Mr Maitland, R.M., the Commissioner ap pointed to inquire into the truth of the charges against the head teacher of the Tokomairiro Government School, to the effect that he had beaten a Roman Catholic boy for refusing t» attend at Bible reading and Protestant prayers, notwithstanding the remonstrance of the assis tant teacher,' reports to the Minister of Justice as follows : I found, from the evidence, the origin of the report and facts of the case to be as follow : That some time about December, 1872, Mrs M'Far lane, the teacher at the Roman Catholic School, Tokomairiro, reported to the Kev. Wm. Coleman what purported to be a state ment made whereby a girl named Minnie Curran, a pupil at her school, and the daughter of a Roman Catholic named John Curran, a resident in Tokomairiro, to the effect that her brother, Michael Curran, who at the time at tended the Tokomairiro Government School, had told his father that he had been beaten by Mr Ross, the head teacher, for refusing to at tend at Bible teaching and prayers, notwith standing the remonstrance of Mr M'lntyre, the assistant teacher; that Mr Coleman, after questioning the girl, Minnie Curran, who, it may be here stated, is twelve years of age, reported the matter to Mr Hislop, the In spector of Schools, Dunedin. Mr Cole man did not make the report to the Inspector as of a fact with his own knowledge, but merely k a report which had reached him, and which he communicated to the Inspector, a< the proper person to be made acquainted with it. Mrs MTarlane adheres in her evidence to the substance of her report to Mr Coleman as to

Minnie Curran's statement to her. Minnie Curran, in her evidence, denies ever having made any statement to Mrs M'Farlane regard ing her brother having said that he was flogged for not attending Bible reading or prayers, although she admits having told Mrs M'Far lane, in answer to her questions, that her brother had been punished by Mr Ross, for his reading and spelling lessons. She altogether denies having made any reference to the assist ant teacher. She admit*, however, having after wards said, in answer to Mr Coleman's ques tions on the subjects, that bur Mother had been punished for not reading thoßible, but nays she did not understand his question. 