§ MR. CAUSTON (for Mr. WILLIS)asked the Vice President of the Council, Whether he is aware that, in the year 1868, a sum of about £17,000 was realized by the sale of certain lands belong- 467 ing to the Ashton Charity in Dunstable, which, by the consent of the Trustees of the said Charity and the sanction of the Endowed Schools Commissioners, was to be applied in the erection and endowment of a high class school in Dunstable; whether, up to the present time, no steps have been taken to carry the said purpose into effect; and, whether he can state the reasons for this protracted delay?
§ MR. MUNDELLASir, I have not been informed of the date when the £17,000 was realized; but, in 1874, proposals were made by the Trustees of Ashton's Charity for the establishment of a grammar school at Dunstable out of their trust property, which included a sum of nearly £17,000 derived from sale of lands. Out of this sum £5,000 had to be set aside for the endowment of existing elementary schools. In the year 1876 the Charity Commissioners published the draft of a scheme for the grammar school; but, owing to certain difficulties which arose, the Commissioners directed a public inquiry to be held at Dunstable into the circumstances of this Charity and of another endowed school in that town. In pursuance of the Report of the Inquiry the Charity Commissioners have made a scheme, which has been approved by Her Majesty, for one of the endowed schools of Dunstable, and a fresh draft scheme has been prepared, and has been submitted for the consideration of the Trustees, for the establishment of the Ashton Grammar School. The whole matter was under the consideration of the Board of Charity Commissioners on the 26th ultimo, and it may be anticipated that the scheme will before long be matured.