OPENING OF ST. PATRICK'S CHAPEL AND SCHOOL.

Auckland Chronicle and New Zealand Colonist, Volume 1, Issue 17, 25 January 1843, Page 2

OPENING OF ST. PATRICK'S CHAPEL AND SCHOOL.

[advertisement.]

Honour to the people whose generous hearts are so fruitful in doing good ! To maintain a Clergyman, to erect a modest Sanctuary, and establish a School, within a short period —in an infant Colony—during days that should be called distressful, if compared with the past time, without the smallest assistance er enevv-

agement. from the Local Government. •oich is the work of the Catholics o! Auckland.

Our separated href lit en whose ministry is assisted by Government, whose new Temple staflds up by the commnd effort* of private contributions and Government'* powerful help, would perhaps excite among others a secret jealousy. Far from us such a fee'insr ; if they received the application of a just law, and have been benefitted by it, we enjoy with them, we compliment them, we congratulate them, and we also congratulate ourselves, because we see in their favour a pledge, and a certain hope of what the other communions, equal before the law of the Colony, have to expect of an impartial Government. Yes, even should Government he in au unwealthy situation, they will provide for their people ; like a good father and mother, they will divide what is set apart for the worship, among their children of different denominations, according to the terms and conditions of their paternal ordinances. To think otherwise of those who represent here her gracious Majesty, would be an unequivocal injustice.

We know, in the noble work performed by the Catholics of Auckland, they have been not alone, many liberal persons out of our profession, who extended us a helping hand, merit a share of praise, that shall not be robbed from them. Let them first enjoy in secret the sweet testimony of their conscience, and let our gratitude proclaim the names of those generous benefactors who lent to us their assistance in promoting our most dear interests. The tablets in which their names will be written are the expression of the living tablets of our hearts, where they are engraven in indelable characters. New benefactors being henceforth added to the first, we will also enlarge Our tablets and our hearts. God will reward them all by his blessings. The public may expect some explanations concerning the St. Patrick's School. We will give them freely and candidly. This School is, and shall be as it was described at the head of the subscription : ** A public School for the Roman Caiho' lies of Auckland, and members of any profession " That is to say, although the present School be founded tirsTfbr the Roman Catholics, its safes shall b* opened indiscriminately to all the children of whatsoever profession they may he. So there are in the United States, different schools or colleges, that, although established and overseen by Catholic clergymen, become the common academy of Catholics and Protestants, with the greatest harmony among themselves, and satisfaction of ihe public. We will not conceal that religion must be the basis of the education here ; Dear Editor, for fear of trespassing on your time f and the precious space of vour columns, 1 will s-cfy in few words, that education is not complete, if it does not embrace all the faculties of a child, in its body and soul, if the whole man be not fashioned. There is in the world no parent who would not like to see their child taught how to be dutiful, obedient, temperate, honest, &c. But religion is the only mistress that can teach those things efficaciously. If a child does not fear God, he will have little respect for parents and other superiors. If temperance be confined in the narrow limits of a moral virtue, it is deprived of its best sanction that is to be found in religion. Every one must remember well that we cannot be consistently honest towards men without' honesty, or rather religion towards God. Therefore, let religion be the first science, our end in this world, and guide to oar future happiness.

On this principle the parents of the Protestant children (if we get any) must t.ot be afraid that we will impose upon them a particular religion. Let it be known tlr-jt in the time of special instructions, or explanations of the word of God about the Church of Chiist, made at certainhours for the Catholic children, all other children may be out of the school. Such arrangements shall be taken that there shall be no encroachment made on the time consecrated to the common branches of a good education, and every thing we hope, will be kept in a judicious and constant order.

We regret that a part of the Chapel will be used in the week for a Schoolroom, but the sanctuary, where the priest performs religious ceremonies, will be quit* out of the sight of the children. Perhaps it would have been also mors satisfactory for tha public to see th«

A TABLE of the Mean Temperature of the Air, sc, at Auckland, during the year 1842.

