NEWS OF THE WEEK.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume II, Issue 72, 12 September 1874, Page 6

NEWS OF THE WEEK.

<U Tn T< n? Me £ l J riYntwmmt in another column, the choir of St. Joseph s Church have kindly acceded to the request made to reLafe the programme submitted at their late concert in the Masonb Saf The object toward* which they have now come forward is to aid intlm erection of a church in Port Chalmers. The steamer Golden Age £l been chartered for the conveyance of patrons from Dunedin and W S -that attrachon, and the additional one of the services of a bWhSf which Wl ll accompany the steamer on her double trip, we irnvHo fear and confirmed, Mr Wm. Brown was duly initiated a full benefit member. The following gentlemen were proposed for members .— Messrs Desmond Kean, Bellet and Patrick Hayes. Bro. J. M. flallinan mZ posed, and Bro. B. Carroll seconded the following resolution — " That a bye-law be passed in accordance with Law 81, Clause 3 ' whereby the .remaining portion of a member's entrance fee be paid in twoeaual instalments within two months after initiation : carried. Bro R Carroll asked leave to withdraw the motion standing in his name in ra concert m aid of funds, in order not to clash with a concert to be erven on the 9th of November by the members of St. Josephs Church Choir; leave granted. Bro. J. J. Connor moved the resolution of which he had given notice at last quarterly meeting, viz. — That the Secretary s salary be at the rate of £20 per annum. Bro. R. Carroll seconded the resolution. Bro James Toal moved as an amendment— • That the Secretary's salary be at the rate of £15 per annum ••» but after some discussion^ the motion was carried. Bros. M Connellan a •£' T.? r £ nna , n Were elected ■** visitors, vice Bros. J. J. Connor and -b. Mc«rrath, resigned. The president having informed the meeting that up to the present time no one had been appointed to prepare the room for the society's meetings, Bro James Toal kindly volunteered to attend to the room for two months, in order to keep down the expenses of the branch. The following members of the Judicial Committee were appointed to investigate the charge made by Bro M O Donnell against the medical attendant:— Bros. J. Moroney J* Meennn, Brennan, E. Carroll, M. Connellan, T. O'Donnell, and- S* Carroll, together with the preaident and secretary. Durin<* the eveuing the sum of £25 was received. The meeting, as usual, closed with, prayer.

The handsome premises in course of erection for the Union Bank of Australia, at the corner of Princes and Liverpool streets, have so far progressed as to admit of the business of the bank being removed from High street. Though some time may yet elapse before the building is thoroughly completed, and the outside decorations out ot hand, the transactions of the bank were commenced there on Thursday, at which place all business will in future be carried on, an. intimation to that effect having been forwarded to all its customers!

An awfully sudden death from apoplexy occurred at Port Chalmers on Monday. A waterman, named Harland, who had- been at his usual avocation during the morning, on going" home at dinner time complained of a severe • headache, and immediately afterwards was seized with an apoplectic fit. Medical assistance was called in, but theunfortunate naan never recovered consciousness, and died in a fewhours. We regret to state deceased leaves a widow and helpless family totally unprovided for.

A coerespondent from Nelson has kindly forwarded us the report of a meeting of Catholics convened by the Rev. Father G-aria with the view of establishing a branch of the Hibernian Benefit Association in that city. Mr Charles E. Bunny, late Vice-President of the Dunedin Branch was present, and explained to the meeting the objects and provisions of the Society, and the approval it had received from the clergy of New Zealand and Australia. Mr Bunny spoke at some length of the good which the Association was calculated to effect in uniting Catholics for their mutual beneiit and the promotion of morality and religion. • As but very little notice had been given of the meeting, it was adjourned for a fortnight for the purpose of communicating with the head Branch in Dunedin, but before separating several names were received from persons willing to join. From the same source we learn with pleasure that Father G-aria has started & Total Abstinence Society, and that the efforts of the reverend gentleman for the -welfare of his flock in this direction are meeting with most encouraging success. We are glad to learn that the subscription set on foot to provide a fund for the benefit of the widow and childre/i of the late Captain Hart has reached the sum of over £1200, with the prospect of being still further supplemented whem all the lists have been handed in. 'xhat such a large amount should hare been collected ia such a ehorfc

•pace of timcf and in the face of so many other calls for assistance," ■peaks well for the esteem in which the deceased gentleman was held by the public, and ia a convincing proof of the promptitude and generosity with which our colonists come forward to alleviate and assist the unfortunate. At a meeting which was held at the Harbor Chambers on Monday, three gentlemen were appointed trustees, and authorised to deal with the money for the benefit of the widow and children.

