A.—No. 3.

72

RELIGIOUS, CHARITABLE, AND

City of Dunedin, Resorve No. 6, 5 perches. — Site for Mechanics' Institute. Charles Smith, being duly sworn states (Record copy, book P. 1, p. 1, produced) : I am Clerk to the Provincial Council. I know this piece of land. It is not occupied as a site for a Mechanics' Institute. It is used as a part of the public street; it widens High Street on one side, and Rattray Street on the other. The Athenaeum and Mechanics' Institute is at present on a section at the corner of Manse and High Streets, belonging to the City Council. A new building is in course of erection in the Octagon, on a site purchased by the institution with funds provided for the purpose by the Provincial Government, as compensation for the land in this grant. City of Dunedin, 3 acres of Town Belt. — Church of England Cemetery. Mr. Henry Frederick Hardy, being duly sworn, states : (Record copy, book 2a, p. 43, produced.) lam an architect, and Secretary to the Church of England Cemetery Committee. I know this piece of ground. It is used as a cemetery by the Church of England in Dunedin. It is enclosed, and has been duly consecrated. It is laid out and planted, and is kept in good order. City of Dunedin, Section 43, Block 13, 1 rood. (Record copy, book 2a 7, p. 160, produced.) I know this ground. It is occupied as a site for a Sunday school. It is a wooden building, about 40 x2O feet. The ground is enclosed, but not profitably occupied. The building is occupied as a school on week days, at a rent of 10s. a week, which is administered by the Vestry of St. Paul's. Town of Oamaru. — Sections 13 and 14, Block 26, 2 roods. (Record copy, book 2a 9, p. 86, produced.) I was, until a very late date, Bishop's Registrar for the Diocese of Dunedin. I produce the Record Book of the Church of England property in the diocese. The land covered by this grant is occupied as the site of St. Luke's Church, at Oamaru. I am not aware that it is used otherwise. Green Island Bush, Section 13, 10 acres 2 roods. — School Site. Alexander George Allan, being duly sworn, states (Record copy, book P. 2, p. 33, being produced) : lam schoolmaster at Green Island. I know this piece of land. The school is built upon it. The rest of the land is occupied as a cattle run, paying rent to the Inspector of Schools and Secretary to Education Board, who can give full particulars. The school is in full operation ; average attendance about 60. Green Island Bush, Section 14, 10 acres 2 roods. — Cemetery. (Record copy, book P2, p 32, produced.) I know this land. About one and a quarter acre is used as a cemetery. It is enclosed by a wire and thorn fence. The ground is kept in good order. The rest of the land is occupied as a cattle run, but I cannot say to whom the rent is paid.

Friday, 29th April, 1870. Town of Lawrence, Sections 10 and 11, 17 perches. — Site for Mechanics' Institute. James Clark Broion, being duly sworn, states: lam a Member of the House of Representatives for Bruce. I am also President of the Lawrence Athenaeum. (Record copy, book P. 2, p. 158, produced.) I know this land. It was originally given to the institution for a site for a building, but was found unsuited for the purpose, from being subject to floods. It was then set aside, by authority of the Superintendent, as an endowment for the institution. Another site was selected and surveyed, and the institution was built upon it. The land granted and described above has been leased by the Committee for a term of years at a small annual rental —a bonus having been paid at the time of agreement of £75, which went to the Building Fund. The present hall was built from the funds of the institution, supplemented by a vote of the Provincial Council. The building is of brick, consisting of a large lecture hall, with reading-room and library. It is about 60 feet by 28 feet. It cost about £600.

Friday, 29th April, 1870. Green Island Bush, Section 13, 10 acres 2 roods.- — School Site. John Hislop being duly sworn, states : lam Secretary to the Otago Education Board. (Record copy, book P. 2, p. 33, produced). I know the land in question. About an acre is fenced off, and used as a site for school-house and playground. The remainder, being about nine acres, is leased to James Scott, as arable land, at an annual rent of £9. This money, in common with all other rents from School Reserves, is administered in accordance with the provisions of " The Education Reserves Management and Leasing Ordinance, 1864," sections 6 and 7. On the question of Educational Reserves generally, I hand in— 1. A yearly Abstract of the Accounts from 13th November, 1867, to 31st March, 1870. 2. Regulations and Conditions for the Leasing of Education Reserves, 6th April, 1867. 3. Extracts from Secretary's Reports to Education Board relating to the administration of Education Reserves for the years 1866, 1867, 1868, 1869. City of Dunedin, Block 13, Sections 12, 13, 47, 48, 49, 50, 51, 52, 53, 54, 2 acres 2 roods. (Record copy, book P. 2, p. 49, produced.) I know this land. It is occupied wholly as site and playground for the Provincial High School. The school is a large stone building, serving the purposes of school and rector's residence. The school is capable of containing 150 pupils. The number at present in attendance is about 84. The remainder of the Educational Reserves in this Province are variously appropriated, some