COMPLETELY EXCULPATED.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1047, 9 February 1911, Page 4

COMPLETELY EXCULPATED.

i,i , A'mUiM'jA il.il , ■'':■■: .' THE ARATAPU SCHOOL INQUIRY;

(By Teleerinh.-BDocial '■■ Correspondent.! , ; .•'• -'':'■'■;.[ .Auckland, February B."' Very 'serious we're recently made against the headmaster of the Ara--tapu School (Mr. H. Jlockin) in reference to the scholarship examinations, Aratapu School, having been a centre 4n tion with the holding of the examinations.' It was stated, said the .chairman of the Education. Board this morning, "that the headmaster ' had lent; himself to actual fraud inasmuch; as his daughter, who was sitting for tfio examination, was supposed to have- been actively assisted by h'or father with regard to her papers.- Humours were soon broadcasted about the : north to' this effect and the board therefore decided; to give the fullest publicity to an investigation which should be of the fullest nature."-.Mr: Parr, after reading the report of the.inquiry committee appointed to deal with the allegations, and which expressed;; .after exhaustive complete disbelief of any irregularity whatever on the part of Mr. Hockin, said that it was only ..the .barest justice that the board\Should now. pronouhco Mr. Hockin completely exculpated from the allegations'. The Undcr-secretary of'Education 1 deemed it. a matter of sufficient importance to jonrnev from Wellington, to attend tho inquiry and he concurred with the commitee. Not. one; of the suggested charges against Mr.. Hockin' had; been made out. : Personally, he' was delighted that such was the case. Mr. Hockin was a very old servant of tho board and held a stainless record, :and one to be proud of. ,He was more than pleased that nothing in the conduct of tho headmasterwarranted any censure of the board. The report ■of the Inquiry Committee■. was unanimously adopted, the board ing its gratification that the charges had been proved baseless. A motion of thanks was also passed to the committee for the manner in which the' investigation had been' carried out.';- The headmasters daughter, 'who ■ passed ;'at the examination, was also quite exculpated from, any slur of cheating, while her ability and application were .siioken of by the inspectors as being particularly high.