H.—2l

22

Lot 19a, Section 25, 2 roods, City of Auckland—School. The Very Eeverend Father McDonald states : I know the above-named property, on which stand the buildings known as St. Patrick's Schools. They are built substantially, and have an average attendance of about forty scholars, all boys. They were erected about seventeen years ago. The attendance has greatly diminished, in consequence of the removal of many families to the Thames. The school is in the charge of a certificated teacher, and is well furnished with all appliances, such as maps, &c, which are kept in excellent order. The withdrawal of Government allowance has materially crippled this school, as well as all others, but it is still in operation. There is a dwelling-house there also, partly occupied by the teacher, partly for the accommodation of the clergy from the out-stations visiting Auckland. There is also a building formerly occupied as a select school (called St. Francis de Sales), now given up, and now used as a reading-room and library. There was not a sufficiency of support from the population to maintain the select school. All the common schools are, however, maintained. I wish to add that I believe the Natives would generally greatly regret to see the College at the North Shore finally abandoned; also, that the schools conducted by the Sisters of Mercy gave instruction of a very superior class. The same rule as to the free admission of all scholars, without distinction, applies to all our schools which has been already referred to in the case of that of the Sisters of Mercy. I am not aware of any grants of public money, other than capitation money, made to any of the schools, except that of the North Shore. There are no conveyances of any of these properties in trust to any bodies of trustees. All these vest in the Bishop, with the exception of the property in Nelson Street, sold to Mr. Cochrane, and the land at the North Shore, conveyed, as above stated, to Mr. Chamberlin and Mr. Swanson. I take this opportunity of expressing my gratitude, in the absence of the Bishop and the VicarGeneral, to the Government for the assistance and encouragement that they have always given to the cause of education, and an earnest wish that institutions of such importance may continue to experience that assistance.

Tuesday, 30th March, 1869. Present: Mr. Hart and Mr. Gisborne. Lot 1, Section 14, 1 acre, Onehunga — Church Site. Eev. Father Paul, specially requesting to be excused from the administration of the oath, states : My name is James Paul. I reside at Onehunga, and am a Boman Catholic priest. I know the allotment on which the Eoman Catholic Church at Onehunga stands, but I cannot recognize it by the numbers of the allotment and section. The plan in the record book resembles it in position. The church and schools erected on this land cost about £1,700, raised from private sources. Of this the school, a wooden building on scoria foundations, cost from £600 to £700. The church is of wood, and was built about seventeen or eighteen years back. It would accommodate about 250 persons. The schools consist of a common school, a select school, and a boarding school, all for girls. The average attendance during the past five years, about sixty to seventy, now fallen to about forty-five. The buildings are all in good repair. There is also a boys' school, with an average attendance, for the last seven years, of about fifty-five, now reduced to about twenty-five. There is also a hall used for an institute, erected, about two years back, at an expense of over £300. This sum includes voluntary labour as well as actual expenditure. The object of this building was as a reading-room and lecture-hall, in connection with a " Young Men's Society." It is essentially a Eoman Catholic institution, but the schools are open to all denominations to make use of. Lots 1, 3, 5, 7, Section 10, Onehunga — Glebe. The Eeverend Father Paul states : I know the lots occupied as the glebe, but cannot recognize the sectional numbers. These lots are fenced and occupied as a glebe. Lot 9, Section 10, 1 acre, Onehunga — Cemetery. The Eeverend Father Paul states: This lot lies contiguous to the glebe and to the church site. It is used for the purpose of the trust, and is fenced. There is no charge made for the ground. None of these properties have at any time been leased or used otherwise than for the direct uses of the trust, so far as lam aware. 1 have been resident at Onehunga nearly eleven years. Lot 7, Section 7, 1 acre, Otahuhu — -Church Site. The Eeverend Father O'Hara, specially requesting to be excused from the administration of the oath, states: My name is Michael Dominic O'Hara. I am resident at Otahuhu, and am a Eoman Catholic priest. I know the allotment on which the church at Otahuhu is built; it is fenced. The building of the church is of wood, and it will accommodate 300 persons comfortably. On the same acre stand also a convent and a day-school, with an attendance, during the last quarter, of twenty-eight pupils, boys and girls. It is a select school, the common school being on another site. The convent and school were built at the expense of the Sisters of Mercy, without any aid from Government. These buildings are nearly new, having been erected not more than three years back. The church is in good repair. Lots 8 and 10, Section 7, and Lot 9, Section 11, 4 acres, Otahuhu — Glebe. The Eeverend Father O'Hara states : This land is occupied by me. No part of it is leased. It is in two portions. Three acres of it lie contiguous to the church site; the remaining one acre is on the other side of the road.