CHRISTCHURCH.

Tuapeka Times, Volume XVIII, Issue 1183, 26 September 1885, Page 4

CHRISTCHURCH.

(From our own Cmrcspondcnt. )

Last Sunday, Rangiora was made the scene of the laying of the foundation-stone of tho new Roman Catholic Church. Bishop Moran (from Dunedin), in place of the Bishop of Wellington, who is away in Europe, conducted the ceremony. After stating that it was thirteen years since he had seen Rangiora, and having made a, few other remarks on religion, &c, he attacked the secular mode of education. He said that all Catholics were most anxious that their children should be educated under their religion. This is a characteristic of all Christian churches. With them it was a serious matter, a matter of necessity. We were placed upon this earth to love our Creator, and to attain to that object, our children must be trained to a knowledge of our Redeemer. He hath said, " What shall it profit a man if he gain the whole world and lose his own soul." If the soul is lost, all is lost. ¥our first duty is, then, to impress on your children a knowledge) of God, and teach them to obey His commands, and then they will be able to discharge the duties imposed upon them in this life. Christ, on establishing His Church, gave to it that command, " Go forth and teach." Not satisfied with that, He said also, "He that heareth you heareth Me, and he that despiseth you despiseth Me, and he that despiseth Me despiseth Him that sent Me." Here, then, we see that He established the Church, and gave the command to teach. This was its mission. Now, we' do not find one exception that any other authority has been given for teaching. The Church haa received a particular command to combat and condemn error, therefore it is authorised to superintend education, so that it should not be in opposition to the truth of Divine revelation. When teaching, therefore, is not in subordination to the Church and to her ministers, it is in opposition to revelation. Now we find the world in opposition has established a system of education which tends to raise an impossible barrier between the world aud the Church. This is anti-Christian ; it is unreligious ; in direct enmity to the Church, with a wish to destroy it. In conclusion, he said that in the year 1864, the late Pope Pius IX., wrote a letter to the Bishop of Freiburg, wherein he said that a system to draw children into schools, called secular, had been got up to destroy tho faith. He then asked all who had any contribution to give to come and place it upon the stone which he had laid, when contributions to the amount of £450 were subscribed.

What a disappointment ! After all our demonstrations (which were a grand success), public meetings, deputations, telegrams, leading articles, &c, &c, we are riot going to have the rnuch-wished-for West Coast railway ! Who ever heard of such ill-treatment, and especially after our having given our sanction to the construction of the North Trunk Line aud the Ocago Central. The excuse is that "they can't afford it," and that the country is already over head and ears in debt. If the Government is going to cut down all the public works, what are the working classes to do ? Are they to starve, or co to the workhouse, where the Colony will have to keep them "all for nothing," when by constructing railways, &c, the Government would have something for their money ? It amounts to the same thing in the long run, and sooner or later the Government will have to borrow to keep their heads above water. If this railway were constructed, the people would not mind a little extra taxation, as we wan!/ the railway, and the Government will have no peace until we get it. We are not wanting it, knowing it will be an everlasting expense to the Colony, but because we are sure that it will noc only be for the benefit of Christchurch, but also for the Colony — that it will pay its way, and well, too. But the hon. gentlemen at Wellington only look at the dark side of the question — of the "immediate" expense in constructing it — and will not even look at the other side — the bright side. Well, all we can do is to wait until next session, and then have another "go" at them, and then if our members don't get it they'd better look out for squalls. They will have to oppose everything until we get our railway, and then we will be satisfied, but not till then.

A rather mean trick was played on our Garrison Band which went to Wellington last week to compete for the honors of '' being the best band in the Colony." Just before starting the music one of the members thought it best to have some water at hand, and at once went off and got some from some person at the door. Of course the members of the band had a drink, and the result was that they all commenced coughing and could not "blow their trumpets." However, they soon rallied and went through their different pieces to the satisfaction of everyone, and it is thought they wjll have a very good show of getting first honors. It is thought that some alum or lime was put into the water by some mean person so as to spoil their chance; but "all's well that ends well." Now the fine weather is setting in football is beginning to die out and cricket is the order of the day. The Clubs are now holding their annual meetings, and preparations are being made for the carrying out of this noble game. As yet, not many games have been played, but on Saturday afternoon last members of different Clubs were to be seen " wielding the willow " for the first time this season. At present there are plenty of- ways of spending your time. Mr G. A. Sala is to deliver three lectures on "Russia," &c, next week ; Mr Crewes is to lecture on " General Gordon ;" Miss Chapman on' "Sheol, Purgatory, and Limbo;" "The Lights o' London" is now playing, and last but not least the boating season has commenced. Of an evening the river Avon is to be seen dotted with boats everywhere, and a better sport could not be chosen, as it affords both exercise and pleasure. The trees along the river banks are all green now, wMch makes it< the more enjoyable.

You Can Be Happy if you will stop doctoring yourself and families with expensive doctors or cure-alls that do only harm, and use Nature's simple remedies for all your ailments, you rwill be well and happy and save great expense. The greatest remedy for this is the great, wise, and good will tell you, is Am. Co's Hop Bitters.