NEWS OF THE WEEK.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume III, Issue 122, 27 August 1875, Page 10

NEWS OF THE WEEK.

" Straws serve to show which way the wind Wows." Some little time since the ' Otago Guardian ' set itself up as a theological authority with regard to Catholic dogmas, and its leading columns teemed with attacks pn the Catholic body generally, and the Tablet in particular. As might have been expected, the dicta of the ' Guardian ' was not accepted by us as gospel, and on receiving some severe handling, it retreated from the contest which its ridiculous assertions had evoked, with even more haste than it had displayed eagerness in commencing the attack. The castigation inflicted must have rankled deeply since then, for, though evidently learning wisdom from the past, it has not dared openly to show its teeth — it never allows an opportunity to pass of patting upon the back kindred journalists who are not blessed with an. equal amount of discretion. Last week we pointed out an injustice' •which had been done us by a country paper, and we then asked the 'Star' and f Guardian' to publish the refutation, as they had the attack made on us. We are pleased to say the 'Star' frankly made the amende honorable, but true to its instincts the ' Guardian/ while refusing to do so, publishes in its issue of Monday last an extract from another paper, containing as much truth as the one we had previously refuted. Did we resort to the tactics of the ' Guardian/ and copy into our columns the strictures which have appeared upon it in the 'Bruce Herald' and other journals, we should have to allot more room than we feel inclined to waste upon such a subject. In another column will be found a most interesting account of the International Rifle Match between the American and Irish teams, victory again declaring in favour of the former. Although the match has been won by far greater odds than that gained last year at Creedmoor, it is satisfactory to learn that the desparity in the scores this year is owing to the improved shooting of the American, rather than to any material falling off in the Irish team. Last year their score was 931, which was 17 points better than that with which they won the Elcho Shield in 1873, defeating England, "Wales, and Scotland. This year the Americans outstrip their last

year's achievement by 33 points, while the representatives of Ireland are two points to the bad. It will be seen that, were it not for the unfortunate fatality which, attended Milner throughout the match, there is every probability ;that it would have been very close indeed. It may be remembered that the same luck attended him last year, and through a blunder of his in firing at the wrong target the- Americans were given the victory. He aimed and scored a bull's-eye at the wrong target, which but for that fact ■would have left the Irishmen the winners by one point. It is consoling to know, however, that not only were they beaten this year by shooting that has never been equalled, but the Dublin Club won the All Ireland Challenge Shield on July 3rd, beating their American opponents by six points. During the services at St. Joseph's on last Sunday, the Vicar- i General intimated to those members of the congregation who had made themselves liable for the sum owing upon the episcopal residence,' that he had appointed Sunday, the sth proximo, as the day on which the instalments wore to be paid. The reverend gentleman entered into a minute explanation of the state of the fund, and in concluding, urged upon those persons who had become residents of the district since the purchase had been made, and the debt incurred, the necessity of their bearing a portion of the burden. Father Coleman also stated that when he had received the sums for which the members of the congregation had become pledged, it was his intention to visit the country districts upon the same errand. We regret to state that the extent of damage done by the floods in the low lying grounds aboiit Kensington and Forbury has been far greater thau was at first imagined. The misfortune is, also, that the weight has fallen upon those who are but ill able to bear it, and in many cases, the amount of misery inflicted upon unfortunate families has been most trying. In many of the houses the inmates were unable to light their fires, and with the water knee deep, their sufferings may be easier imagined than described. We have been forwarded from the publisher, Mr. William Mahony, jun., the first number of a journal published in Wellington ■called " The Omnibus." It is sixteen pages demy quarto, and sold at the rate 'of threepence per copy. For a first number it is a most creditable turn-out, and although an apology appears for shortcomings on that account, we fail to see that it required-any. It contains some well-selected extracts, short tales, and original poetry, and if the excellence of the first number he maintained, it must command a ! ready and extensive sale. We have received the ' Illustrated New Zealand Herald ' for August, which fully maintains its excellence, and is worthy of, if it does not surpass, its predecessors. The illustrations are twelve in number., four of which are devoted to New Zealand, the remainder being sketches in Australia and Fiji. Chief amongst the illustrations is a full-paged cut of " The landing of Sir Arthur Hamilton Gordon at Nasova," which is admirably executed. In addition to this there are " Crossing the Waimakariri during a flood," " Splitters Falls, Victoria ;" " Grounding of the Ceylon, E.M.S.;" "A View of the Queensland Gold-fields j" -"Glenelg, S.A. ;" "Akaroaßayj" " The Norham Castle in a Storm / "The South. Head Lighthouse, Port Jackson ;" " Shipping Horses for India," and " The Invercargill Atheneeum." __ Speaking of the accommodation for our legislators in connection with the House of Parliament, the ' Napier Telegraph ' says : — " We have been furnished with a copy of Bellamy's tariff of ■charges, by which we perceive that things are made nice and comfortable for members of our Colonial Parliament. In New Zealand, 'Bellamy's, is a select club for legislators, where a man may live at a cheaper rate than at a hotel, and be better cared for. Members are allowed to take wine by the dozen, at a reduction of five per cent. ; they can have supper hot for Is 6d, or supper cold for Is. For the moderate charge of 30s a week a member is provided with full board, and a premium is held oivt to those whose small daily wants are supplied by five meals, by a charge of only five shillings less to those whese appetites are satisfied with a breakfast and dinner. A liberal honorarium, and the pleasing recollections of life at Bellamy's, perhaps account for much of that noble patriotism that urges a man to sacrifice himself on the shrine •of politics." We are pleased to see that the " Saturday Night Concerts," being held in the Temperance |Hall, are rapidly growing in public favor, and all it now requires is judicious management to make them an established success. Some little while since we believe the programme was not the most select, but since the concerts have been held in the Temperance Hall everything of an objectionable •character has been carefully eliminated, and the entertainment is such that an agreeable hour may be whiled away without anything being either seen or heard to hurt the most susceptible. On I Saturday night the large number of infants amougst the audience •was the subject of general remark, and their unmistakable method - of making their presence known elicited not a few expressions of dissatisfaction. The Esquimaux fishers who fringe the Arctic Sea coast down to Kotzebue Sound adopt a somewhat curious and crafty method for killing the Polar bear. The hunters bend pieces of stiff whalebone and freeze each into a ball of blubber j then they entice the bear to pursue them, dropping in his path the frozen balls, which he stops to swallow. When the blubber balls thaw, the whalebones spring open, and put an end to the hapless beast. The grizzly bear is proved to have formerly existed in England, by the researches of Professor Busk into the character of the numerous bones found in the ancient cavern at Brixham, near Torquay, in Devonshire. Of the sixteen hundred and twenty-one bones •obtained from this cave since its discovery, in 1858, nine hundred and thirty belonged to cave animals, and at least fifteen, artificially worked flints have also been found there.