NEWS OF THE WEEK.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume II, Issue 89, 9 January 1875, Page 6

NEWS OF THE WEEK.

«■ + i FfL*? 8^ d be J « na ] )3 « d to announce that the committee of the Catholic Pic-nic, after defraying all expenses in connection with the fete are in the agreeable position of having a balance of between .£4O and £50 in their hands. This is as near an approximate as can be arrived at until the submission of the balance-sheet by the Secretary which will take place in a few days, w hen, no doubt the consideration of the appropriation of balance in hand will be entertained. Although this year's celebration has been styled the second annual fete, it has been in reality the first of the kind, the preceding pic-nic having been more of a private character, in which the participation of the outside public- had not been expected. However, from the very liberal patronage received from all classes of the community, and the general expressions of satisfaction from all sides, it is more than probable the committee who so well initiated the project, and carried out the arrangments will gethen- way clear for something of a similar naturl durin- the

The formal of handing over the Water Works to the Coloration took place on the last day of the year, and was celebrated by a luncheon m the Civic Chambers, to which represent tatires from the different bodies and most of the influential citizens were invited. The luncheon was catered by Mi- Jones, of Wain's Hotel. The chair was occupied by his Worship the Mayor • supported on his i right by Messrs Cutteh and Elliot, and on his left by Messrs CargOl and James Smith. The ex-Mayor, Councillor Me? cer, occupied the vice-chair, Mr Justice Chapman being on his right. After full justice had been done to the excellent repast, the « S mv °£n were proposed, followed by "The City Council," "The Colonial Executive," "The Legislative Council" "His Honor the Superintendent." The toast of " The Provincial Council and Executive" was responded to by Mi- Stout, in the absence of Mr Donald Keid— a course taken exception to by Mr Gillies, the fcpeaker, who considered that he was the proper person to respond. It was pointed out by the chairman that Mr Stout bein» the only member of the Provincial Executive present b.adbeenth<Treason of his selection ; but Mr Gillies maintained that in such a case he himself, and not Mi- Fish, should have replied on the part of the Council. Other toasts were proposed and duly responded to by representatives, and at the close of the proceedings, the connection of the Company with the Water Works became a tiling of the past. Amongst the items of intelligence forwarded by its special correspondent to the ' Guardian ' and published in its issue of Wednesday was one stating that a report had been current of the death of Her Majesty the Queen. Our contemporary, of course, gaye the report

for what it was worth, and that we are inclined to believe would be very little. No doubt, had such an important event taken place, there would have, been very little likelihood of its reaching any journal in the Colony by a mere side-wind.

We have received from the Dunediu agent, Mr Macedo, "The Irish-Australian Almanac and Directory for 1875." It contains a complete list of all the Catholic hierarchy and clergy in Australia and New Zealand, the different Hibernian and other kindred societies throughout Australasia, and an admirably-selected class of Catholic intelligence generally. In addition to this it is illustrated with portraits of Daniel O'Connell Archbishop Manning, Henry Grattan, Thomas Davis, Isaac Butt, and will be found a most useful book of reference on Catholic subjects. The prices at which it is sold in Dunedin are Is 4d and Is.

We have received from Mr Thomas Pavelitch the prospectus of the Dunedin Piggery and Marine Store, the projector being determined to initiate and carry on the proposed industry, even had his efforts not been seconded by the general public. Mr Pavelitch states that there are between three and four hundred shares already taken up, and he purposes calling a meeting in a few days for a further issue of shares.

We are requested to call the attention of visitors to town to the Worts of Ait exhibited at Messrs Hay and Cos. establishment. The exhibition is open to the public free, and the valuable collection will be submitted in a few days on the Art Union principle. The small sum required for a chance, and the number of prizes offered — being almost one in four — should prove a powerful inducement to speculation.

