New Zealand Tablet. Fiat Jostitia. SATURDAY, NOVEMRBR 22, 1873. THE TOKOMAIRIRO SCHOOL INVESTIGATION AND MR GILLIES.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume I, Issue 30, 22 November 1873, Page 6

New Zealand Tablet. Fiat Jostitia. SATURDAY, NOVEMRBR 22, 1873. THE TOKOMAIRIRO SCHOOL INVESTIGATION AND MR GILLIES.

It is not our intention to-day to discuss the evidence given at this investigation. The proper time to do so has not yet arrived ; and we shall not allow any amount of provocation to betray us into following the bad example of the ' Bruce Herald' and Mr GilJies. This gentleman has a fancied grievance against the Catholic clergy, and he not only hugs it, but permits no opportunity to pass which affords him a plausible pretext for vituperating both them and their church. This school investigation seems to have been a God-send in his way. The times were getting dull, and there wa3 little in the wav of bigotry going, notwithstanding the dismal efforts of the 'Bruce Herald' to keep alive the expiring embers. Were it not for this Milton school business, the position of the ' Herald' in this dearth of religious rancour would have been pitiable, and its soi disant liberal editor probably at his wits' ends for an excuse to denounce priests, &c. Seeing, then, the straits in which one of the fourth estate was placed — though of course indignant at his injustice — we cannot help feeling a species of gratification at Mr Gillies finding what appeared to him a fair opportunity of indulging in his congenial and usual hahit of having a fling and hard Jut at the Papists. It was with a kind of melancholy pleasure that we read the following spicy sentences from Mr Gillies' speech at the meeting of the Tokomairho School Committee :—.: — . " Mr Gillies said that he exceedingly regretted that the investigation had not been made a public one, as it would have gone far to prove that the old spirit of the inquisition was not dead, but only sleepeth. He ventured to say that when the whole evidence would be published, which he hoped it would be, there would not be found a newspaper in the colony — with, perhaps, the exception of the Boman Catholic organ— which would not only say that there was no ground for the charge made against Mr Ross, but that it was totally unjustifiable under the circumstances for a man in the position and holding the office which Father Coleman does, to repeat such a gross, unfounded slander against his fellowman, when he had ample time and opportunities for enquiring into the truth or otherwise of the report. He would not say

anything further on this point until he would see whether the evidence would be published by the Government; but it might be satisfactory for them, to know that his opinion — and he believed that of Mr Cunningham e and Mr Jones also — was, that not only was there no ground for the charge being made, but no ground of justification for its having been repeated." This is very pretty speaking, and its fluency, as well the opinion Mr Gillies was condescending enough to give to the committee, must have been eminently gratifying to the Bucolics who compose it. We, too, admire the eloquence and condescension of the Hon. the Speaker of the Provincial Council ; but unhappily we can neither admire nor agree with the opinion with wMch he was good enough to favor his auditors. They, of course, were enamoured with it ; and as it was against the honor and conscience of a Catholic priest, did not stop to investigate it too narrowly.

We shall investigate, however. The facts are these. Father Coleman was told by a sister of one of the boys — a Catholic, attending the Government School at Milton — that her brother had been punished for refusing to attend Bible reading. Two other persons also told him that she had made the same statement in their hearing. On Father Coleman's. return to Dunedin, he mentioned the matter to the Government Inspector of Schools, saying at the same time that he could not prove the truth of the statement, but that he felt he ought to acquaint him with the circumstance. This is what Mr Gillies says is, in his opinion, no ground of justification — that is, Mr Gillies holds that it was unjustifiable in Father Coleman to inform, the proper officer whose special business it is to take cognizance of such matters, that he had heard a girl say that her brother had been punished for refusing to attend a Bible class in a Government School. Mr Gillies' position is monstrous : he would gag the priest, he would not permit him to open his lips where a Government Schoolmaster was concerned, to defend the rights and save the faith of the children of his flock. Father Colemaa brought no charge against Mr Rosa ; he did not even call for an investigation j he simply told Mr Hislop what he had heard, and this he was not only justified, but bound to do. And had he neglected to give this information to tlie Inspector, he would have failed in his duty as a priest, and acted disingenuously as regards the Inspector himself. Further on in* his speech, Mr Gillies says :—": — " He trusted that the Government, or Education Board, would have th« Commissioners' report and all the evidence printed ;. for, al« though it would he expensive, and really was in itself a most trivial affair, still it would serve to show the public on what slender grounds the highest dignitaries of the Roman Catholic Church based their official statements." Well done ! Ml; Gillies at it again, reckless and inaccurate as ever when enjoys ing the luxury of insulting Catholic clergymen. It is very unfortunate for this hon. gentleman that he has fixed on this case as proving or illustrating v the slender and untenable grounds" on which " the highest dignitaries of the Roman Catholic Church based their official statements." For in this instance they made no official statement whatever. For a long time after the interview between Father Colemaa and Mr Hislop, no notice whatever was taken of the matter. Then, suddenly the Government determined on an investigation, for reasons with which we are not acquainted ; but -we can say they were not driven to adopt this course by any pressure on the part of the Roman Catholic clergy. They were well aware of the utter futility of such a course, and that no redress arid no mitigation of the evils of which they complained would result from it. With regard to Mr Gillies' allusion to the Inquisition, we cannot imagine what he means. But though unable to conceive what the Inquisition has to do with the Tokomairiro School investigation, we cannot but admire the simplicity of the hon. gentleman's ignorance in reference to Catholics and their Church, and the loyal stubbornness with which he clings to the prejudices of his babyhood. Were he only even moderately well informed, he would be a useful, as* we have no doubt he is according to his lights an honest, though mistaken man.