AUCKLAND.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume I, Issue 3, 17 May 1873, Page 8

AUCKLAND.

April 28th, 1873. Greeting to the spirited projectors of the New Zealand Tablet ; greeting to my co-religionists of Dunedin, to all Otago, and to the entire Colony. A want is supplied that was much needed. Whilst every other religious denomination was represented by the Press of New Zealand, it was a sad fact that so important a bodj as tbe Roman Catholics should be without an organ to advocate and reflect their views, socially, religiously, and politically. I should be very sorry, indeed, to attribute any unfairness on the part of the Now Zealand Press towards their Catholic fellow-colonists, on the contrary, I know that the Press in general of the Colony has acted in a spirit of great liberality, both editorially and in giving the free U3e of their columrs to Catholics to defend themselves, at any time that defence was necessary, and it is a gratifying fact to acknowledge that that was not of frequent occurrence. But still, however liberal I acknowledge the Press of the Colony to be, and more especially the Auckland journals, it cannot be expected it would take that immediate interest in matters purely affecting Roman Catholics that a Roman Catholic Journal ■would and should do. Therefoie, I say, all hail to the New Zealand Tablet, and if it emulates its English namesake, it will accomplish a great fa< t. I recollect the late Mr Lucas, the founder of that journal ; I had the honor of his acquaintance, and consequently affirm that he was all that was amiable in private society, and all that was great as a Catholic writer and a political speaker.* As a lay champion of the Church, next to the late Liberator, Daniel O'Connell, he was one cf the greatest ; yet, though it was the will of God to take him from amongst us at a ripened age, it was aleo His pleasure to leave those behind to conduct the ' Tablet ' ably and skilfully. Therefore, I congratulate the Catholics of Dunedin on their spirit in establishing in New Zealand a prototype to the English ' Tablet,' and this congratulation will, I feel assured, be participated in by all the Catholics of this Colony. Many questions crop up in which Catholic interests are materially affected, and of which a Catholic journal only can be the truthful and faithful exponent. It matters little whether that organ be published in Dunedin or in Auckland. With the telegraphic and railway facilities that will shortly be an established fact throughout the length and breadth of the Colony, with this fact befora us, we have an additional assurance that the Tablet of Dunedin will be the faithful representative and chartpion of the rights and privileges of the Catholics of New Zealand. Why we were so long without an organ is to me a matter of great surprise; but, as the old saying goes, 'Better late than never." First and foremost of the many matters that have arisen affecting Catholic iuterests is that of education. Upon this subject there cannot, there must not be any compromise. Catholics cannot tolerate any one expounding the Bible to their children, other than those authorised by the Church to do so, and in thi» regard they are merely acting upon the pure principle of religious liberty. Catholics are not prohibited from reading the Bible as is erroneously imagined. On the contrary, they have their Douay Bible, with note and comment, sanctioned by Councils and the Fathers of the Church. Other denominations would object to send their children to schools presided over by Catholic teachers. Well, upon the same principle, Catholics ought to object to send their children to schools presided over by Protestant teachers. But Catholics do not object on this ground. In secular matters Catholics are very tolerant. The only object to the Bible being expoanded to their children otherwise than by those authorised by their Church to do so. I shall not at present enter further into this particular grievance of Roman Catholics than by simply remarking that the Catholic body of New Zealand only ask the same measure oi equity and justice that other denominations already enjoy. Civil and religious liberty is their motto. To this principle they have always and ever been truthful and faithful. I defy their enemies to contradict it. It would bo an everlasting odium upon the Roman Catholics of New Zealand if they had not an organ to reflect and espouse their iuterests. That £his odium is being wiped away by the publication of the Tablet is a matter of great congratulation -indeed, and that it will be supported with a will throughout the length and breadth of the land, I have not the remotest doubt.