Untitled

Southland Times, Issue 1833, 19 December 1873, Page 2

upon hearsay evidence, at second or third hand, of at the best a very flimsy character, and open upon the face of it to suspicion from other causes than that of its improbability. We cannot but conclude that the reverend gentleman far too readily accepted as truth that which a little trouble would have satisfied him was utterly false, and his ready acceptance was probably more due to the bias of his own mind than to the inherent weight of the testimony furnished to him, the prima facie evidence being wholly against its reception. In the face of the very explicit and stringent regulations in force in the Government schools of the Province on the matter of Bible-reading therein, due notification of which is required to be made in each, it might have been reasonably enough concluded that the head master of a school of some considerable importance would not be likely to imperil his position by so flagrant a violation of rule aa that reported by Father CoLEMAy, especially in presence of so many witnesses, and against (as alleged) the remonstrance of one of hie subordinates, capable of bearing testimony against him. The statement is a manifest absurdity, but any one in search of a grievance is not. likely to be over nice in balancing either evidence or probabilities, for " trifles light as air are to the jealous confirmation strong as proof of Holy Writ." The allegation turned out in evidence to rest upon the statement of the mistress of the Eoman Catholic school at Tokomairiro, and by her said to have been received from a girl, one of her pupils. On examination, the girl denied having made such a statement, and the boy alleged to have been flogged, distinctly denied the fact, while a host of disinterested witnesses gave testimony to the effect that nothing of the kind had taken place in the school, the boy's father and mother, to the former of whom it waa alleged that complaint had been made by the boy, giving clear and conclusive evidence against the charge. In the matter of the injunction laid upon teachers by the Board of Education relative to Bible reading, it must bo understood that this injunction ia not merely the action of the Board, but has the express direction of the Provincial Council in its favor, in the session of 1871, the following clause appears in a recommendation of a Select Committee of the Provincial Council on the questions of Bible-reading and school books: — " Your Committee would recommend that the schoolmasters throughout the Province should be enjoined strictly to adhere to the terms of the Ordinance in regard to the reading of the Scriptures and religious instruction, to take care that both parents and children be informed that attendance at such, reading or instruction ia optional, and to avoid theuseofany lessors containing words or expressions offensive to ißoman Catholics or other denominations of Christians." There is no ambiguity here, and it may be safely inferred that any duly authorised teacher under the Board possesses at least sufficient intelligence to enable him to comprehend that instructions of the nature of the foregoing are intended to strike at the root of attempts at proselytism, and especially such proselytism as Father Coleman assumes to have been practised at Tokomairiro, namely, that of violent coercion. The New Zealand Tablet publishes the official report by Mr Maitlaud, and apparently being convinced that the whole charge has vanished into thin aip, shifts the ground of the accusation by asserting that the substance of the charge by Father Coleman was " that a Koman Catholic boy attended Protestant instruction in the school." If this were intended to have been made the gravamen of the master's offence, it certainly was not so stated by the accuser, the complaint investigated being that the boy had been beaten for refusing to attend at Bible reading and Protestant prayers. If, however, it be intended to charge it as a crime upon the management of the school, that the lad, of his own frea will, being of Catholic parents, had with their consent attended the Bible class in the school, it simply amounts to an arrogant assumption on the part of a certain portion of the community of a right to put a stop to Bible-reading in Government schools, because nothing can be easier than to ensure attendance at the appointed time for such reading, of the children of one or more persons claiming to be Roman Catholics, in which case the master would, upon their theory, have no option but to omit the reading. Such a claim has however too much of absurdity in connection with it to entitle it to any serious argument in refutation. "We wholly disclaim any imputation whatever upon Father Coleman, but confess that, to ourselves, wholly unconnected with the persons and circumstances in connection with the alleged occurrence, the report of the investigation raises in our mind a question, whether the object of the accused has not been, in bringing the charge, mainly that of making it a step in the direction of the establishment of a sectarian school in accordance with the teachings of his own community, yet maintained either wholly or partly at the public cost. The reverend gentleman may however have shaped his proceeding more as a warning to his own flock, to exhort them to endeavor to preserve their children from the dangers of tyrannical influence assumed to have been exercised, than with any idea of being able to substantiate the charge made. Under the circumstances he will now however see that the result of the investigation leaves him no alternative but as far as possible to make the amende honorable for the unnecessary trouble and annoyance of which he has been, the occasion. One thing is certain, namely, that the time has well nigh arrived in which State schools must be free from sectarianism. Denominations may struggle against the necessity of the times, but must ultimately give way in favor of a system that regards all sects alike, or rather that

regards no aect whatever in the vrork of education. In a- community like ow own, composed of men of all creeds and shades of opinion in matters theological, the problem of a national education is apparently incapable of any other solution, and until this consummation shall be arrived, at, complaints from one or other will be continually arising. We hold however that in the system at present in. force in this province there is very little to be reasonably complained of on the ground of interference with the religious opinions of parents, or of direct or indirect denominational influence in our public schools.

