SCHOLAR AND CARDINAL.

Evening Star, Issue 20150, 15 April 1929, Page 6

SCHOLAR AND CARDINAL.

Cakdixai, Gasqukt, whose death is reported by the cable news, was a great scholar as well as a great ecclesiastic. The jubilee of his ordination, when it occurred loss than five years ago, was described as “ more than a church affair: a concern of national pride and pleasure.” In spite of his French name, his family had been English since the French Revolution, and he himself had the reputation of being intensely English in character and outlook. Twenty-six years ago, when Cardinal Vaughan died, he wgs in the running for the position of .Archbishop of Westminster, ft is said that one <Jf the reasons why ho was not appointed was that Cardinal Moran threw his weight at Rome against the idea of a Rcncdictino archbishop, the experiment not seeming to him to have, been a success at the Antipodes, Abbot Gasqnet, qs be was then, found work sufficient to his hand in the restoration in Eng-

land of. the Benedictine Order, which had become miserably obscure there, freeing it from foreign control and reviving its old spiritual and scholastic ardour, and in the historical researches by which also his name promises to bo lastingly remembered. The monies who were turned adrift to make way for the Reformation were not all plaster saints, no doubt, but they were not nearly so bad as a class as Henry VIII.’s Commissioners were interested to make them, and Cardinal Gasquet’s researches have done much to establish a truer estimate of their character. In May, 1914, the reel hat was bestowed upon the abbot and scholar at a time and in. circumstances which allowed him to perform one of the greatest services to his country. By tho revival of an old tradition he was appointed as Cardinal in curia, allowing him to live in Rome. When tho war broke out by which Christendom was divided neither Britain nor France was officially represented at the Vatican, whereas the Central Powers had their Embassies, ns well as numerous clergy and heads of orders and religious houses, who received with patriotic credulity, ami actively disseminated, the stream of propaganda supplied to them from Germany. To combat this campaign, it has been said, and at the same time to secure in the highest quarters a full knowledge of facts and a clear appreciation of the aims of the Allies, there was no one so well qualified as Cardinal Gasquct. By successive Popes lie had been highly esteemed. He had an international reputation as a scholar, and for seven years lie had been organising the vast enterprise entrusted by Pius X. to the Benedictine Order—namely, the restoration of the original text of St. Jerome’s Latin Bible, the Vulgate. His palace in Rome became the centre and rallying ground of all who had at heart the cause of Britain and her Allies. It was a priceless service in a most taxing time.

An event unique in tho history of the north took place yesterday afternoon, when the .Freemasons of the district extending as far as Kaitain attended a united church service at Waipu. 'The Governor-General, Grand Master, was present and addressed the gathering of about I,2oo. —Whangnrci Press Association telegram. Two officers of the Maui Pomarc wore discharged from “ Ciutra ” yesterday. About fifteen islanders will be released from isolation to-day and to-morrow, leaving about a dozen patients in the temporary hospital. One ease is serious. The chairman of the Hospital Board has been informed that the Maui Pomare’s quarters comply with the Hoard of 'Trade regulations.—Auckland Press Association telegram.

An unprecedented incident in Hie history of the New Zealand Farmers’ I'niou occurred at the genera! meeting of the Rangiora branch, hold on Saturday evening, when the business was brought to an end by the resignation of the newly-elected executive as a protest against the large percentage of members’ subscriptions demanded by dominion and provincial councils. r J he dissatisfaction* felt at the amount of the levy was referred to by the chairman. who said that out of every subscription of £1 a year 15s had to be scut away to the centres. This lolt not sufficient' to carry on the ordinary work of the branch. —Press Association. Our Auckland correspondent telegraphs :—“Sir George Fowlds now says That lie is very glad to have the assurances of the Otago University and Canterbury College that they were not parties to the application for Carnegie Trust grants outside of the New Zealand University.”

