CENSURE ON REV. MR WILKES.

Patea Mail, 11 August 1882, Page 4

CENSURE ON REV. MR WILKES.

The Rev. Mr Wilkes being now master of the Manaia school, it is of interest to know the result of the inquiry into his dismissal from the Lower Heathcote School. Dr Giles was appointed, as Government commissioner, to investigate the whole matter ; and in concluding his report he says : My opinion, therefore, is that Mr Wilkes’ letter of May 2, and the evidence put before me in support of its allegations, not only fail to justify the letters of March 19, hut render the defect good grounds for writing such a letter yet more conspicuous. If therefore, it is alleged that the Committee and the Board acted with undue haste in giving Mr Wilkes his dismissal without first calling upon him for an ex. planation, I think, at all events, the result of an enquiry would have led them to the same conclusion. Mr Wilkes has allowed his personal hostility to Mr Davie, based, it may be, upon a hona fide belief in bis wickedness and depravity, to lead him info an entirely false position, and to blind him to the consequences of a collision between himself and a Committee which happened to entertain a more favorable opinion than his .own of the moral character of its Chairman. But, if the conduct of the Committee and the Board should seem in any way of doubtful propriety, Mr Wilkes has taken care to supply a complete ex post facto justification. He had availed himself of his position as head master to address the pupils on the questions pending between himself, the Chairman, and the Committee ; he has caused them, under pretext of a writing lesson, to write circulars to their parents, announcing a public meeting, and asking them to be present ; ho has employed them to write numerous copies of his letter of 19th March, some of which he afterwards circulated by their means ; and he has flouted—not to say insulted—pupil teachers in the presence of the class on account of the supposed intimacy of themselves or their families with the Chairman of the Committee. Such conduct in the head master of a public school seems almost incredible, and the mere statement of it is sufficient to settle the question whether a person who could so act was fit to have such a charge reposed in it.

In conclusion, it is quite clear to my mind that no difficulty would have occurred between Mr Wilkes and tho Chairman of the Committee but for the fixed persuasion entertained by the former of the immoral character of the latter.