We learn with pleasure that the Hibernian Catholic Benefit Society has so far progressed on the West Coast as to have erected a spacious hall at Goldsborough, in which to hold their meetings. The building is situated at the entrance of the township, and, according to the local papers, was to have been opened on the 23th ult., with a ■upper and ball. Great preparations were being made for the celebration, and a great many visitors were expected on the occasion from Hokitika and other surrounding townships. This speaks well for the energy and perseverance of the Goldsborough brethren, and their example might followed with benefit by older branches of the association.

Thb Dunedin Choral Society gave their first concert of. the season on Saturday night in the University Hall, the selection being Sir Michael Costa's oratorio of " Naaman." It proved a genuine success, and the attendance most numerous and fashionable. Every available inch of the spacious hall was utilised, and long after the oratorio had commenced persons continued to arrive. Mr A. J. Towsev wielded the conductor's baton, Mr S. H. Little acted as leader, and Miss Muir presided at the piano. The labors of the evening fell on Messrs Lewis and Towsey, and Misses Jago and Dick, by whom the principal characters were delineated — in some cases in a dual capacity. The amount of applause elicited, while no doubt being flattering to those to whom it was accorded, was well deserved, and a just tribute to the excellence of those engaged.

Judging from the annexed paragraph taken from the ' Weekly Times,' the immigrants despatched to Invercargill— and for whom the inhabitants were so clamorous — do not seem to be such a boon after all. Speaking of those still remaining in the Esk street barrack, that paper says : — " They are, it is true, but few in number, and nearly all women, with tawdry clothes and outworn faces ; but for pawning their goods and chattels for strong spirits, and for drinking, fighting, screaming, blaspheming, and in making night hideous in a general ■way, they are, we should say, simply unsurpassable. They seem to be fit for nothing useful, and the life they lead is truly a pitiable one. Still they are human beings, and must exist somewhere or other j but it is galling to think that the colonists' money should be wasted — literally thrown away — in bringing out people who, instead of being a benefit, are a burden to the Colony." »

The Auckland papers contain a long and minute account of the burning in effigy of the Premier and his supporters on the question of Abolition. A procession was organised, and on a horse draped in "black was seated a figure bearing a remarkable likeness to Mr Vogel, bareheaded, and his hair characteristically parted in the centre md •tuning with tar. In front stood a tall figure, a fair representative of Mr Reader Wood, accompanied by Messrs Creighton, Buckland and liuckie. After parading the streets for a considerable time, the popular fury was vented on the Premier, who -was thrown on his back and subjected to some " striking " proofs of the estimation in which ho was held. The other gentlemen, to honor whom the populace had met, ■were paraded for some time longer and then met a similar fate. The 4 Star,' in describing the imposing ceremony, says : —"Mr Luckie burned slowly and died hard. The last dying speech of each, as well as the gallows and ropes were in resvdino'ss, but o"wing to the earnestness of the amateur assistants the after part was curtailed. Crowds gathered round each blazing form, which from time to time was flung aloft, to the no inconsiderable risk of the spectators."

It appears that when Mr Vogel has concluded his negotiations in Sydney with regard to the electric telegraph cable, it is his intention to proceed to England, but the length of his visit has not transpired. The retirement of Sir 6-eorge Arney from the Chief Justiceship will leave a vacancy, which will be filled up by the present AttorneyGeneral, Mr Prendergast, and the prevailing opinion seems to be that Mr Travers will be offered the position vacated by Mr Preadergast. Mr Creighton, M.H.R., and editor of the Q-uardian, it is reported, has accepted the appointment of Emigration Agent, and proceeds to .England in a short time, as also does Mrs Yogel and family.

We are far from advocating the adoption of Pagan customs, but we believe but few members of the Fourth Estate would object to the following summary mode of canvassing : — The Tycoon of Japnn knows how to start a paper. He does not offer premiums for subecribers, but having taken an interest in the publication of a journal at the Japanese capital, he has issued an order that all men of certain social and political standing shall take it, or be beheaded.

The Hokitika ' Leader,' states " Greenstone can boast of a real *' Claimant." A miner, now working in tb»t locality, not only maintains that his name is Sir Roger Tichborne, Bart., but likewise attempts to substantiate the same by exhibiting tbe tattoo marks on his arm, and speaking very indifferent French. He appears thoroughly acquainted with the names of the Tichborne family, and is at present so demonstrative in detailing his own history and in denouncing the imposition of any other claimant than^himself to the title, that it is not unlikely an examination will shortly 'be made, with the view of despatching him to England, or elsewhere nearer hand." We imagine if the " speaking very iudifferent French " be admitted as a proof of identity, there are not a few but could advance a claim, and supplement it with " very indifferent English." Begarding the second test, the man must have been singularly fortunate who is not nowacquainted with the Tiehborne genealogical tree from its very root. Major Atkinson was sworn in on Monday a member of the Executive. It is understood that the new Minister, in addition to the Secretaryship of Crown Lands -will also be gazetted as Minister of Immigration, au office hitherto held by Mr Yogel.