G.—s.

154

[w.EMPSON.

school furniture. New dormitory, £70. Then there was half the sum for enlargement of the dining-room, £42. We put in new bath-rooms, £88. We built Mr. Watson's house, £1,250; a new laundry, £60; alterations to private house, £150; cricket-shed and new building, £50. That represents our expenditure roughly, but there are a good lot of other things. 218. The grant says that the school is to be established " for our subjects of both races " : is it so?— Yes; the school is open to any boy of good character. 219. It also says: " and to the children of other poor and destitute persons " : is the school open to the children of poor and destitute persons? —If they can get scholarships, or sometimes when they cannot afford to pay the fees. There are some boys who have qualified for Education Board scholarships; but there have not been enough scholarships to go round. Any boy who so qualifies is admitted free. 220. Have you given free education to many boys ?—Yes. 221. The sons of people in this district? —Yes. 222. Do you give industrial training?—We have a carpenter's shop. About fifty boys learn carpentering. There is also a printing-office, where the boys do all the small printing jobs for the College. 223. Have you had many complaints from parents that their sons were not admitted on application ?—I can only remember one case recently, and there was one a long time ago. 224. Would there be any appeal from your decision to the trustees ?—Yes. 225. Having regard to the altered circumstances, the progress of the school, &c, in your opinion, have the terms of the trust been substantially performed?— Yes, I should say so. 226. Mr. Hogg.] Is there plenty of room for additional boys if they applied?—No; we are quite full now. We could take a few more day-scholars perhaps; but the whole buildings and general run of the establishment do not admit of many more being taken. I should think we could take an additional dozen day-boys perhaps. 227. Can you give us an approximate idea of the number of refusals?—No; but I can give you the number at the beginning of the term. I have never refused a day-boy at all. It only applies to boarders. I refused eight or nine at the beginning of this year. 228. You have not had to decline many?—No; the school keeps about the same standard. Occasionally we have to refuse a few. 229. I think the total cost, including board, but exclusive of music, (fee, amounts to £70 lis. 6d. ? —I do not think it comes to so much as that. Music is an entirely voluntary subject, and it is an extra. Ido not think you can put the amount down at more than £63 a year—the whole cost. The workshop is only ss. 230. Then, in the case of a family of four boys, the cost would be £240 if they came as boarders? —Yes. There used to be a reduction in the case of brothers, but we afterwards found that brothers ate just as much as other boys, and we stopped it. 231. You know the ability of the majority of parents to pay : do you think that a large proportion of the families in the community as a whole can take advantage of this system of education?— Yes, a very large number. Judging from the general prosperity of the country, I should say that a very large number of families are well able to afford to pay. 232. You consider that the object of the trust has been carried out?—l do. 233. Mr. Lee.] What is the lowest age at which pupils are admitted? —I do not like to have them under twelve years, and prefer them about thirteen. 234. Must they have passed any particular standard of the primary schools?—We have no particular regulation about it. As a matter of fact, nearly all the boys could pass an examination equivalent to the Fifth Standard. 235. What number of pupils have you in the lowest class?— About twenty-two. 236. Is Latin taught throughout the school?—lt is not compulsory. There are about thirtyfive boys who do not learn Latin. 237. What course of instruction do such boys take up?— They take up the commercial course. 238. You have a commercial side to the school? —You could hardly say it was exactly a commercial side. 239. Do the boys learn any other language besides English?— They all learn French. 240. Do you think the school buildings afford you the accommodation you desire?—No; I cannot say they do. If you look at English public-school buildings you cannot be satisfied with the buildings we have here. But the buildings are much better than they formerly were. lam fairly ■well satisfied with the buildings we have now. 241. Have you any Maoris at the school?—No; we have several half-castes. 242. Are there any boys in the school who are treated as poor boys, whose fees are remitted? — Yes; but I have not got the number. 243. What is the value of the remittances? —Up to "1901 it averaged £400 a year. 244. Are these poorer boys residents of Wanganui, or do they come from all parts of the colony? —From all parts of the colony. 245. Have they more or less pleaded poverty to you? —Yes, in most cases. We have always gone in the direction of the remission of fees in cases of poverty, combined with excellence of character, not for quickness in work. 246. You also receive Education Board scholarship boys?— Yes. 247. How many have you? —Five at the present time. 248. Are there any scholarships given in the school itself?— Yes. 249. Is the school inspected by gentlemen specially appointed. 250. Would you have any objection to the Education Department inspecting the school—that is, having the inspection made by some officer whom they considered suitable?— That is hardly a question for me to answer. It is a matter for the trustees. 251. At the present time you have practically settled the curriculum, with the consent of the trustees? —Yes.