college buildings. The school-house is at present vacant. It is proposed, if practicable, to procure a schoolmaster there under the last Provincial Education Act. The average daily attendance used to be about twelve. The population of the district has increased since then, but probably the number of children attending school will have diminished.