ANGLO-COLONIAL NOTES.

Auckland Star, Volume XXVIII, Issue 248, 26 October 1897, Page 2

ANGLO-COLONIAL NOTES.

(From Our London Correspondent.)

LONDON, September 17. SIR JOHN HALL.

Sit John and Lady Hall left town this week for Leamington and. thence go on to Wales. They are due in London again before the end of the month. From then till they embark on the North German Lloyd steamer Bremen at Southampton on October 25th their time will be pretty well occupied in making preparations for departure. Mr and Mrs Hall return at the same time, and the party expect to arrive in Canterbury a few days before Christmas, the Bremen "being due in Melbourne on December 2nd. This is ona of the new 10,500 ton vessels of the North German Lloyd line, and will only have completed two" trips to the United States before she goes to Australia. Sir John Hall paid the Bremen a visit at Southampton this week, and expressed himself as very well satisfied with the roomy accommodation. Speaking of the visit of the New Zealand Premier he" said he thought that the impression created was one in favour of the colony, and he was pleased to have seen by cabled reports in the papers that party feeling had been dropped in according to Mr Seddon a reception on his return. BISHOP GRIMES ON THE CATHOLIC CHURCH IN NEW ZEALAND. Bishop Grimes has contributed to the Eoman Catholic organ li The Universe ' a short account of the Catholic Church in the new province of Canterbury. His article is in reality merely a peg whereon to hang an appeal to the faithful of the Old Country for subscriptions towards the building of a new pro-cathedral in Christchurch. The Bishop explains that unlike their European brethren the New Zealand Catholics are forced to erect, unaided, " schools which we must equip and maintain, together with the teachers without the faintest prospect of any assistance in the way of capitation grant or result fees. In fact, the Government of New Zealand not only refuses to aid or recognise, it simply ignores us. . . . Besides the enormous expenses entailed upon them by maintaining their own, our people," Dr. Grimes continues, "are most heavily taxed to keep up the State schools which—many of them most costly palatial buildings— are scattered broadcast throughout the colony of New Zealand."' Then comes his appeal. Erected at the very beginning of the mission, now 50 years and more, our present " wooden:' Pro-Cathedral has long shown signs of approaching decay. Though we nave other no less pressing needs in a new diocese, the need of a more suitable abode for the abiding presence of our dear Lord in the adorable sacrament of His love is one keenly felt by all who love the beauty of God's house and the unutterable yearnings of His Sacred Heart. The present pro-cathedral is dedicated to the Most Blessed Sacrament. The future cathedral will be dedicated to the same Adorable Sacrament of the Altar. One of the chapels we propose to erect in honour of the holy souls in purgatory. The dear departed friends of all contributors will be therein continually prayed for. Besides the altars or chapels in honour of our dear Lady and St. Joseph, and St. John the Baptist, the patron of the diocese, we hope to have one in honour of the Holy Face and St. Anthony of Padua. In the meantime we promise a daily memento in our Masses and prayers, especially the Divine Office and the offering of the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass every ■week for all generous donors. We are confident that the erecting of a suitable cathedral will,, give fresh impetus to our holy religion in Christchurch. Many of our dear separated brethren there love to attend our beautiful ceremonies and hear the word of God, and the explanation oi the sublime truths of the one true church. Many more would come had we room for them, and better means of carrying out the beautiful liturgical offices. Will not our dear friends in the British Isles share the privilege of co-operating in a holy work so pleasing to the Sacred Heart and the suffering souls in purgatory ?

TOM SULLIVAN'S SUCCESS.

When Tom' Sullivan made his match with Sam Emmett, of Wandsworth, to row over the Thames championship course for £50 aside many waterside experts voted the match a bad one for the ex-champion. He, as you already know, bound himself down to use his rowing gig Young Tom, a two year old craft, upon which he was not to put a new skin. Emmett, on the other hand, was at liberty to get the finest specimen of a best and best boat money could buy. These conditions were held by the quidnuncs of Putney to handicap Sullivan to the extent of one minute at least over the champienship course. This in itself, however, would not have prejudiced Tom's chance of success much in their opinion if they had not held the idea that the ex-champion was a speedy non-stayer, as fast a man as could be found up to a couple of miles, ■but a "bad !un" beyond that distance. The cause of this notion being prevalent was, of course, the double defeat Sullivan suffered at the hands of ' Wag' Harding, but the Sullivan who stepped into his gigon Monday last was a very different being to the Sullivan who lost the championship to Harding. In neither of the championship races was the New Zealander in tiptop condition, but on Monday Tom was, thought what is commonly called 'a bit above himself,' a3 strong as a bull and fit to race for his life. He rowed at 12st 41bs, and exactly a stone more than his weight when beaten by Harding two years ago.

The race does not need minute description. Sullivan won the toss and chose the Middlesex shore, the berth giving him shelter from the wind for thefirsfc half mile. It was three o'clock when the men took up their respective stations and they lost little time in getting away on their long journey, only one false start being indulged' in. At the second attempt the competitors shot away together, but Sullivan took his sculls through the water much the quicker, His first dozen strokes were made at the rate of 40 to the minute, and he fairly made his gig jump over the water. The result was Tom had gained a length before Emmett fairly realised that the race had begun. Sullivan having secured the lead slackened his rate of striking, and Emmett, in answer to his supporters, shouts, began to draw up a trifle. But it was only in sufferance, for the ex-champion, settling down to a long strong -and clear twentyeight gait, began to draw away again, and at the Craven Steps (257) was two lengths clear. At the mile post (4.59) Sullivan had added four more lengths, and what time he shot Hammersmith Bridge his pursuer was fully ten lengths behind. By this time it became apparent that Emmett hadn't the ghost of a show, for Sullivan was rowing very quietly, and yet making his craft travel if anything a trifle faster than Emmett. The latter worried along in a plucky fashion, and at Barnes Bridge, which Sullivan reached in 19min 2sec after starting, was plugging away as though his opponent was alongside instead of ten or eleven lengths ahead._ Pursuing the even tenor of his May, Sullivan passed the winning post ISsec in advance of Emmett, having negotiated the entire journey in 22min 3osec—very good time indeed considering lie was not pressed at any part of the race. A fast tide materially helped the men, and the New Zealander, though too far ahead of bis cutter to be able to receive instructions from his pilot, steered a splendid course throughout, and took full advantage of the tide. His victory was extremely popular all down the river.