The arrival of the Albion at the Biuff yesterday afternoon, with the Suez mail, was somevhat unexpected, seeing that, according to the tme-table, the mail steamer was not due in j Melbiurne till the 16th inst. ; Messrs Turnbull and Bastings, members of j the Provincial Executive, who have been on a | tour ;hrough the golclfields, arrived in town last ' eveniig about 8 o'clock, by special train from Wint»n. It was understood that a further batch of immijrants was to be forwarded here on the arrival of the Caller Ou at Port Chalmers. That vessel has arrived, but according to our telegram she brings uo passengers. A meeting of the Ka«e Committee was held at the Prince of Wales Hotel yesterday afternoon, when considerable discussion took place as to whether the ensuing meeting should be held at Waliacetown as formerly, or on the Racecourse reserve, East Road, the objection to the latter being the inability (o derive a revenue from the gates in consequence of the ground being unfenced. It was ultimately agreed to adjourn the meeting until 4 p.m. to-day, when the matter vill be finally aettled, as also the election of stewards, date of races, &c. At the Volunteer parade last night, Captain Dalgliesh presented a New Zealand war medal to Peter McDonald, lately a sergeant in the Armed Constabulary, and now of the local police force. Mr T. P. Winstanley, who has been ActingPostmaster in Invercargill during the last five months, leaves this morning per the overland coach for Dunedin. This gentleman is a zealous and efficient officer, and to his exertions we are mainly indebted for the increased postal accommodation which has recently been extended to several of the country districts. During his residence here, Mr Winsfcanley has, by hi a urbanity and courtesy, earned the respect of a large circle of friends, who will doubtless regret his removal. The new Postmaster, Mr Robert K aye, arrived yesterday by the Wanganui. The Commissioners appointed to classify the msold Crown land?, in accordance with the provisions of the Southland Waste Lands Act, 1873, left town on Wednesday morning, for the purpose of inspecting the land in the valley of the Mataura. They contemplate bjiag absent till Christmas eve. The agents of the s.s. Wallabi announce that they will issue return tickets to Dunjdin, avail: able to the end of January, at single fares. There was a fair atten lance at the Theatre on Wednesday night, when the " Rough Diamond" preceded " Ixion." In the lastnamed Miss Clara Stephenson, ably supported by Miss Marian Moore, little Rosa, and the other members of the company, played with her usual grice, ease, and delightful vivacity, and earned repeated rounds of applause. There was a poor attendance at the Theatre last night when the " School for Scandal," or rather a specially-arranged adaptation from it, and " Ixion,' 1 were played. A very heavy wind-storm swept over the town on Tuesday morning. The air was literally thick with dust, which the tempest kept dashing in at the doors and windows, and at every conceivable crevice of the shops and dwellinghouses. Fortunately it began to rain about noon, when the hurricane abated, and notwithstanding the extreme violence of the 3torm, no damage, bo far as we have been able to learn, was done to either person or property. We have been requested to state that purchasers of both town and ruril property would do well before finally paying the purchasemoney to ascertain whether any liability is attached to the land for unpaid rates. The clerks to the District Road Boards and the Town Clerk would be the proper authorities to apply to for information on the point. A man named Thomas Rough, who had met with rather a serious axe-wound to one of his knee joints while working in the bush at Messrs Brown and Ross's sawmill on Saturday last, was admitted into the Hospital on Tuesday. Messrs Hare, Pratt and Co., the local agents for the Standard Insurance Company, elsewhere announce that the share-list will close throughout the Colony on the 24th inst. A previous announcement fixed the date in the province of Otago for the 17th inst., but it has now been decided to make th« date first fixed for the Northern Provinces, namely, the 21th, applicable to the whole Colony. The Invercargill Battery were practising biggun drill with blank cartridge on Monday evening last, in anticipation of His Excellency's approaching visit to the district. Both noncommissioned officers and men showed a fair knowledge of the exercises which were performed. There were present — Surgeon M'Clure, Sublieutenant Bruntpn, Battery Sergeant- Major Thomson, two sergeants, and thirty men. Owing to business of importance requiring their presence elsewhere, Captain Dalgliesh and Lieutenant Conyers were unavoidably absent. It is pleasing to observe that this corps is progressing in efficiency under its present instructor. Many of the citizens were somewhat startled by the loud heavy booming of the howitzer, and the violent concussion produced by some of the reports actually broke several glass windows. Perhaps it may be as well to state that this drill will be continued every Monday night for some time to come. At the meeting of the Municipal Council last night, His Worship the Mayor and all the Councillors wero present. The report of the Public Works Committee, recommending certain improvements iv Yarrow, Conon, Eye, and Jed streets, and suggesting that the Engineer should db requested to devi&e some plan to prevent the wind from blowing up the drains, was read and adopted. The last clause produced some merriment, but His Worship observed that it was an important one, inasmuch as it poiuted to the

