AMAZING MASQUERADE

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 74, Issue 245, 16 October 1931, Page 5

AMAZING MASQUERADE

VISITOR TO WAIRARAPA SEVERAL SCHOOLS INSPECTED POLICE MAKE AN ARREST. WELLINGTON, Oct. 14. What is described as one of the most astounding hoaxes in the history of New Zealand has been revealed. It was perpetrated by a man who had been inspecting schools, including a convent at Masterton, where he conducted a proficiency examination. The man is said to have had a genial manner and to have been accepted without question, not only by teachers and pupils, but also by prominent educationists in Wellington. Armed with n. letter purporting to have been written by a high education official, the man is alleged to have visited about 20 schools in the Wairarapa district between September 7 and October 3. It. is understood that he claimed to be a school inspector from Queensland on holiday in New Zealand and that apparently having satisfied the authorities upon the point, he obtained credentials whi’ch enabled him to enter any school as a visitor.

Suspicions were not aroused until the man had carried on his alleged masquerade for about a month. Wnen he left the district the Queensland authorities were communicated with and the hoax was discovered. Tour of District Schools. It is stated that, accompanied by a young woman, whom he described as his wife, the man arrived at Masterton by train on September 7 and took up residence in a private home in Queen Street. Next day he engaged a taxi-driver to convey him on a tour of the district schools. At one school it was found that two inspectors were there already. In no way disturbed, the new arrival merely remarked that there appeared to be something wrong with the administration, as inspectors were overlapping in their duties.

The man then returned to Masterton, and on the following day, it is stated, he and the woman were driven in a taxi to Wellington, a visit being paid to a school en route. While in Wellington the man visited the Education Board’s offices and the Victoria University College, and was entertained at afternoon tea by an officer of the department. On the journey back to Masterton the man is alleged to have told the taxi-driver that he was to be appointed fchief inspector in February. How completely suspicion was disarmed is indicated by the fact that on his visits to several schools the man was accompanied by two inspectors. A story is also told of how he called at two schools at Masterton and chatted with members of the staff over a cup of tea, telling of his acquaintance with notabilities, such as Kingsford Smith o.nd Kubelik. Examination at Convent. The crowning exploit of the man’s career as an inspector, it is alleged, was to conduct a proficiency examination at the convent at Masterton. The examination is said to have been easy and the results to have been more than satisfactory to both teachers and scholars —all but one pupil passing. By way of rounding off the pleasant occasion a whole holiday was granted at his request. On the day following this examination the man and woman were driven to Greytown. From there the headmaster of the local high school took them on in his car to Wellington. This was the last the district saw of them.

The police have made an arrest in connection with the affair.