H.—2l
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about "twenty-five Native pupils, subsequently got rid of. The rental of the estate (about £84), and the capitation on two children at £5 per head, are the only revenue of the establishment. Exclusive of the principal and any interest due by Bishop Pompallier, as above referred to, the College is in debt about £250. This debt consists of my salary as teacher, about £150, and bills of groceries, &c, for which I am responsible, about £100. When I went to the institution I had no certificate from the Board of Education. It was arranged that so long as I continued so uncertificated I was to receive £50 per annum from the funds of the institution, together with board and lodging. This was of the services of myself and of my wife, who acts as matron. As soon as I obtained a certificate that amount was to be reduced by the institution to £25. I got my certificate in June, 1865. I should then be entitled to £50 per annum from the Provincial Government, which sum was paid to me up to December, 1867. Shortly after this the Education Act was repealed, the old arrangement with the institution still subsisting. I have never received any money on account of salary from the institution, and consider myself entitled to revert to the sum of £50 from the date of the repeal of the Education Act, when Provincial salary ceased. On this calculation the amount owing to me up to the end of the current month is £150. I know of no other debts owing by the institution beyond what I have named. At present the twenty acres of the College grounds produce nothing beyond what arises from two cows which graze on them. Previously to this year the produce raised from this land by the pupils, under the direction of the farmer above named (whose salary has been paid), was all consumed on the premises. I know of no other endowment of the College than what I have named. There were priests and students resident at the College. They would not number more than two as continuously resident, on the average. The institution was credited with the cost of their board. They used to teach in the school. I am responsible for my management to the Bishop, and in his absence to the Vicar-General. While the Bishop was here he did not administer the funds, but only caused the accounts to be inspected and verified. In his absence I consider the Vicar-General to stand in the same position to me. The school has been periodically inspected by the Government. The last inspection was by Mr. Eyton, within the last nine months. I have seen his report, which was laid before the House of Eepresentatives in its last session. It was generally favourable. There was also a Provincial inspection, under the Provincial Education Act. This was held by a priest appointed by the Bishop, and known as the "Special Inspector "of Eoman Catholic Schools. This "special inspector" was Dr. James McDonald. I cannot state from my own knowledge when the buildings were erected, but I think it was in the time of Bishop Viard, and about twenty years ago. They are at present in a state of tolerable, but not of good, repair. I do not believe that the College was wholly built at the cost of the Government, but I have heard that the Colonial Government gave a sum of from £1,600 to £1,800 to complete the buildings. I have heard of grants being made from time to time, but all such were previous to my personal knowledge. I am aware that there exists a lien on the allotment of land on which the College stands, but I know of none affecting the endowment estate. Out of the twenty acres which the allotment first named is supposed to contain, sixteen acres—not including the actual site, so far as I believe — have been sold under a mortgage-deed made by the Bishop to a Mr. Chamberlin, that gentleman being himself, I think, the purchaser. The remaining four acres, containing the College site, I think, was some time ago taken in execution at the suit of Allan O'Neill, for a debt of about £300, which became due by a promissory note made by Bishop Pompallier in favour of myself, and bearing O'Neill's indorsement, and which was dishonoured on being presented. These four acres, I believe, have been sold to Mr. William Swanson, who paid the debt to the Sheriff. I believe he has bound himself to give up the land at any time within the next eighteen months, provided the money so advanced by him be repaid, together with interest thereon. This undertaking also binds Mr. Swanson not to interfere during that period with the working of the College. Unless it be done at the expense of Government, I fear there is no other source from which funds are likely to be derived for resuscitating the College. I wish to add that since the departure of Bishop Pompallier the rents of the endowment estate have been wholly applied to the maintenance of the institution. Gentlemen,— St. Mary's College, North Shore, 26th March, 1869. In continuation of my evidence I beg to submit the following:—SCHEDULE OF LEASES. 1. Mr. Patrick Melavin. Date of lease, 23rd September, 1863. For twenty-one years. Thirty acres at £4 per annum. 2. Mr. James Kelly. Date of lease, 23rd September, 1863. Seventy-one acres at 2s. 6d. per acre for first seven years, ss. for the second, and 7s. 6d. for third. 3. Mr. James Fitzpatrick. Date of lease, 23rd September, 1863. For twenty-one years. Forty-five acres on the same terms as Mr. Kelly (No. 2). Amount of arrears, £10 18s. 9d. 4: John De Courcy Ireland. Date of lease, lst January, 1866. Ten acres at £4 10s. per annum. Length of lease, only five years. 5. Mr. Daniel O'Connor. Date of lease, lst October, 1866. Sixty acres at 2s. per acre for twenty-one years. Amount of arrears, £6. 6. Mr. Thomas Nicholson. Date of lease, lst of January, 1867. One hundred acres, at £50 per annum for first ten years, and £60 per annum for residue of twenty-one years. Amount of arrears, £37 10s. 7. A tribe of Natives occupy the balance at a promised yearly rental of £10. Amount of arrears, about £10.
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