9

H.—2l

maintenance of the school, excepting a small balance handed over by Mr. Maunsell to the School Trust. All the lands comprised in these and other grants in the Waikato District are originally Native gifts. The buildings on the Kohanga estate are now insured for £200, but are falling into decay, and will not be worth re-insuring. 1,385 acres Taupiri, Waikato — School. Sir William Martin, being duly sworn, states (Eecord copy, Eeg. iv., No. 90, Grant of 1,385 acres land on Waikato Eiver, called " Hopuhopu," produced): There were schools, under the superintendence of the Eev. B. Y. Ashwell, at Taupiri, when this grant was issued. The same remarks as to the distribution of public moneys apply to these schools also, which have been made in reference to the preceding case. In the year 1855 there was an average attendance of forty-five scholars, and for the year ending March, 1857, of fifty-eight. The school ceased about the same time and under the same circumstances as that of Kohanga. After Mr. Ashwell removed, both the estates were neglected until occupied, early in 1867, by Eev. Lonsdale Pritt. With a view to the re-establishment of a school by that gentleman, the trustees have expended in repairs of the buildings, wire fencing, milch cattle, &c, a sum of £260 or thereabouts. Mr, Pritt is also, by special arrangement with the Native Minister, in receipt of Government aid. In 1867, the trustees agreed to give Mr. Pritt a lease of the house and five acres, at the rate of one year for every £10 spent in permanent additions to the house; also, they have agreed to let to him, in aid of the school, 100 acres of the estate for seven years at a nominal rent. He is allowed permissive occupation of the remainder of the land, subject to be determined at a quarter's notice, in case of an eligible tenant being found. In this, and in all the other schools in the Waikato District, so long as they were in operation, the terms of the Trust, viz., Industrial training, religious education, and instruction in the English language, were fully complied with. Eev. Bobert Burrows, being duly sworn, states : Mr. Ashwell erected school buildings capable of accommodating a master and. from fifteen to twenty scholars, on this block, and effected considerable improvements. This building has been added to by Mr. Pritt, and is now used as his dwelling-house. With my permission (as agent of the Church Missionary Society), Mr. Pritt moved from Mr. Ashwell's station at Taupiri, the school buildings formerly erected there with Government money, to be used for the same purpose on their new site. He has also erected dormitories for pupils, and several outbuildings with a view to farming purposes ; he has cleared from twenty to thirty acres of the land formerly cultivated, but very much overgrown during the war, and states that he has spent some £400 of his own money, in addition to sums received from the Board and from the Government, in improvements on the land and in additions to the buildings. I think he will be entitled, under the conditions stated by Sir W. Martin, to about fourteen years' lease of the five acres of land and house. He has at present about five Native scholars; but Mr. Searancke, E.M., was proposing to make arrangements whereby an additional number would be placed under his care. Under the agreement with Mr. Pritt, he would be entitled to the house and land leased to him, even if no school were maintained there. The buildings are insured. 133 acres 3 roods, Pepepe, Waikato — School. Eev. Bobert Burrows, being duly sworn, states (Eecord copy, Eeg. iv., No. 72, Grant of 133 acres 3 roods land on the Waikato Eiver, known as " Pepepe," produced) : During the continuance of Mr. Ashwell's school portions of this estate were cultivated for the use of the school. When that was abandoned the land became overgrown, and nothing further is now done, except that a Native, who is in charge of the land, is allowed to cultivate patches of it for his own benefit. No permanent buildings were ever erected on this land. Note.—For further information as to position of Waikato Beligious and Educational Grants, see letter of Mr. Commissioner Heale, 17th April, 1869, Appendix. Lots 1, 2, and 3, 4 acres 36 perches, Orakei — Church, School, and Cemetery. Eev. Bobert Burrows, being duly sworn, states (copy of Eecord copy, Eeg. iv., A. No. 120, Grant of 4 acres 36 perches, allotments Nos. 1, 2, and 3, at Orakei, produced): There was a building on the ground, occupied as a church and school, at the time of the grant, and it exists still. Divine service is regularly maintained, but the school ceased to be held at the death of the Eev. Pirimona te Karori, who was drowned at Kaipara about five years back, and has not been resumed. The congregation fluctuates from twelve to forty or more. The building is falling into decay. The cemetery is used, but is not in a very good state. 4 acres, Papakura, adjoining Lot 4, Opaheke — Church, School, and Cemetery. Sir William Martin, being duly sworn, states (copy of Eecord copy, Eeg. iv., A. No. 121, Grant of 5 acres, land adjoining lot 4, parish of Opaheke, produced) : This land came into the possession of the present trustees in September or October, 1868, with a galvanized iron shed thereon, and has been let to Mr. Alfred Buckland at a rent of £10 per. annum, under covenant to return the land fenced and the shed in good repair. This shed was erected by the military Imperial authorities, by whom the land was for a time occupied. No church, school, or cemetery exists, or has as yet existed, on this ground. 2—H. 21.