H.—2lb

26

erection of a Scottish Church. The section had 100 feet frontage on the beach, and I obtained a grant in the name of the trustees, and Mr. Hart has that grant in his possession now. This is the section on which the Scottish Church is built. As the building of the Court-house adjoining required a larger frontage, twenty feet of the section appropriated for the Scottish Church was exchanged for land to the amount of £200, with the Superintendent, Dr. Featherston. This land was taken in the Manawatu, and the present rental is applied to church purposes. Grant, 1 rood 18 perches. With regard to the grant No. 40, containing 1 rood 18 perches, I beg to state that it was purchased by a private subscription, and a grant issued in the names of the trustees mentioned in the Schedule, and who were the gentleman contributing the money. Wellington, 24th February, 1870.

Memorandum for the information of the Commission, by Mr. D. Bainie, Clerk to the Kirk Session of the Church of Scotland. I beg to inform the Commission of Inquiry into Eeligious and other Trusts, that the object of the grant (No. 25 on the Schedule, area 1 rood 12 perches) to the trustees of the Presbyterian Kirk of Scotland have been carried out, St. Andrew's Scottish Church having been built thereon. Wellington, 24th February, 1870.

[Evidence taken before Mr. Hart, at Wanganui.] Tuesday, 13th Octobee, 1869. Lots 149, ISO, 155, 156, Town of Wanganui, 1 acre—Church Site. Mr. Taylor, being duly sworn, states: My name is Thomas Ballardee Taylor; residence, Wanganui. lam a merchant. I know the land comprised in Crown Grant referred to, as recorded No. 14.2. 8., folio 177. In the year 1854 the land was fenced in. After that a church was built, and opened for public service on Sunday, 18th August, 1856. The building was also used as a Sunday school. It was destroyed by fire last year. The old building had been removed to a different part of the ground, and a new church was nearly completed on its site, when both were destroyed by fire. A new residence was also built upon the land, which is now standing. The dwelling house is occupied by the Eev. Mr. Elmslie. Preparations are in course of being made to erect a building on the same plan and on the same ground, and part of the materials are collected for the purpose. The managers for the congregation entertain hopes that this building will be complete and ready for occupation in the course of twelve months from this time. The building was calculated to hold 400 sitters without the galleries, but when the galleries should be completed, to hold 600. The sittings are charged for at £1 per year each. No portion of the land is let for any purpose. The contract prices of the buildings were together about £2,300, and considerable alterations were made in the course of erection, which would have brought the total cost to near £3,000. The intended building is estimated to cost £2,000. The buildings were of timber, and shingled. The bell cost about £90. Services were regularly performed in the old church until the arrival of the Eev. Mr. Elmslie, shortly after which the congregation so increased as to necessitate the removal of their meetings, pending the erection of the new church, to the Oddfellows' Hall, wherein Divine service has been celebrated for the last two- years. The Sunday school, attended on an average by 100 children, has also been held in the Oddfellows' Hall during that period. lam one of the trustees of the property. A quarter of an acre of the ground is laid out as a garden for the manse. Mr. Bamber, being duly sworn, states :My name is Thomas Bamber. I reside at Wanganui, and am a blacksmith. lam one of the trustees of the property above referred to. I corroborate the evidence of Mr. Taylor above set forth.

Primitive Methodist Church.

Memorandum for the information of the Commission, communicated by the Eev. Eobeet Waed. The grant (No. 35 on the Schedule, area 1 rood) was purchased with funds sent out from England by the Primitive Methodist Missionary Society, and the present chapel, school-room, and minister's residence have been built thereon. Wellington, 24th February, 1870:

Independent Church.

Grant, 6f perches, Wellington. Mr. John Knowles, having been duly sworn, states : This land was not a free grant from the Crown. It was part of Wi Tako's Maori Eeserve, and was purchased by the Congregational or Independent Church for £80. On the piece of land comprised in the grant a place of worship has been erected from the time of grant, or almost so. The original building was pulled down, and a new (the present) one, is erected partly on the land in grant, and partly on land adjoining leased from Wi Tako,