"A SEMI-SECTARIAN FIGHT."

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 523, 2 June 1909, Page 11

"A SEMI-SECTARIAN FIGHT."

'-%; ~'- -': INHAWERA."'.- ,'.'•■;■■ (BI TKISOEAr-n—PItESS ASSOCIA.TIOM.) ; _, • Hawora, June 1. v .There .was , extraordinary oxcitem'ent last night overthe-election of a School Committee, for the Hawera District High School' Originally, party Btrifo'was. provoked by the friends, ofVMr.' P. O'Dea circularising the district with a.view of securing the return of school committees iavourable' to Mr: O'Dea's election as a member of the Wanganui Education Board.. These circulars were aanounced by-Mr. E. Dixon, present member of the'board, as being a Roman Catholic .moveand on behalf of Mr.' O'Dea. Immedi?t y o a-:' s eiw-se6tarian fight began/ and at the.-School Comnfittoo election three'weeksago Mr. 'O'Dea 'was elected. The election was upset, on account of Mr. O'Dea not having .residential qualifications. ' ;' .; Last ; .iu'ghfe'a. fresh, election was .held, and was preceded by unusually vigorous canvassing,, the whole affair approximating •to an electoral campaign, and far exceeding in interest any civio contest.ever held in Hawera Cabs Were engaged by; what /may be 1 called O'Dea's party, aud these were rattling'voters to .the ; poll until /m idnieht. i The old committee was largely identihed with the Church and No-License party, and seven out'of nine old coinmitteemen wero returned by'a fairly substantial majority. The excitement lasted until nearly two o'clock this: morning