THE CATHOLIC CLERGY AND THE TOKOMAIRIRO PUBLIC SCHOOLS.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume I, Issue 27, 1 November 1873, Page 10

THE CATHOLIC CLERGY AND THE TOKOMAIRIRO PUBLIC SCHOOLS.

Ok Wednesday morning Mr J. P. MaitlaaJ, Jtt. M., who has been appointed a commissioner to investigate into the charge made against the headmaster of the Grammar School, Tokomairiro, opened the examination at the Courthouse. On Ms taking bis seat on the Bench, Mr Koss, the headmaster, said that he had one or two requests to make. First, that as the charge against himself had been made public, and been circulated over the length and breadth of the land, he was desirous that the proceedings at the iuquiry should be conducted with open doors. Secondly, that all witnesses should leave the court. And, thirdly, that in the first instance the examination should be confined to the charge made ; that being disposed of, he would then be quite willing to have the question of general management of the school inquired into, but he would object to the mixing up of the two quee* tions together. Mr Maitland said in reply that in regard to the last request he would take care that the inquiry should be kept to the question of the charge, and evidence bearing upon it — such were the terms of lus commission ; and as to the second, ifc was his (Mr Ross's) prerogative to ask that witnesses should be out of court, so that that would be done. In regard to the first request, he had to state that the day previous he had a telegram from one., of the newspaper representatives of Dunedin, asking if it would be an open court, and he had replied — " Inquiry into complaint against schoolmaster, Tokoraairiro, will not be a public one,' 7 Under these circumstances he did not see very well how he could* comply with Mr .Ross's first request. He had no objection that members of the School Committee should be present. It was ultimately agreed that the public should not be present. Proceedings commenced at ten o'clock a.m., and continued till one o'clock ; resumed at two o'clock, and continued till six o'clock ; resumed again at seven o'clock, and closed at ten. o'clock. The iuquiry was agiin opened at nine a.m. yesterday morniftg, continued till two o'clock, resumed at three o'clock, and was finally concluded at six o'clock last night. Tho Government or Education Board will no doubt lose no time in giving full publicity to the report and evidence. During the proceedings there were present— Rev. Father Coleman, Mr Ross. Mr R. R. Jones, Secretary to the School Committee, who was appointed to watch the proceedings on behalf of the Committee ; and Messrs Cunninghame and J. L. Gillies, members of the School Committee. — 'Btuce Herald.'

A Reuter's telegram states that the Pope, in his speech to the College of Cardinals, praised their zeal in supporting the rights of the Church, adding that their example found imitators in Italy and abroad, and these were the bright spots in the aspect of affairs which consokrt him. At the same time he could not resist turning his eyes towards the spectacle of the thousand ills with which the Church was afflicted. "We mterate our protests ; we confirm the cemure3 incurred by the usurpers of the Papal Scutes and the property of the Church, We repeat them all the more because we see daily fresh attacks made upon religion." Tho Pope, in conclusion, urged the CarJinals to pray to God to Iceep far from them all idea of conciliation. His Holiness said "• — •' Let each on 3 stand firm. They want me to go with them and I wish them to come towards me 5 I caunot go and will not."

THE AUCKLAND SUPERINTENDENCY CONTEST. In the Auckland ' Herald ' we read that Mr Somerville a Tauranga candidate for a seat in the Auckland Provincial Council, who spoke remarkably well, " deplored the education tax — a tax that was being collected at the point of the bayonet, and was a disgrace to New Zealand." Mr Somenrilln alluded to the various candidates for the Superintendence Mr Lusk's policy was that of a subtle lawyer pleading on his own account. Mr Dargaville's was parely and entirely a policy of bombast and clap-trap. Mr J. S. Macfarlane had no policy at all; while Mr John Williamson's policy (cheers) was one of enlightenment, liberality, and progress. (Applause.)" The Wellington ' Independent ' says : — For the Superintendency of Auckland there are .practically only two candidates —Mr John Williamson, M.H.R., and Mr Dargaville. It is just possible that Mr H. H. Lusk may venture to contest, and it is not improbable, even at this late period, that Mr Gillies may seek re-election, but the probabilities of the case are that the contest will rest between Mr Williamson and Mr Dargaville ; and, according to all appearances, the former gentleman has the best chance of election. The Auckland ' Herald * gives the following extract from a private letter of a member of the Legislative Council to a gentleman in Auckland :—": — " Mr Williamson is going on very steadily, and bids fair for the Superintendency. Mr Macandrew, of Otago, told me he had done more for the Province of Auckland, and introduced more immigrants, than all the other Superintendents together. He also added that if Mr Williamson were again elected, he would introduce 20,000 immigrants in the first eighteen months of office. Mr Gillies in his speech, has been representing the province to be in a state of impecuniosity. Mr Williamson told me he had himself on a previous occasion assumed office under greater difficulties, and he was prepared, if elected, to carry on the Government." The 4 Otago Guardian,' which appears to have an intimate knowledge of Auckland matters, puts Mr Williamson as the winning man. So also does the Auckland correspondent of the ' Daily limes,' who, we think, it is that has described Mr Williamson as having what the other candidates had not— a party. These are the only opinions on the subject that we have observed in our exchanges.