A pew days since the telegraphic columns of the daily journals contained the intelligence that a seat on the New Zealand Bench had been offered to Mr George Higinbotham, of Victoria. There may be truth in the report, but we are very much inclined to doubt it. We are, however, quite sure 1 that even though there were, there is very little likelihood of the gentleman in question accepting the position thus offered. Mr Higinbotham stands at the top of his profession in Victoria, with a practice reaching between JE7OOO and .£BOOO per year, and has had before now a seat on the Supreme Court Bench, worth .£3OOO per year, at his option. Independently, however, of the matter of emoluments, he is looked upon as one of the ablest — as he is undoubtedly the honestest — politicians in the Victorian Legislature, with which he has been closely identified during the past twelve years. It is not nicely, then, that he would feel inclined to relinquish so lucrative a practice, or to sever old associations, for the acceptance of a New Zealand judgeship ; nor can we see, on the othe hand, the necessity of seeking an occupant for the vacant seat outside of our colony. We do not know if the canard be an emanation from the fertile brain of the immortal " Knocker" or otherwise ; but it most likely to have been set afloat by the imaginative individual who stated that His Honor Mr Justice Chapman would make it a special condition before resigning, that Judge Ward should not be appointed to the vacancy, and, with an eqpal amount of reliability.

In our last issue we published an account of the conversion of the Q.ueen-mother of Bavaria, a Princess of the Eoyai House of Prussia, and first cousin of the Emperor William, and we have now to chronicle another convert, of less exalted, but still of very distinguished rank — Lady Beaumont, of Charlton Towers. She is daughter of Lord Kihnaine, an Irish Protestant peer, and widow of the late Lord Eeaumont, an English Catholic. Strange to say, not only did her ladyship continue a Protestant during the lifetime of her husband, but both her sons were brought up. in the Protestant creed. The oldest of them, however — that is to say, the present Lord Beaumont — turned Catholic when he came of age, and now, after no very great interval of time, his mother, we see, has followed his example.

The annual school treat of the Catholic School children of Christchurch was given in their grounds, Barbadoes-street, on Monday week. The girls were taken charge of by the nuns in the Convent grounds, and the boys by Mr E. O'Connor in the paddock adjoining their schoolroom. They were amused with foot-races and games during the afternoon, and soon after 5 o'clock partook of a most liberal tea, the cakes, &c., being contributions from the ladies of the congregation and the Sisters of Mercy. After tea, a procession was formed, as follows : — The band, under Mr G. Oppenheim, headed the procession, the girls followed, and then came the boys, bearing banners. The children were all in holiday attire, and presented a very gay and pretty sight. Their teachers and friends accompanied them. The procession proceeded from the church to Higb street, down High street to the tank opposite Matheson's Agency, and then down Cashel street east to Barbadoes street, and thence along Barbadoes street to the Catholic Boys' school, where Mr Shanley gave them an exhibition of his magic lantern, which highly delighted them. Mr Charles Oakes presided at the piano, and ably assisted Mr Shanley with appropriate music. At the close of the entertainment (says the ' Lyttelton Times '), the boys presented their schoolmaster, M. E. O'Connor, with a very handsome book, as a mark of their esteem. The Bey. Father Belliard was most indefatigable in his endeavors to add to the thorough enjoyment of all present. The band was in attendance during the afternoon, and added greatly to the iclat of the whole proceedings. The boys and girls, after three cheers for the Eev. Father Belliard, the nuns, and all kind assisting friends, dispersed about 10 p.m. .

From the report of Mr Robert Lee, the Government Inspector of Schools, which occupies a page of the ' New Zealand Times,' we make the following extract with regard to the Boulcott street Catholic School, Wellington, which is under the superintendence of Mr Hurley. Mr Lee reports : — " The results in arithmetic are higher than in any other school in the Province. The other work was satisfactory. The discipline is improved, but not good. Mrs Hurley takes great pains with the younger children. The building

is unsuited for a shoolroom, being too small, too narrow, and too illventilated. It will not accommodate more' than sixfy ." With regard to the Hill street Catholic School, in the same city, the Inspector adds :—": — " The discipline, attention to cleanliness, and the hoire lesson-work of this school are the best in the Province. The schoolroom itself was not tidy, but this was owing very much to the wretched organisation, as the school is literally blocked up Avith huge, clumsy desks, necessarily so close together, that it is hard fcr the children to squeeze between them, and good classification is almost impossible. The schoolroom requires windows on the side nearest the road. I missed Wilson, Te Amohau, and other sons of Maori chiefs, who, on my last visit, were most carefully trained by Mr Newlyn."