G.—s.

118

G. E. ANSON

172. From what you know of the requirements of the day and the instruction given in technical schools, should you say that the industrial training specified in the deed is fairly met by the mere carpentry classes ?—Well, I confess I find that a very hard question to answer, because I really do not know what standard of industrial training there ought to be. Personally, I am rather opposed to too much industrial training. The industrial training I should like to see given there would be chemistry and physics, including electricity, light, and heat, both practical and theoretical. Although we are doing the very best we can with the funds at our disposal, 1 confess we have not got the laboratories 1 should like to see. 173. Do you think also that the objects of the trust have been carried out faithfully in regard to the education of boys of all races? —I think we admit any who apply of ail races. 174. You do not know of any cases in which boys have been thrown out simply because they have been of another race?—l do not know of any case, and Ido not think that would be done. 175. Do you think it would be better if the headmaster were relieved of the cares and expense of carrying on the boarding establishment? —Yes, I do. 176. Is the school taught as a uniform grammar school, or does it in any sort of way specialise so as to have, for instance, a classical side or a commercial side? —No. Hitherto it has been taught as an ordinary grammar school. To specialise we should require a larger staff of masters, and we cannot afford that at present. 177. Mr. Eliott.] Was the school in your time conducted as an ordinary secondary school? -Yes. 178. Are the fees higher or lower now? —We raised them a little bit the other day. 1 cannot remember how they compare with the fees in my time. 179. It has been represented to us that these high fees at present charged are prohibitory to the class of persons for whom the grant was intended ?—But the grant was not only for poor and destitute children. There were others besides. The grant makes no reference to poverty in mentioning "our subjects of all races." I have always read the grant to be "for the children of our subjects of all races, and of other poor and destitute persons inhabiting the Pacific Islands," meaning that there may be other poor and destitute inhabitants of the Pacific Islands, not " our subjects," but who should be admitted to the benefit of our endowment. 180. Have boys of poor and destitute persons ever been refused admittance to the school? — Not that I know of. 181. Do you know whether people well off have had their children educated there free of cost? —I have never heard of it. Ido not think well-to-do people pay nearly enough. I believe myself the fees are very much less than for any school of the same sort at Home. Of course, I think the boys of poor and destitute people should be admitted free as far as they possibly can. I know Mr. Empson has let in a great many. 182. Do you know if any were admitted free in your time? —Mr. Harvey used to admit them, I think, speaking from memory, he admitted four in the upper school and four in the lower. 183. Mr. Hogben.] You are no doubt aware of the various opinions expressed lately as to the amount of cubic space necessary for each pupil in dormitories: you are doubtless aware the estimate varies from 600 up to 1,200 cubic feet?— Yes. 184. Do you think that the dormitories at Wanganui conform with the minimum of 600 cubic feet?—-I am sorry to say 1 have not got the figures of each dormitory. We have gone into that and were not satisfied with them, and we had them enlarged during the holidays. Ido not know until I measure them whether we come up to the point. Of course, it seems to me that a great deal of latitude ought to be given to these formulae as a rule. It depends very much on how much the windows are kept open. I should guess now that they had 800 ft. or 900 ft. 185. In regard to the question of manual and technical work, these are the subjects defined by the Manual and Technical Instruction Act: Elementary chemistry, elementary physics, elementary botany, and elementary geology, and one condition laid down is that each pupil must give to individual practice at least half the total time devoted to instruction. Is that what you meant by your reference to chemistry and physics being subjects of practical instruction? —I believe we do not give that proportion to individual practice. I wish we did. I think there ought to be quite half the time devoted to practical work. Our laboratories do not'at present give sufficient room for this. 186. The Chairman.] Is there any statement you wish to volunteer in regard to the trust?— No, I do not think so. Thomas Fancourt examined. 187. The Chairman.] You are Archdeacon of the Diocese of Wellington?— Yes. 188. Were you at one time a trustee of the Wanganui College?— Yes, but I have not come here to appear as a trustee. 189. You come here in response to a letter you received asking you to produce any documents in the custody of this diocese in regard to the Te Aute trust? —Yes. 190. What documents have you?—l have in my possession and produce a minute-book containing minutes in regard to the. Te Aute and Wanganui School Endowment trusts.

Friday, Bth June, 1906. The Chairman: I have received a letter from the Minister of Lands, dated 6th June, 1906, referring to the Wanganui endowment file. At the last meeting of the Commission I read a letter which T had received from the Government in regard to that file, and in reply the Commission wrote saying that all they desired to see was the correspondence relating to the issue of the first grant — the correspondence bearing on the cancellation or alleged cancellation of the grant, and the issue of