TV B. MACLEAN/

161

Ct.—s:

58. Mr. Hogben.] Do the trustees hold that they are bound to give industrial training to all boys ?—No. 59. In the same phrase the grant says the trustees shall give religious instruction : do they hold themselves bound to give religious instruction to all the boys ?—Yes. 60. Why make the distinction when the two phrases go together ?—Of course, that is not very difficult to answer, because we have nothing to do with the meaning of that phrase. We are trustees for the General Synod, and according to the terms of our trust from the General Synod we have to give religious instruction. I should like to read the declaration that I and every other trustee make, to show our position under the trust: "I, A. 8., do declare my submission to the authority of the General Synod of the Branch of the United Church of England and Ireland in New Zealand established by a constitution agreed to on the 13th day of June, 1857, and to all the provisions of the constitution. And I further consent to be bound by all the regulations whicii may from time totime be issued by the authority of the said General Synod, and I hereby undertake, in consideration of being appointed, immediately to resign my appointment, together with all the rights and emoluments appertaining thereto, whenever I shall be called upon so to do by the General Synod, or by any person or persons lawfully acting under the authority of the General Synod in that behalf." 61. The Chairman.] Mr. Eliott asked me to put this question: Whether any extra fees are payable for commercial education?— There is no commercial master appointed by the trustees. I believe there is some private arrangement at the school. 62. That extra fee is payable to some special master?— Yes; but I have no official knowledge of it. 63. With regard to the proposed new building, I think you favour the site across the railwayline? —I do. I think that would be a suitable site for any new building. I think it must be done, because I think the present site is too valuable for such a purpose. 64. Mr. Hogg.] You were referring to the cost of improving the piece of land it is proposed to cut up and put on the market, and you stated it was estimated to cost £18,000: are you aware that half of that money was intended to be applied to the main drain that would drain the estate? — Yes. 65. And Mr. Bignell said he considered the bulk of that, if not the whole of that cost, should be borne by the Borough Council?—l did notice that. 66. There is also a sum in his estimate of £3,300 for water-mains and sewers which should also be borne by the local authority ?—They have refused in the past to bear the expense of the sewers. 67. Well, I think he stated the cost of road-formation according to the requirements of the Borough Council was only £6,144? —The trustees would jump at an opportunity of that sort. 68. Providing the Borough Council bore the rest of the cost?— Yes. 69. Do you think the trustees would be prepared to bear a moiety of the £9,000 for the main drain?— Well, you see I am absolutely certain the borough, to begin with, will insist on the trustees doing the whole of the drainage. They have in the past. 70. Has the Borough Council been approached by the trustees in regard to that?— They were in regard to the Liverpool Street Extension, and the borough insisted on the trustees paying the whole of the sewerage to connect with the main drain. 71. Assuming the total cost should be £18,000, do you think the trustees would be prepared to find half of that sum?—ln my opinion, yes. 72. In that case it would be a fair solution of the difficulty, and you believe the trust would be greatly benefited by making use of the property?—l do. 73. As one of the trustees, would you be prepared to make that offer to the Borough Council?— It is awkward to answer that without consulting my fellow-trustees; but allowing for any change of opinion their opinion might effect upon me, I certainly should, be. 74. As a trustee, you would be prepared to recommend it to your colleagues, and have it submitted to the Council?— Yes, subject to the reservation that the other trustees by their arguments might change my view. But I know they are very keen for this work. 75. With, regard to this system of denominational education, have you perused the deed of grant yourself ?—Yes. 76. Do you think it was intended that the endowment should be applied to a strictly denominational school, and nothing else?—-No; Ido not know I should say that, I think it evidently implies that the religious instruction would be such as would be given by the Church of England. 77. But not the religious education of any particular Church?— The Act of Parliament of 1858 allowed the Bishop to convey this to the General Synod of the Church of England, and therefore it, must have been contemplated that the teaching of the Church of England would be given. 78. And you say the trustees are bound to give the children religious education?— Yes. 79. But do you think the trustees have the right to compel children to accept any particular form of religious instruction? —I do not think it is a question of compelling, because the parents are at liberty to send a child or to keep him away. 80. But if children are excluded from the school because they belong to any particular denomination, is that not compulsion?— Well, I think it is quite clear in my mind it has been the custom and is now the custom of the school to refuse boarders who will not attend the College chapel, and I do not think that rule would be altered by the present trustees. 81. Then you would not be prepared to put denominational education on the same basis as some of the extras, such as music, and make it simply optional?— Personally, I would not. 82. But you think on the whole the trust is being administered in accordance with the original intention of the promoters?—As nearly as feasible. 83. Do you think the system of education pursued there is beneficial to the community?— The community strongly approves of it apparently. I have liad two sons there, and I consider they have had an education in the very highet sense of the word.

2i—a. 5.