STOKE INDUSTRIAL SCHOOL INQUIRY.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 11810, 13 August 1900, Page 5

STOKE INDUSTRIAL SCHOOL INQUIRY.

(Pee United Pbess Association.)

NELSON, August. 11. The Stoke School Commission resumed its sitting .this morning. .

Brother Loetus and Wibsrtus' were in attendance, having been-summoned from Wellington by the -commissioners. .

i«lr Fell, on behalf of the management, put in a letter written by Lane, a witness against the management in June last, to Brother Loetus. It was most cordial in tone, and asked that, a situation at the orphanage be given him. The concluding words were:— "I remain, your loving friend.. Good-bye; may God bless you." The commissioners' called for William Ross, who, on the night previous, handed to the commissioners a written statement insinuating criminal charges.' Boss did not appear, another witness stating; that B,oss said he would not com© ,-unless. sent. for.. Mr Wardell said Ross was liable to punishment.

A boy named. Thomas Lynch, 14 years of age, a present inmate, was then called by the commissioners, apparently being the boy indicated in some way by'Ross. Lynch, in reply to the commissioners, said that he was put up by three boys he named to tell Father George Mahoney (the chaplain of tho school) that one of the- Brothers "was guilty of improper conduct. He, told Father Mahoney this. jEe afterwards told him it was a lie. Closely pressed by the commissioners and Mr Hogben, he adhered to the statement that what he had told Mahpney in the first instance was a lie, and that there was no truth in the charges.

Father George Mahoney explained how the statement came to be made by Lynch to him, and Lynch's subsequent acknowledgment that he had told a lie. •

Brother Wibertus, the Brother indicated, denied that there was any truth whatever in the insinuation. In reply to Mr Hogben, he stated that he had never in an innocent way treated any boys in a- more affectionate manner than others. . ' .

No other complaints being forthcoming, and no complaints being lodged in Wellington, Mr Bush declared-the-inquiry- closed. The commissioners and Education department officials return to Wellington on Monday's boat. The commissioners have to report by the 19th inst.- .