A. G. BIGNELL.]

147

&.—5.

. 39. Do you think that is carrying out the original object of the trust?—l have already said I am not sufficiently acquainted with the objects of the trust. I think it is filling a very good want as far as education is concerned, at any rate, not only in Wanganui, but in the colony too. 40. Is it, in you opinion, diffusing education amongst the children of the community, or is the advantage confined only to a few? —I think it may fairly be said that the education is going amongst the many. There is a large number of day scholars attending the school, and the fees are very reasonable. It is the boarders from outside who have to pay heavily. 41. Do you know what number of day pupils generally attend?—-I cannot say exactly. I should think there are about fifty day pupils. 42. Do you think that is a fair representation of the community here?—Of those who pay any fees at all, I should say so. 43. Then you consider this endowment, which appears to have been originally intended for what is called an industrial school and for the education of the children of the community generally, should be extended to what is termed higher education? —I think so, for the reason that the State schools supply all that is necessary in the way of ordinary education, and they are entirely free. There is no question at all but that the education given at the State schools is very good indeed. 44. You do not think it would be a proper thing to spend a portion of this money on such things as lecture-halls, free libraries, reading-rooms, museums, and educational establishments of that kind for the benefit of the community generally ?—Well, that opens up a rather large question. I think this, as well as other communities, is quite able to supply the needs you mention without any assistance from such a source as this. Of course, if there were any surplus funds 1 should say these would be very good objects to apply them to. 45. Mr, Lee.] Do you take any interest in the kind of education given there? —Yes, I know fairly well what it is. 46. Do you think, as the terms of the deed point to instruction of a technical or industrial nature, the College at present is giving education which is in touch with the times? —I think it does all that is required in that connection. It does not go in for technical training, I know, but that can easily be obtained from the other institution. I know a number of boys from the College attend the Technical School. Ido not think that in a town such as ours there is any need for two technical schools. 47. Have there been any popular complaints as to the school confining its teaching to classical education ?—I should say I have never heard of such complaints. 48. Mr. Ngata.] Have you thought out any suitable scheme of administration with reference to the control of the estate? —No; except that I think the control should be more local, and it should be in the hands of business men. 49. Do you consider the present system of administration a suitable one?— Not as far as the administration of the estate is concerned. I think the school control might be left in the hands of the trustees, but the administration of the estate should be in the hands of a different board—a board composed of men in touch with such matters and familiar with Wanganui. 50. Do you think the expense to parents is excessive for boarders?—No, not compared with other secondary schools. 51. Have you heard anything said as to the advisability or otherwise of placing the control of the school in the hands of the trustees instead of being farmed to the headmaster? —No. I have always heard that the present management is quite satisfactory. There is no question but that the boys are well taken care of. 52. Mr. Hogben.] What would be the oapital value, per acre, if the land were improved in the same way as the rest of the borough, and if there was the same demand for building-sites ?—I should say that a fair average would be £500 an acre—that is, if it were improved—not in its present state by any means. 53. Do you think the rest of the estate could be roaded for about £50 a chain? —Yes, roughly that. Robert Holden Makgill examined. 54. The Chairman.] What are you? —District Health Officer, Wellington District. 55. You have been asked to come here to give evidence about the sanitary state of the school? — Yes. 56. How often have you visited the school? —A great number of times during the last two years. 57. What is your opinion with reference to the sanitary condition of the school?—-It is satisfactory. 58. Have you any suggestions to make regarding it?—Of course, the school buildings are oldfashioned and out of date according to our ideas of what a modern school should be, but there is . no urgent need for renewing the school building at present. The health of the scholars is certainly not suffering by the sanitary condition. Some months- ago I made observations upon the amount of carbonic acid in the class-rooms and dormitories, and I repeated the experiments last night, and I may say I was surprised at the excellent condition of the ventilation in the dormitories, because the arrangements are not in accordance with modern ideas, and I did not think it possible that the dormitories could be so well ventilated as they are. 59. Have you tested it in the summer-time?— The last test I made was in February or March. It was warm weather. The ventilation of the rooms was satisfactory. 60. Mr. Hogg.] You think the air-space in the dormitories is sufficient for the number of boys occupying the rooms? —It is not theoretically sufficient. The ideal air-space is a good deal more than is provided; but for all practical purposes it is sufficient. The health of the scholars is in noway suffering. A healthier lot of boys I never had the pleasure of seeing anywhere. And another: thing, the tests of air showed that the ventilation is sufficient. So much depends in ventilating a room'upon the amount of air actually going through it. It is supposed that you must not change