A.—No. 3.

EDUCATIONAL RESERVES.

13

Mr. "William Clark and myself are treasurers of tlie funds arising from the grant for the Wesleyan College Eeserve at Wellington. I will furnish a copy of the New Zealand Wesleyan Model Deed. I hope that the Commissioners will perceive that the object of the trustees has been throughout to appropriate the proceeds of this land to the object contemplated by the original grant, viz., the advancement of education, as, whatever the powers given or assumed, the money itself has not been diverted into any other channel, but is being put out to interest to increase it for the same purposes. I know the land comprised in grant, page 15, 14.2. E. It is land purchased with trust money belonging to the Wesleyan Society, which, money is a part of the proceeds of the sale of the chapel pew rents, &c, which was devoted to the purchase of land, there not being room on the ground for the site of a school that we had desired to put up. It was altogether a private purchase. The Eev. William Kirk stated that, as far as his knowledge goes, he concurs in all that Mr. Lewis has stated.

Presbyterian Church.

Evidence taken before Mr. Domett, at Wellington. Memorandum for the information of the Commission, by Mr. R. R. Strang. In 1841, when Governor Hobson first visited Wellington, the Rev. Mr. McFarlane, the first clergyman sent out by the Established Church of Scotland, waited upon His Excellency, accompanied by Mr. Strang and some of the first Colonists. His Excellency pointed out a convenient site for the erection of a Scottish church. The section had 100 feet frontage on the beach, and I obtained a grant in the name of the trustees, and Mr. Hart has that grant in his possession now. This is the section on which the Scottish church is built. As the building of the Court House adjoining required a larger frontage, twenty feet of the section appropriated for the Scottish Church was exchanged for land to the amount of £200, with the Superintendent, Dr. Featherston. This land was taken in the Manawatu, and the present rental is applied to church purposes. Grant, 1 rood 18 perches. With regard to the grant No. 40, containing 1 rood 18 perches, I beg to state that it was purchased by a private subscription, and a grant issued in the names of the trustees mentioned in the Schedule, and who were the gentlemen contributing the money. Wellington, 24th February, 1870.

Memorandum for the information of the Commission, by Mr. D. Ramie, Clerk to the Kirk Session of the Church of Scotland. I beg to inform the Commission of Inquiry into Religious and other Trusts, that the objects of the grant (No. 25 on the Schedule, area 1 rood 12 perches) to the trustees of the Presbyterian Kirk of Scotland have been carried out, St. Andrew's Scottish Church having been built thereon. Wellington, 24th February, 1870.

Evidence taken before Mr. Hart, at Wanganui. Tuesday, 13th Octobee, 1869. Lots 149, 150, 155, 156, Town of Wanganui, 1 acre. — Church Site. Mr. Taylor, being duly sworn, states: My name is Thomas Ballardee Taylor; residence, Wanganui. lam a merchant. I know the land comprised in Crown Grant referred to, as recorded No. 14.2 8., folio 177. In the year 1854 the land was fenced in. After that a church was built, and opened for public service on Sunday, 18th August, 1856. The building was also used as a Sunday school. It was destroyed by fire last year. The old building had been removed to a different part of the ground, and a new church was nearly completed on its site, when both were destroyed by fire. A new residence was also built upon the land, which is now standing. The dwelling house is occupied by the Rev. Mr. Elmslie. Preparations are in course of being made to erect a building on the same plan and on the same ground, and part of the materials are collected for the purpose. The managers for the congregation entertain hopes that this building will be complete and ready for occupation in the course of twelve months from this time. The building was calculated to hold 400 sitters without the galleries, but when the galleries should be completed, to hold 600. The sittings are charged for at £1 per year each. No portion of the land is let for any purpose. The contract prices of the buildings were together about £2,300, and considerable alterations were made in the course of erection, which would have brought the total cost to near £3,000. The intended building is estimated to cost £2,000. The buildings were of timber, and shingled. The bell cost about £90. Services were regularly performed in the old church until the arrival of the Rev. Mr. Elmslie, shortly after which the congregation so increased as to necessitate the removal of their meetings, pending the erection of the new church, to the Oddfellows' Hall, wherein Divine service has been celebrated for the last two years. The Sunday school, attended on an average by 100 children, has also been held in the Oddfellows' Hall during that period. lam one of the trustees of the property. A quarter of an acre of the ground is laid out as a garden for the manse. Mr. Bamber, being duly sworn, states: My name is Thomas Bamber. I reside at Wanganui, and am a blacksmith. lam one of the trustees of the property above referred to. I corroborate the evidence of Mr. Taylor above set forth.

Primitive Methodist Church.

Mehoeandttm for the information of the Commission",, communicated by the Eev. Eobeet Waed. The grant (No. 35 on the Schedule, area 1 rood) was purchased with funds sent out from England by 4