Highest temperature 84 ° , February 3. —Lowest temperature 32 9 , August 6. A Table similar to this was published in thes<h number of the Auckland Standard, giving an abstract of observations on the Temperature of the Air during the year I&4\, with this difference that, it noted the lowest temperature at night, which could not be done in the present table, as the instrument used for the purpose (a Register r l hermometer) was unfortunately broken in the early part of last year; -but in com paring the monthly mean temperature at the three several hours of each month in the respective years, the very trifling difference that occurs is most remarkable, and the increase and decrease in the cycle of the year seems almost to be graduated by a scale forming a most striking and peculiar feature in the climate of this part of New Zealand, and a very strong contrast to the sudden vicissitudes of temperature which is the distinctive character of the seasons in some of the neighbouring colonies. _ Jt appears that there were 24 dry days in 1R42, beyond those ot the former year. It has not been thought necessary to note the force or direction of the winds—they blow with rfieir usual regularity for more than two thirds of the year fiom W. to S. W., and during tlfe remainder of the year, from N. E to N. and N. W. But there were heavy gales periods of tha vernal and autumnal equinox, and during the winter, as occur throughout the temperate zone of either hemisphere.

Priest's residence at a certain distance from the School, and the family of the teacher itself, but it is to be remarked, that neither the children nor the teaclie , will be in communication with the Pries*, their dwellings and the School room being quite independant. Consequently the Clergyman, although surrounded by'chil dreu, and the family of the teacher, will he kept in that state of solitude, retirement, and deceticv, that is so convenient to the ministers of God. The most severe precautions have been

taken, in order to prevent any mixture of children of both sexes. The girls will and go away through a particular • gate; the schoolroom being divided into two parts will have two one for the girls and the other for the boys, Never two children of different sexes will be allowed to meet, together; the girls will be sent, from the school a little while before the boys. The children will be under the continual care of the master, the master

himself under the oversight of the clergynian,what greater guarantee can be offered to the confidence of the parents, who, we know, have so just a solicitude fur their children ? The children will be taught in all jhe branches of a common good education, the girls of course will receive instruction in needlework, For any particular art or science, parents ought to make particular application. It is perfectly understood, that children of destitute parents or guardians will receive a gratuitous education, and we are happy to state, that free subscribers will have the privilege of recommending such children. Application of this kind will be made to the priest. Respecting the teacher 1 have nothing to say, let his name and reputation speak for him in connection with our establish-

ment. I will only itate, that Mr. Patrick Hennessy, when first the clergymen and afterwards his Lordship the Bishop Pompallier expressed to him the wish to see the youth under his care, this gentleman was reluctant and gave a slow assent—as for the rest; I declare it is not in our intent

to monopolize education, let good schools foe prosperous, that emulation may reign among the youth of Auckland. We intend imly to give our might to increase the public prosperity. Although we have no material pecuniary interest in this institution, we must-say that in consequence of the paternal adoption that a priest has for the children, we would like to see our school frequented ; still after the exertion of our good will, we place the whole in the hands of God, and are ready for success Or disappointments. The present notice will iemain as an Advertisement for those who are inclined to entrust their children to the care of St. Patrick's School. We also hope such notice will be looked upon as an expres sion of our sincere gratitude to our benefactors, and lastly, a public and solemn acknowledgement of the Divine blessings of God.

A Catholic Clergyman. Auckland, January 2"S, 1843.

' flours of th 2 day. Mean of the month. Dry fy wet days ♦v Month. a. m. p. m. p. m. dry Remarks. 8 2 8 rain 26 A January . 08 73 63 63 = 0' 1 1 ''lie dry days were gem c ,lly Tebruary . 70 75 64 69° 40' 24 2 2 bright and sunny, an<r ven in the showery days there March . . 63 73 60 65 = 20' 39 4 8 -Apiil . . , 67 65 58 60 = 0' 14 5 18 was much sunshine. The May . . . 54 60 52 55 = 0' 11 2 16 column of rainy days inJune . . , 60 65 48 51 = 0' 14 4 12 cludes all days in which July . . . 49 65 48 49 = 0' J3 3 15 there were three hours of -August . . 49 56 48 50 = 0' 15 5 11 continued rain. There were September 63 69 50 51 = 0' 19 4 7 14 days during the winter in October. . 51 eo 51 55 = 0' 12 5 14 which hoar frost was seen November 60 66 55 60 = 0' 18 4 8 in the morning. Hail fell December 64 67 57 62 = 40' 22 5 4 three times. Mean tempt rat. o f' the yeai 53 = 3 217 44 104