unsatisfactory state of the city drains, which were becoming quagmires of sludge and noxious matter. The sewers, to be kept in proper order, would require to bs flushed abundantly with water, and as that was not procurable just now, His Worship thought that, in order to keep the drains pure and sweet, they should be occasionally sprinkled with chloride of lime. The Engineer's report re the park was referred to the Reserves Committee. Haliiday and Co.'s tender, at £42 10s, for work in Esk-street, being the lowest, was accepted. A letter was read from Mr Genever, stating that he had forwarded the plans of (lie gas works, and recommending the Council to purchase the plant in connection with the same from Mr George Bowyer, gas manufacturer at St. Neot.'s, Hants, England. After considerable discussion, Councillor Pratt moved, and Councillor Garthwaite seconded, that Mr Genever be requested to furnish the Council with an estimate of the approximate cost of the gas works as at present planned and specified. The motion was carried. A Woodlands correspondent, writing on the 17th inst., Bays : — On Monday List Mr Inspector Hislop examined the Woodlands school in presence of parents and members of school committee The pupils were minutely interrogated in the work of their respective classes, and acquitted themselves to the satisfaction of the Inspector. Mr Hislop expressed himself much pleased with the needlework, of which thero was an abundance of both plain and ornamental. In referring to needlework generally, he said he was glad to see that so much attention had been paid to plain sewing and knitting. At the conclusion, when addressing the children, and their teachers, Mr and Mrs MacLymont, Mr Hislop said ho hoped that they would all enjoy their holidays, and return to their duties with renewed vigor. Since Mr Hislop'a last visit, great improvements have been made. The school is now classed as a main district school, and a salary for a sewing mistress is allowed. A comfortable house has been built for the teacher, the school grounds fenced, and oscillating and circular swings erected for the children. Al o— gether the general aspect of the place presents a favorable contrast to its appearance whon the school was opened upwards of two years ago. Yesterday the train was employed to convey a large quantity of preserved raeat3 to Invercargill, on their way to the ship's side at the Bluff, to load direct for home. It i 3 greatly desired out here that the line will be formally opened before the New Year, and this district placed upon the same footing as Winton in regard to railway accommodation. It is notified in the General Government Gazette of the 4th inst., that the Invercargill Co operative Association (Limited^, has been duly registered under the provisions of " The Provident and Industrial Societies Act, 1867." The crops in the Mataura district are reported to be looking remarkably well. The Oamaru paper says : — " We are glad to note a decided advance in the improvement of our footpaths. The Corporation are, for the present, making a footway, four feet wide, from the kerbing. In several instances owners of property are causing the pavement to be made to the full width. We understand that the con tract price is 3s 3d per yard." The adoption of a somewhat similar plan is highly necessary in Invercargill. A fire occurred in George street, Dunedin, on the 15th inst., by which a shop in the occupation of Mr Nicoll, bootmaker, was completely gutted. Contractors -will observe that the Corporation are inviting tenders for formation and gravelling in Yarrow and Conon streets. A meeting of total abstainers will be held in the Temperance Hall this evening at 7.30, to receive financial report and ebct managing committee. A public meeting of citizens is convened by Ilia Worship the Mayor, to be held in the Council Hall this evening at 8, to consider the making of preparations for giving the Governor a suitable reeep ion on his forthcoming visit. The date of Messrs Driver, Stewart & Co's sale cf properties has been altered to the 22nd of January. _____^__^__