NEWS OF THE WEEK.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume II, Issue 104, 24 April 1875, Page 11

NEWS OF THE WEEK.

The following is the daily average attendance of scholars at the Catholic schools at Queenstown and Lawrence, which proves that notwithstanding the difficulties tinder which they are placed by the Government, the schools are largely attended: — Queenstown, average attendance, 65 ; number on the roll, 75 ; Lawrence, attendance, 120 ; ' on the roll, 140 Somb months since we advocated the initiation of " Saturday evening entertainments," pointing out how successful such sources of amusement' had proved in other cities. We are pleased to see that steps have been taken to carry out the suggestion, the first of a series coming off at the Oddfellows' Hall this evening. If properly managed, there can be little doubt of their proving a success, and providing a wholesome source of amusement. His Worship the Mayor has consented to occupy the chair on this the opening; night. Wb have received from the publishers, Messrs Langbridge and Edgcumbe, the proprietors of the ' Bay of Plenty Times/ " The Handbook to the Hot Lakes of the Rotomahana and Taupo Districts," which will be found a most useful guide to visitors to th« Bay of Plenty. The little wort contains an excellent map of the district, and the letter-press gives most interesting histories of its settlement ; in addition, an account of the various boiling springs, healing baths, geysers, and intenniting fountains for which it is celebrated. Considering the many natural curiosities with which it abounds, its easy access from the principal northern ports, and the very reasonable charges for accommodation, the Hot Lake district should be extensively patronised by tourists, to whom the little guide just published will be found to be a most useful travelling companion. , Wa would remind our readers that on next Tuesday evening his Lordship the Bishop will deliver his promised lecture in aid of the erection of a church at Port Chalmers. Setting aside the laudable object towards which the proceeds are to be applied, the subject is one which must have peculiar attractions at the present time. The writer of " Socialities " in the • Australian Sketcher ' tells the following curious story: — "Two or three abnshouses for the reception of indigent Jews were built in a certain city, and a fund provided that would give £1 per week each, in addition to the free quarters, to the objects of the charity. For a long time no one could be got to live in them. A personal canvass was made by the promoters of the charity on their poorer brethren, but none of the chosen people could be found mean enough to accept the terms. ' Say £2/ at last a feeble old marine store dealer said, ' and I'll go in.' His offer was thankfully closed, and the conductors, in their annual report; congratulated the subscribers on the progress the good cause was making. But even for £2 they couldn't get a tenant to go next door. Determined to make tlie thing a success, the benevolent president bribed an »ged pedlar and his wife with the offer of an extra. £1 out of his private pocket to become partakers of the charity. The rage of the original pauper when he heard of the transaction surpasses belief. ' It's a downright swindle/ he cried to the committee on their next visit, ' I'm done out of a pound a week, and I won't stand it. Look here, if I don't get the same wages as the other cove* I'll go out on strike." We notice from our Canterbury exchanges that Baker's Hibernicon are now appearing in Timaru, and with an equal amount of success to that achieved in Dunedin. A bbmaekable contretemps has arisen between the Provincial Government of Auckland and the Ladies' Benevolent Society, in consequence of the former discharging the matron of the Old Woman's Home, which is under the management of the ladies. The latter took the matron under their protection. The Deputy-Superintendent (says the 'Marlborough Times') wrote to the ladies that unless the matron cleared out before noon on a certain day, that a policeman would expedite her departure. The ladies thereupon carted the whole of the bedding and fittings of the home, which are their property, and left the Government with the bare bxiilding full of decrepit old women in a helpless state. How the matter will end is doubtful, but public feeling favors the action of the ladies in resisting the arbitrary measure of the Government. The Hew Zealand census for 1874 is just out of the hands of the Begistrar-General, The population of th« colony, on the Ist March, 1875, was 299,514, of whom 4,816 were Chinese. The males numbered 170,281, and the females 128,5233. The Provincial returns are: Auckland, 67,451; Taranaki, 5,465; Wellington, 29,790 ; Hawkes Bay, 9228 ; 'Marlborough, 6,045 ; Nelson, 22,558 j l Westland, 14,660 ; Canterbury, 58,775 ; Otago, 85,113. The population of the chief towns is — Auckland (without suburbs), 12,755 j with the suburbs of Parnell and- Newton, 21,520; Wellington, 10,547; Napier, 3,514; New Plymouth, 2,044; Wanganui, 1,134; Nelson, 2,806; Hokdtika, 3,352 ; Greynaouth, 2,551; Christchurch, without, suburbs, 10,294 ; including suburbs, 16,959 ; Lyttelton, 2,974; Dunedin, 18,499; Port' Chalmers, 1,535; Invercargill, 2,479 ; Oamaru, 2,819 ; the town of Thames; 8;073. ' lT:is a matter for surpriee that; amid the general prosperity which at present pervades the Colony, Auckland would i appear to be the •nly city left out in the cold. Not only is her Provincial exchequer worse than empty ; not only does her education scheme threaten a failure^ for lack of means, but her' City Improvement Commissioners are equally impecunious, and, for lack of mean*, have been compelled to suspend operations, which, haring been begun, must now be finished

otherwise much of the work that has been done will be money thrown away. Whether a new era (Bays a contemporary) will open with the coming changes in the personnel of Provincial and political leaders, it is difficult to say ; but the hopes of the people point in that direction, and we trust they will not be disappointed. The following is from the ' Charleston Herald ': — His Lordship Bishop Redwood left here on Monday last, accompanied by the Eevs. [Father G-outenoir and Walsh, for Brighton, and from what we hear we gather that a most cordial reception is in store for him; well becoming the Bi-ightonians. His Lordship has again honored the Charleston Reception Committee by complying with their request to dine ■with them on Sunday after last Mass, and which he did in as humble a capacity as if he were only one of themselves, and by his humble and affable manner disappointed those who expected more rigid discipline from so high a dignitary of the Church. This is how it ought to be as, when such cool deference is observed between high ecclesiastics and their people, that unity which should exist is very often weakened. A conteibtjtoe to the Greymouth^ ' Star ' gives the following, relative to Sir George Grey's acceptance of the Superintendency of Auckland : — " Outside the Province the great event of the week has been the election of Sir George Grey as Superintendent. ' Fancy, said Brown, speaking of it, 'he leaves the pleasantest home in Uew Zealand, gives up a thousand a year ;' and with that Brown tapped his forehead and murmured something like ' second childhood.' ' Yes,' I replied quite thoughtfully, 'I quite concur in your opinion, In leaving Kawau's Sylvan shade, Where peace imbue 9 each scene— To take to politician's trade The Grey is somewhat green.' " The proprietor of the ' Charleston News/ with the somewhat suggestive name of Tucker, having- notified the impending decease of that journal, the Hokotika ' Leader,' in defiance of the maxim "de mortuis nil nisi bonwin" pablishes the following uncomplimentary notice of the fact : — " We may venture to add that the Fourth Estate will lose but little of its prestige by the decease of a few more of such journals as the • Charleston News/ which was during its brief existence the greatest caricature of a newspaper ever published in this or any other colony."