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Or.— 6

MINUTES OF EVIDENCE.

Napier, Monday, 14th May, 1906. William Leonard Williams examined. 1. The Chairman (Mr. District Judge Kettle).] You are Bishop of the Diocese of Waiapu? —Yes. 2. You are also a trustee of this trust property? —Yes. 3. When did you first become a trustee? —I have not the exact date, but it was a little more than eleven years ago—in 1895. 4. You were appointed, I suppose, by the General Synod? —Under the authority of the General Synod. 5. Who are your co-trustees at the present time? —They are Sir W. R. Russell, Mr. J. H. Coleman, Mr. J. B. Fielder, and Mr. J. N. Williams. 6. Do the trustees hold meetings? —Yes, from time to time as the case requires. 7. Have you a secretary?— Mr. Fielder, one of the trustees, acts as secretary. 8. In whose custody are the deeds and documents? —At the present time they are in the custody of Mr. Fielder. 9. Do the trustees take any direct part in the financial branch of the trust?—ln the detailed distribution of the funds, no. 10. You have no banking account or anything of that sort? —No, 11. And no books of accounts? —No. 12. Can you say what revenue is derived from the trust property?— The revenue at the present time is £2,200 per annum. 13. How is that made up?—lt is rent of the estate. 14. The estate is now held under lease, and if so, by whom?—By Archdeacon S. Williams. 15. You say that the trustees take no part whatever in the financial portion of the business? —That is so. 16. Who receives the rent?—l may say it is not paid over at all. It is accounted for, because the Archdeacon has the general management of the school. 17. He is the tenant of the trustees, and also has the general management of the school? — Yes, and has had it ever since the inception of the trust. 18. So that all the accounts and books and matters relating to the financial arrangements of the trust will be in his hands? —Yes. 19. And it will be from him we must get any information in regard to that branch of our inquiry?— Yes. 20. In whose hands is the educational part of the business?---In the hands of the headmaster, Mr. John Thornton. 21. Do the trustees take any part in that branch of the trust?— They have not had occasion to interfere since I have been a trustee, at all events. 22. It is left entirely in the hands of the Archdeacon and Mr. Thornton? —Yes. 23. And the trustees have never interfered in the policy that has been pursued by them in regard to the system of education ? —No. They have a general understanding about it, but they have not interfered in the details at all. 24. The system of education carried on in the College has your approyal?—Yes. 25. The trustees know the system and approve of the system? —Yes. 26. I suppose the trustees are quite prepared to fall in with any improvements in the system suggested by the Education Department?—l think they are quite prepared to fall in with anything that the funds at our disposal will admit of. 27. On the question of funds, what money does the Government contribute towards the funds of the institution ?—I have not the exact amount. They do contribute something—that is to say, they support a number of scholars. 28. And up to 1859 they gave something like £200 a year? —I am not prepared to say what the exact amount was. It was something like that. 29. You can say generally that the Government have assisted from time to time by annual grants?— Yes, in support of a certain number of scholars they send. 30. Has the trust established any other school out of the funds?—lt is not correct perhaps to put it in that wa}-, but the Cirls' School at Hukarere, Napier, which was started as a private venture originally, has been incorporated in the Te Aute trust by Act of Parliament. 31. I understand that the land on which that school is erected was given to the trust?—-Yes; it is an accretion to the trust. 32. Who gave that land?—lt was set apart for a school by the first Bishop of Waiapu, Bishop W T illiams. The school was started as an independent school by the Bishop, and afterwards, a few years ago, it was handed over to the Te Aute trust as a free gift. 33. Unencumbered?— Yes. 34. What is the area of the land ?—lt is a very small piece of land—a little more than an acre. 35. I suppose there was a school building on the land?— Yes. 36. And it was handed over to the Te Aute trust as a going concern for Native girls?— Yes. 37. And since then that school has been carried on partly out of the funds of what we may call the Te Aute property?— Yes ; about £900 a year has been devoted to it. 38. Who has the management of this Girls' School? —Miss Williams,

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