TO NATIVE SCHOOLS.

5

A.—No. 6

How could I my Lord have intended to convey such an idea to Mr. Taylor, when accounts between your Lordship's administration and myself (as manager of this College) clearly show that I have received from the rent of the glebe the sum of £81 12s and that I have paid the said money to Mr. McMullen and his wife for their services to this institution ? Such a thing, my Lord, is perfectly ridiculous, and I do hope that your Lordship will insist on the Government making Mr. Taylor explain why he put such a construction on my statement. And, my Lord, Mr. Taylor's report if not contradicted would lead persons to suppose that your Lordship was personally benefited by this institution, and that your administration really took the rents of the glebe and applied it other than the purposes for "which it was originally intended. Mr. Taylor did not consider it his duty to make himself acquainted with the fact that not only does your Lordship evince the greatest zeal and solicitude for the welfare of this institution, but that you have personalty endowed it with twenty acres of valuable land on which the College stands, and which is of more real benefit to the institution than all the grant of Sir George Grey, it produces more in the way of potatoes and vegetables of every description than would overbalance the capitation money received annually from the Colonial Government. If your Lordship did not so liberally endow the College in this way, all the reports of Messrs. Taylor and Rolleston would go very little way indeed in bringing the benefits of education to the Native and half-caste inhabitants of New Zealand. It is very much to be regretted, my Lord, that the officers of the Government have always shown an inclination to undervalue and put difficulties in the way of Christian education. It is to be hoped that the system of inspection in future will bo so conducted as that misrepresentations and (too often) prejudiced statements from inexperienced Inspectors will not bo relied on. In the mother country Inspectors are not permitted to ask any questions of teachers when inspecting schools, their only duty being that of testing the progress and general efficiency of the school, hence no such misrepresentation of facts as those of Messrs. Taylor and Rolleston ever come before the notice of the Government. Inspections such as those which have been recently made and reported upon by those two gentlemen if acted, on by the Government could materially injure institutions which are an acknowledged benefit to society, inasmuch as children educated at those establishments have always given satisfaction, and shown that they have been trained in a Christianlike manner, and surely the spirit of darkness must have great power over those Inspectors who by their prejudiced reports endeavour to destroy, or at least depreciate, the great works of education and civilization which are aimed at in these very useful and salutary institutions. In conclusion, my Lord, I hope it will appear quite clear to your Lordship and the Government that there has been a misconstruction of facts with reference to the application of the rents arising from the College glebe. At all events, I have endeavoured to show that Mr. Taylor attributed a meaning to my statement which I never intended to convey, therefore I will deem it a great favour if your Lordship will lay this letter before the proper authorities who, doubtless, are more or less anxious to have a clear explanation of the case. Humbly requesting your Lordship's holy blessing on myself and all the inmates of this College. I have, &c, Right Rev. Dr. Pompallier, Lord Bishop of Auckland, lii'GH Mcllhojte, Auckland. Manager.

Enclosure 4 in No. 1. The Eight Reverend Bishop Pompallieb to Mr. Fox. Sir,— Auckland, 25th May, 1864. Trusting in your knowledge, experience, and impartiality, and in those of the Colonial Government, and of His Excellency the Governor, I beg respectfully to lay before you and them the following statement and request: It is well known that freedom of Christian religions or communions, and equal civil protection towards them, are principles generally admitted in society at large for the sake of its peace and the union of its members. In this Colony of New Zealand the Roman Catholic youth is very numerous, and it is well known also, by experienced and unprejudiced minds, that the instruction, and specially the education and direction of scholars, are intimately connected with the creed, the doctrine, and training of the religion to which they belong. It is well known, for instance, that every Protestant communion or denomination will, habitually, find fault with the Roman Catholics if some of them would be civilly authorized to interfere by visits or inspections with the schools and pupils of the Protestants. Now if freedom of Christian religions, equality of civil protection and impartiality, would plead in their favour and make consider the above interference as a kind of religious oppression on the part of the Roman Catholics, how could the same principles approve of the interference of the Protestants on matters of education and schooling towards the Roman Catholic youth, specially when a notorious experience has showed everywhere that often religious ill-feelings influence so much the legal visitors and Inspectors in their visits and public reports as to injure not only the esteem and confidence due to the establishments of education, but also to endanger the existence of those most useful institutions to religion and society. These reflections and others of the kind induced the impartiality and wisdom of the Colonial Government for the passing of the Education Act, about six years ago, to comply with the request of a special Inspector taken amongst the Catholic and faithful subjects of the Q.ueen for visiting the schools of the Roman Catholic white youth, and for reporting on them. These measures may indeed servo very efficaciously both obedience and cordiality, and the subjects towards their temporal rulers, whosoever they may be. The above facts and reflections induce me then, Sir. to request with confidence from the Ministry 2