H.—2lb

48

Trusting I have made myself clear upon the above grants, and the management up to the present date, F. Wakefield, Esq., Secretary to the Commission on I have, &c, Eeligious, Educational, and Charitable Trusts, Wellington. E. Baigent.

Copy of a Letter from B. Baigent, Esq., to the Commissionee of Grown Lands, Nelson. Sib,— Wakefield, Waimea South, 22nd November, 1860. You request me to inform you how the Church of England became possessed of a piece of land at Pitfure, Waimea South. I cannot do better than give you a brief history from the commencement of this village, relating to the above property. It is eighteen years next February since myself and others located ourselves in this district. My first care was to see to the education of our children, my own numbering six at that time ; many of my neighbours having large families also, having prevailed on my wife to open an infant school in our little whare, rather than the children should be altogether neglected. The attendance in less than three months became so many that our little room was too small for the accommodation of the children wishing to attend. At the same time a gentleman of education, having squatted on a piece of unsurveyed land, where the present school stands, with the intention of opening a store for the district, he not being very successful in his object, myself and others thought it a good chance to offer him the care of the school in his own house. Our offer being accepted by him, it became necessary to procure funds for his maintenance as schoolmaster. Having solicited the Rev. Mr. Eay, the then clergyman of this Province, he kindly agreed to pay £12 10s. per annum out of the church funds towards the support of the school; the other part of his salary was made up by ourselves, in the shape of potatoes, some cash, or the best way we could afford. The school being fairly established, went on for some time, until the children became masters of the schoolmaster. Under these circumstances the school was closed for a few months. The master then making up his mind to leave the district, the building was offered to the church for the sum of £20 or £30, which now brings me to the block of land you wish to know about. Before the schoolhouse could be purchased, it became necessary to have some security for the land on which the building stood, before the money was paid. The New Zealand Company's agent was applied to for the above object; he kindly gave the block of land, together with a piece of land that was out of Dr. England's section, he being agent also for Dr. England at the time. Upon the faith of this gift, the inhabitants collected a considerable amount in labour, timber, and cash towards the building of the church, and the repairing of the schoolhouse, and building the schoolroom. The rest of the cost was defrayed by the Bishop of New Zealand out of the church funds of the Church of England, amounting to about two hundred pounds. After being some time in possession of the land, the church and school also being completed, a portion of the said block was sold to Mr. Price by the Honourable Mr. Dillon by mistake. When the school committee heard of the above purchase they requested the Eev. Mr. Butt, the then clergyman of this Province, to inform the Honourable Mr. Dillon of the mistake he had made, which of course created a great deal of confusion, and nothing further was done until the arrival of Sir George Grey in Nelson, when the subject was brought under His Excellency's notice, to which it was agreed that Price should retain the piece which had been sold by mistake to him, and that the church should select another block as near to the church property of equal size. The selection being left to me, I chose the block you wish to know about in lieu of the portion sold. Mr. Brunner will remember that he was sent up expressly for the purpose by Mr. Dillon to measure off the present block, the which I assisted him in cutting the lines, chaining, and putting in the corner pegs. Thinking that the whole subject of the mistake then set right, the inhabitants have since that time to my knowledge expended a considerable amount in clearing and fencing in the land for the benefit of the schoolmaster, who uses the paddock to the present day. I trust that the above will satisfy you that the block was given to the Church of England by the New Zealand Company, and the latter, that was taken in lieu of what was sold by mistake, was by the sanction of Sir George Grey. I have, &c, To the Commissioner of Crown Lands, Nelson. E. Baigent. Nelson : No. 9.—On this section Mr. Lee keeps the school known as " The Bishop's School." There are forty-six boys on the books of the school at present. Mr. Lee is an excellent master, and the school is thriving. Eeligious teaching is given in accordance with the tenets of the Church of England, although all the boys do not belong to that persuasion. Collingivood : No. 30.—Nothing at present is done with it, the land being unenclosed. I believe this to have been land purchased out of church funds. Picton : No. 31.—Now occupied as the site of the parsonage. The same remark as to the acquisition of the land.

Monday, 3ed Januaey, 1870. Mr. Alexander Madkay, being duly sworn, states : I am delegate of the Governor under " The Native Reserves Act, 1862." There is no Commissioner of Native Reserves. The following paper gives a brief history of the management of the Nelson Reserves, which includes that of the Motueka grant to the Bishop of New Zealand : —