J. B. FIELDBE.]

11

Gh—s.

89. You know the terms of the trusts in the four grants?— Yes. 90. The Bishop has already told us that the trust has been administered as one? —Yes. 91. That is to say, the whole of the lands have been thrown into one trust, and administered for the benefit of both Natives and Europeans ?—Yes. 92. To sum up, the trust estate now consists of what we may call the Te Aute property, subject to the exchanges made with Mr. Stokes and Archdeacon Williams?— Yes. 93. And the accretion of the Hukarere Estate?— Yes. 94. Has the trust any other property? Has it any money invested?— No. 95. Has it any stock or personal property of any kind? —No; it has no chattel property with the exception of the furniture, &c, in use in the College. 96. And has not had during your term of office? —No. 97. With regard to accounts, the Commission asks us to inquire as to "the total receipts and disbursements for each year since the creation of the trust." We have them up to 1868 in the report of the previous Commission. Have you got them since 1868, or would you prefer to leave that matter to the Archdeacon ?—I would prefer to do so. 98. They have not been printed?— Some of them have. The accounts from 1893 have been printed in the report of the Diocesan Synod. 99. Are there any books of accounts —a cash-book or ledger—showing the state of the accounts from the beginning of the trust? —I believe there are, but they are in the possession of Archdeacon W T illiams. 100. So far as the financial affairs of the trust are concerned, the trustees, beyond seeing the accounts which were produced before the Synod, would know nothing about them? —No; they are all left to our attorney and superintendent, Archdeacon Williams. 101. Were the accounts audited ?—Yes. 102. Who appointed the auditor?— The accounts have been duly audited by one person and another. Prior to my appointment as trustee, I used to audit the accounts. Since then Mr. Kettle has audited them, and Mr. Hansard. They are competent persons. 103. Who appointed them? —I do not know if there was any proper appointment. 104. Were they asked by the trustees to audit the books?—l cannot say. The accounts have been rendered to the General Synod from time to time, and have been duly audited. 105. Did the trustees approve of the auditors who were nominated to audit the accounts? —Yes. 106. Were they reliable auditors? —Yes. There has never been any objection to the auditing of the accounts. 107. Can you say whether any moneys coming out of the trust estate have been devoted to any other schools, or applied to the creation or assistance of any other schools outside Hukarere?—None 108. Are you prepared to speak or to offer any opinion in regard to the system of education at Te Aute, more particularly on the question of technical education ?—There has been some correspondence in reference to technical education. The Archdeacon can tell you about that. 109. Are the trustees prepared to fall in with the wishes of the Education Department on that question, so far as the funds of the trust will allow ?—Most decidedly. The trustees are anxious for it, and they have never offered any objection to it. 110. Correspondence has taken place on that subject with the Government?— Yes, and it speaks for itself. 111. And the Inspector has reported from time to time on the same subject?— Yes. 112. Do you wish to offer any opinion of your own, apart from the opinion of the trustees, in regard to the question of technical education ?—I am very strongly in favour of technical education, and I think it would be a very good thing indeed if a proper course of technical education was given to the Maoris, as well as to Europeans. I have very strong opinion on this subject. The trustees are always quite willing to fall in with any suggestions in reference to technical education at the College. Of course, it is distinctly understood that the trustees do not wish to interfere with the conduct of the school, because that is left in the hands of Archdeacon Williams. 113. And up to a certain point the whole management of the trust not only in regard to the land, but also to the education at the school, was in the hands of the trustees and the Synod, and there was no Education Department in the colony at all?— That is so. 114. Then the Education Department was established and our system of national education introduced, and up to that point there was nobody to interfere with the system of education at Te Aute College?— No. 115. It was left in the hands of the Church?— Yes. Archdeacon Williams can give the Commission every information on that subject. 116. And after that the Education Department was established, and Inspectors come round and inspect these schools, and the Government, having made grants and so forth, claims to have a say in the policy in regard to the system of education ?—Yes. 117. And you admit that, and the trustees are willing to work with the Education Department on this matter of technical education?— Yes. 118. You do not wish for any friction or misunderstanding?— No. 119. Do you know anything about what moneys have been granted by the Government to the College?— Yes, they all appear in the annual accounts. 120. Has any offer been made to the trustees recently by the Government to purchase a portion of this estate? —Yes, we received this letter: " Wellington, 31st January, 1906.—Rt. Rev. Sir, —The Government has directed me to acquire more land for small settlement in Hawke's Bay, and it has been thought that the Te Aute College land, adjacent to the Argyll Settlement, would be suitable for the purpose. I beg, therefore, to suggest to you and to your board that, say,