LATE DOMINION NEWS.

Mataura Ensign, 2 July 1914, Page 6

LATE DOMINION NEWS.

STRATFORD RAILWAY.

riK UNITED PBBSB ASSOCIATION. STRATFORD, July 1. The formal opening, of the Stratford Main Trunk railwav to Whangainoniona took place this afternoon, the Minister ffor Railways (Hon. W. H. Berries) performing tue ceremony 'in the presence of a large gathering of settlors and visitors. The line is .now available for regular passenger traffic for a, distance of 27 miles 53 chains from Stratford. The first" sod was turned by Sir William Hall-Jones in March. 1901. The section of the line now opened has involved an expenditure approximating £141,000.

CAPITAL'S CUSTOMS DUTY.

WELLINGTON, July 1. The Customs duty in Wellington for the half-year ended June 30 totalled £448,402 3s 6d, the t>eer duty for the same period being £5751 5s 4d.

THE KAURI REFLOATED

WESTPOET, July 1. The Union Steam Ship Company's s-s. Kauri, which was stranded on, the -North Beach on June 23, was towed off about five o'clock this afternoon. She is anchored outside with the company's tug Terawhiti standing by and will come into port in the morning.

JOSEPH CRAIG INQUIRY,

AUCKLAND, July 1

■At the inquiry concerning the accident to the barque Joseph, Craig, which struck a rock in Ri»ngit#) Channel on Juno 21 inward, from Melbourne., evidence waW to the effect that a .violent squall struck the vessel in the early hours of the- morning. '.Everything pos-, ■sible was done under the circumstances.: Tike court'will ftiye its decision, at a later date.

CATHOLICS AND EDUCATION

WELLINGTON, July 1

The Minister for 'Education was wait-' ' «d on hjc a deputation representing the Now Zealand Catholic Federation, .which.laid before him some important phases of itlie education question as .they affect Catholics in New Zealand. The deputation 'was briefly introduced jby Mr A. H. Hindmarsh, M.P. Archbishop O'Sheal said that •the/ deputation represented the Catholic federation, .consisting of, 80,000 citiz-i; eps of the Dominion. Catholics wereV laboring under certain educational dis- ! abilities, especially with ' regard to scholarships. They- understood the 'Government proposed to bring in this session an amendment of the Education Act, and he- hoped- it would ibe made clear in that'' measure that Catholic scholars who won Education Board scholarships should <be entitled to tike them out ait Catholic secondary schools, which were regarded' as "equivalent" to State secondary schools. White several of the Education Boards allowed pupils who had won scholarskijps from private schools to take thean out ■at secondary .schools attached to denomination, other Boards had refused the privilege. The deputation .therefore asked the Minister to insert a clause in the amending Education: 3lct making it imperative that pupils attending primary 'B6llools wiio obtained scholarships should be able to take them out at private ;,seeondary_*schoo^..providing that such secondary schools weie certified by 'inspectors aa hefng educa> tionaUy'equivalent to. the Government institutions.

' Hon. J. Allen, in replying, said that he fully recognised tho sacrifice Catholics had imade in the cause of tlte;education of their children. As to (scholarships, he would be sorry to think that any Board conshleued thematter of secondary .schools from a denominational |»int of view. Perhaps the deputation could tell him privately what Boards 3ia<l 'acted in that way" and it mighlt give some weight to their argument. He had found the law as it was, and endeavored to administer it to the best of his ability. Ho -would Ibring down, ian Education Bill thLs session,- and if he found that Catholics were suffering iujustice the question would receive every consideration.