FATHER HICKSON'S TRIP.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 112, 4 February 1908, Page 4

FATHER HICKSON'S TRIP.

THE MARIST SOCIETY. ' Among the passengers ,by the Corinthic was tlio Rev! Fathcr-'Hicksbn, S.M., ■ lato of Christ-church,'; who attended tlio Septennial Chapter of tho priests of , tho Society of Marist.s as" a delegate-:from-Ne)v. Zealand. He and Archdeacon Devoy 'Were co-delegates, the latter; attending c-vofiicio .by virtuo of his position as a Provincial of tho Society in Now Zealand. The Into Father, Lewis, but for .his death, would also have attended tea nil elcctcd, delegate. ' Tliero avo. about, soveiity ntoriibers of this Order'in' New; Zea-, laud: ' :>■■■■ The gathering was held at Belgium, and representatives numbering forty-five were present.''from all parts of the world. Tho meeting was to discuss ..Church matters, in connection' with the, Order, 'and its work generally »in ,France, United States, the British Isles, Australasia, and tho South Sea Islands. ■ •

While away, 'Father .Hickson visited France, Italy and Britain. At Rome he was granted a private audience with, the Pope. In France he round that Catholicism w.as'in a.very bad way, owing to tlio persecution that had .gono on, and the breaking of ,tho Concordat, but there were bright hones for tho'future. Father Hickson found that Now Zealand was very 'littlo known'on the Continent, but in this connection he enthusiastically; voiced tho statement that has already been made,! by other visitors to Britain, that, throughout the-Motherland the New Zealand footballers havedono wonders in tho way of-advertising this country. He was inclined to discredit tho .reports regarding the trouble in. Ireland. Things lie found were quiet in the parts visited, which was 'principally the south.,' The "cattle driving," of which so much was heard, was the removal of the cattle frbm the pastoral lands as a protest'against tho turning of good areas of land into'grazing runs.' Emigration 'at present was tlio curse of Ireland. So many df the young people were leaving for : Canada, land they returned after a time with glowing accounts of their.' experiences, and induced .'others to, go out with them. Tho' jourjiey across tlio-Atlantic was looked upon veritably as merely a, jaunt across tho "herring .pond." Ireland badly required for her owii. needs these sons and daughters of hers who wero. leaving., As far-as Father Hickson could see, the latest land laws of Ireland were proving beneficial, as, under the fixed tenure given,, it paid holders of land to improve, and there was' a greater disposition to look to .tho future. ■ ' v ■ ' •'