AN EDUCATIONAL INQUIRY.

Auckland Star, Volume XXXI, Issue 103, 2 May 1900, Page 8

AN EDUCATIONAL INQUIRY.

THE NEWMAEKET SCHOOL

This afternoon a special meeting of the Auckland Board of Education was held in order to conduct an in-

quiry into the circumstances connected with the applications for the headmastership of. the Newmarket public school, and the selection of Mr Denis O'Donoghue as headmaster. Mr L. J. Bagnall (chairman of the Board) presided, and the other members of the Board present were: Messrs W. Eambe, McKenzie, McLeod, J. Blades, J.{. Farrell S. Luke and Dr. McArthur. Mr O'Donoghue was also present in company^ with his solicitor, Mr W. J. Napier. The members of the Newmarket School Committee and several witnesses were also present. . Mr J. 11. Caston, of Newmarket, was

the first witness examined. He said that as a member oj: the School Com-

mittee he protested on two grounds

(1) That Mr Bishop, one of those who voted at the ejection by the School Committee, was not leg-ally one of the Committee at the time; and (2) that Mr O'Donog-hue had canvassed members of the Committee. Mr O'Donog'hne came to his house on the night of the election, and spoke to him, but did not canvass him personally, or ask him for his vote. He asked where Mv Bishop lived, and witness directed Mr O'Donoghueto the house. He sow Mr O'Donog-liuespeak to Mr Bishop. There was nothing in what Mr O'Donoghne said that could be taken as asking' Mr Caston to vote for him. Neither on this nor on any other occasion did Mr O'Donoghue ask him for his vote. In answer to questions by members of: the Board Mr Caston said he thought that the fact of Mr O'Donoglme ccmioii 1 to him and speaking to him meant canvassing*. He called it camjfissing" also speaking to Mr Bishop. Witness knew Mr O'Donog--l:iie "for some 1() years.

Dr. McArtlmr: But do you consider tlii.s otherwise harmless visit to you as a friend canvassing-? Mr Caston: What right had he to call on me at all?

. Mr Napier, in cross-examining- Mr Caston." read the protest of the disseniing1 members of the school committee" against Mr O'Donog-hue's appointment, and asked: '"Who wrote that?" .' .

Mr Caston: Mr Ferguson, assistant teacher at the Wellesley-strcet school, wrote it at our dictation. There were foxir cf us there. It was written at' my house. It was ■ previously written in pencil before Mr Fergus&n

clinic. Mv Napier: Who wrote it in pencil? Mr Caston: Mr Foster did. yiv Foster: I didn't. (Laughter). Mr Napier, in answer to the chair-

nwn, -said he desired to prove that this protest was a ccaicocticfa ag-ninst Mr O'Donog-liue.

Mr Caston, in further examination, snid Mr Ferguson came in with a friend of his (Mr Caston's). Mr Napier: Who was that friend? Ml* Caston: I'm .not going to tell you. In answer to farther questions, Mr Castcn said he did not 'say anything about it being necessary to exclude

Mr O'Donoghue because he was not a J member of the Educational Institute, j Mr Ferguson did not come there de- j signed iy. -Mr Napier: What is the meaning- of i "canvassing"; do you know? ; Mr Castoa: Well, coming- round per- I serially to apeak to one, and to show ; himself. Me came to my house and | knocked and said ho was going - lO ' stiiiul for schoolmaster, and" that he. i had known me v long time. j * (Proceeding.) i . . ' """"*•"' raranMnnin tjan iir-rrr -n <iii«i"ii