Messrs Hugh ami G. K. Neill's automatic machine for delivering photographic films was again a topic l° r l p fr discussion at the Police Court this morning. The ease was adjourned from last Friday, when the owners ol the machine were ‘charged with keeping their shop open alter the regulation hours. Mr G. H. Light foot (inspector of simps and offices) conducted the prosecution, ami Mr P. S. Anderson appeared for the defence. The question to bo decided was whether or not the. automatic machine could he deemed a shop or part at a. shop. Mr Anderson contended that if the Act intended to deal with these machines as shops there would have been a clear clause to that effect. Moreover, if the machines were forbidden the memImrs of the public would bo the only ones to suffer, because as far as firms were concerned there were no benefits other than those of situation accruing more to one than to another. They could all do the same thing if they wished. After Air Anderson had quoted legal precedents in support of his caso ILis Worship reserved his decision. The postal authorities advise that mails which left Auckland on March 12 per the Aorangi via Vancouver arrived in .Loudon on April H. The new building erected on the harbour side ol the Anderson s Bay road, near the railway bridge, is lor the Post and Telegraph Department in connection willAhe motor services that it carries on for the whole of the Government departments in Dunedin. Hitherto this service, which means the supplying of cars and other vehicles, and the maintcuanee thereof, has been graduated from a temporary building the other side of the road. The Love Construction Company was the contractor lor the new building, It measures about 240 x GO, and lias a steci frame, galvanised iron wall, and cornigated asbestos roof. All the work is to be done cm" the floor. Occupation is to begin almost at once. Messrs V.'. Ellis and Co. have pracally completed their coniract tor the building of a new laundry at Caversham lor -the Otago Hospital Board, and it is probable Unit operations therein will commence next month, but flic full scheme of washing for all the institutions in Hie district will have, to be deferred until the boiler is si; if fed from the main hospital, this involving some structural alterations in the old building, for which the assent of the Minister of Health is required. Already one questioner asks the ‘Star’ what date Faster occurs next season. The answer may ho of service to others who cannot even begin to calculate the date for themselves. Faster Sunday of 1930 will be April 20. (fas in a house at the corner of Frederick and Castle streets caused a five at S.'F) this morning, two machines from central being despatched to the scene. No damage resulted, however. There were several week-end fires at Wellington, but none did any great damage. The engine on the auxiliary schooner, Fairborn, lying at the King’s wharf, backfired and set the engine room alight, but the crew managed to extinguish the flames with the Harbour Board’s hose. A motor lorry at Brooklyn caught fire, and was badly damaged before the brigade got to it. Hot ashes from a steam heater caused a little damage to the Phoenix aerated wider factory. Two small houses at Lyall Bay .suffered some injury. Water had to be pumped from the sen. The insurances on the two were £1,400. — Press Association.

“Early announcement of the successor of Mr L. B- Beale as His Majesty’s Trade Commissioner in New Zealand is expected by tho British Trade Commissioner’s Office. Tho New Zealand post is one of tho five senior positions in tho British service, and it is expected that tho senior officer will be sent here from London unless it is decided to promote one of the assistant; commissioners. The new Trade Commissioner is duo in New Zealand in about two months’ time.

It is expected that between 15,000 and 4,000 bales will bo catalogued for the fourth Dunedin wool sales of the season, to be held in the Victoria Hall on Thursday of this week. Not much of the wool to be offered is “ held over ” parcels from previous auctions; it is mostly wool from the back country, clips from stragglers, and the product of late shearing. ’The majority of the usual buyers will be represented. Just now, unfortunately, the wool market in England, which has a big influence, is very dull, and in fact the trade is depressed all over tho world. Nevertheless, there is always a demand for tho good Otago clips.

An Ashburton Press Association telegram states that the Timvald Primary School has been dosed for a week on account of seven cases of scarlet fever having been reported.

Mr Justice Kennedy gave judgment in tlm Supremo Court, Auckland, against two Dalmatians who claimed £1,45(1 on a fire insurance policy, contested by tho Australian Provincial Assurance Association on tho ground that tho policy had been rendered void because the plaintiffs, when making the proposal for insurance, had not disclosed that the risk had already been declined by another company.—Press Association.

A fire this morning at 10.-‘SO badly damaged the house of Mr P. C. Sorensen, of Mine street, New Plymouth. The insurances were; On the house, £(300; furniture, £260. A boarder lost 5350 watches, valued at £l4O, _ which were uninsured.—Press Association.

Artificial Eyes.—W. V. Stunner, G.A.0.C., D. 5.0.1., specialises the fitting artificial eyes, also their comfortable adjustment.— [Advt.) Mr 15. W. Hall, Mayor of S(. Hilda, invites St. Hilda electors to a public meeting: on Thursday evening, when ho will deal fully with borough affairs.