41

H.—2lb

The portion of the building erected (only a very small portion of the original plan) was never finished; the weatherboards on the north side are not completely nailed on. There is one man who is really anxious the school should go on, Hakopa, an old man who insists on his children attending the school. The roof of the building is in a very bad state. The gutter or parapet in front prevents the escape of the water. It was built from a design of a Mr. Clarke, of Marlborough. The room formerly used as a schoolroom is a mere lean-to, without lining, though with a fireplace. Upper inside rooms, plastered, let in water through the roof, upright gutter in front stopping it.

Instruction in Beading, Weiting, Abithmbtic, and English, and to read Maori ; with Ebligious Instruction—lB6B. Morning. Evening. No. of Scholars Average Daily No. of Scholars Average Daily on the Roll. Attendanoe. on the Roll. Attendance. July ... ... ... 24 10 May ... ... ... 20 8 August ... ... 27 8 June ... ... ... 17 7 September ... ... 20 5 July ... ... ... 27 13 October ... ... 21 6 August ... ... 28 10 November ... ... 14 6 September ... ... 29 11 December ... ... 19 5- October ... ... 22 9 November ... ... 22 15 December ... ... 22 12 School Attendance —1869. Morning. Evening. No. of Scholars Average Daily No. of Scholars Average DailJ , on the Roll. Attendance. on the Roll. Attendance. January ... ... 11 4 January ... ... 16 8 February ... ... 13 4 February ... ... 14 5 March ... ... ... 12 6 March ... ... ... 14 6 April ... ... ... 17 7 April ... ... ... 17 8 May ... ... ... 15 4 May ... ... ... 12 4 June ... ... ... 14 4 June ... ... ... 14 5 July ... ... ... 10 4 July ... ... ... 22 10 August ... ... . . 8 3 August... ... ... 14 6 September ... ... 10 3 September ... ... 18 8 October ... ... 6 3 October ... ... 8 4 November ... ... 6 3 November ... ... 13 4 December . . ... 6 4 December ... ... 7 4 Motueka, 29th December, 1869. Wμ. Eonaldson. Mr. F. Daw Greenivood, being duly sworn, states :My name is Frederick Daw Greenwood. I am Collector and Bailiff to the Bishop of Nelson of the Wakarewa Trust Estate. I have held this appointment since January, 1868. I will send a list showing the number of holdings, the names of tenants, the amount of rents respectively payable, and the dates at which the leases will determine, as far as I know them. I think that generally the leases are for fourteen years, on certain terms. When Bishop Hobhouse met the tenants he wished to raise the rents, as I understood. lam told the tenants refused, and that he made some agreement with them for a renewal after seven years. In 1873, I think most of them are to pay an increased rent. Mr. Sinclair has, I suppose, copies of the leases from the trust, and the tenants the originals. At present prices, in many cases, the rent is much below the marketable value of the land. With respect to Saxon's land, I was asked to report upon what rent should be paid. I surveyed all the land of fair quality, for which I estimated the rent should be 15s. per acre, which, from its position and quality, I thought a fair thing. There were a great many fences to be made, the Bishop finding wire, and the tenants agreeing to grub up old gorse fences and find posts. Bishop Hobhouse, I believe, had caused a barn and lean-to to be put up with reference to industrial training, on which Mr. Saxon was to pay 10 per cent, interest, and 2|- per cent, sinking fund. The Bishop had also advanced £200 to Mr. Saxon towards building a house on it; he was to pay the same interest and sinking fund. Mr. Saxon had also spent £200 of his own on the house. I produce the ledger kept by my brother Mr. John Greenwood since 1865. [This book appears regularly and properly kept—noted from time to time, " Examined and found correct," with initials and signatures of Bishops Hobhouse and Suter.—A. D.] I consider Mr. Saxon's land is let on equitable terms, and that the money lent on perishable buildings at 12J per cent, is favourable to him. I valued the land at what I considered Mr. Saxon could afford to give and make a living upon. Only about 55 or 60 acres, out of all his holding (about 400 or 450 acres), is good. The rest is barren hills, which I valued at 6d. an acre.

Wednesday, 29th December, 1869. Hakopa, being duly sworn, states :My name is Hakopa (Jacob). I have four children. Two go to the school. After this I won't send my children to the school, because the land will be taken from the children. It is only now that I do not wish to send them, so that they may get money for Wakarewa. Mr. Charles Alley, being duly sworn, states : My belief is, that if I had a son old enough to go to the College here, he would be refused. I believe it from my acquaintance with Bishop Hobhouse. He told me the College was for the Maoris alone. 5—H. 21b.