Gk—s

VI

School Act, 1876," clause 22, subclauses (2), (3), (4), (5), and (6); and Mr. Ballance's Bill of 1879, intituled " The Wanganui Endowed School Act, 1879," clause 31, subclauses (2), (3), (4), (5), and (6); and that the draft of such Bill be referred to the trustees for their consideration and remarks. The Wanganui Educational Endowment. This endowment consists of 250 acres now in the Borough of Wanganui, formerly called Petre. (See Act of the Province of Wellington, 1854, Sess. I, No. 11, W.-5, 17 Vict.) The history of this endowment is shortly as follows: In 1847 an Ordinance (see Domett's "Ordinances of New Zealand," G.-4) " for promoting the education of the youth of the Colony of New Zealand," was passed in the Legislative Council. In 1852 the Governor-in-Chief, Sir George Grey, in consequence of a demand made by the people of the Wanganui district for a public school, instructed the Rev. Richard Taylor and Donald McLean to select about 200 acres of land as a site for an " industrial school." They complied with His Excellency's request, and forwarded a sketch, &c, of the land. (See correspondence, Parliamentary Paper D.-15, 1866.) In September, 1852, His Excellency instructed the Commissioner of Crown Lands, Mr. F. D. Bell, to report on the proposal made by the Rev. Mr. Taylor and Mr. McLean re the establishment of an industrial school, and in his report of the 24th September, 1852, addressed to the Hon. the Colonial Secretary, Mr. Bell said (see D.-15, 1866), " The Governor having directed me to make inquiries at Wanganui <is to the opinion the settlers might entertain of the scheme of an industrial school, I have further to state that I found on explaining His Excellency's views to many persons a great desire to see the school established. Indeed, the most pressing want just now is that of education. Every one complains of the evils consequent on there being no good school there. The Roman Catholics, it is true, are making some efforts to provide instruction for the children, but their means are very limited, and the establishment of a good school on liberal principles as regards religious training would, I was assured by every one to whom I spoke on the subject, be hailed with the utmost satisfaction by the community." On the 13th October, 1852, a grant (signed by Sir George Grey) of the land selected by the Rev. R. Taylor and Mr. McLean was made to the Right Rev. George Augustus, Bishop of New Zealand. The grant (Exhibit No. 45) was registered in the Deeds Office at Wellington. The grant recites that " Whereas a school is about to be established in Wanganui, in the Province of New Minister, New Zealand, under the superintendence of the Right Reverend George Augustus, Bishop of New Zealand, for the education of our children of all races and of children of other poor and destitute persons being inhabitants of islands of the Pacific Ocean." After describing the land granted, the trust under which the land was to be held is expressed in these words: "In trust nevertheless for the use and towards the maintenance of the said school so long as religious education, industrial training, and instruction in the English language shall be given to the youth educated therein or maintained thereat." During the debates (Hansard, Vol. 21, pp. 67 and 591 ; Vol. 32, p. 445; and Vol. 33, p. 383) on Bills relating to this endowment brought before Parliament by Mr. Bryce in 1876 and by Mr. Ballance in 1879, and in the evidence given by Sir George Grey before a Select Committee (see paliamentary paper, Sess. 11, 1.-4, 1879) on Mr. Ballance's Bill, questions were raised as to Sir George Grey's intentions in granting the endowment. We respectfully refer Your Excellency to those debates, and to Sir George Grey's evidenec. On the 13th May, 1862, the Bishop, in exercise of the power in that behalf given to him by "The Bishop of New Zealand Trusts Act, 1858," No. 17, conveyed the endowment to trustees appointed by the General Synod of the Church of England. A number of old residents and others have in their evidence before us given a very complete history of the school from its infancy, and Your Excellency will, in the appendices hereto, find a mass of documentary evidence showing the progress the school (now known as the "Wanganui Collegiate School ") has made under the management of the Rev. Mr. Nicholls, Mr. Godwin, and Dr. Harvey. As shown in the evidence, the present headmaster, Mr. Empson, has devoted many years of his life to the work of mental and physical development of the students, and has also spent considerable sums of his own money in improving the school buildings, and in other directions. Under his able control and management the College is now in a flourishing condition, and occupies a prominent place in the foremost rank of secondary schools of the colony. Subject to our recommendations and remarks, as hereafter set forth, we are of opinion that the endowment and the revenue derived therefrom have, as far as practicable, been so administered as to substantially fulfil the trusts thereof. Annual accounts, as set forth in the exhibits," of receipts and disbursements have been rendered by the trustees to the General Synod and Education