New Zealand Tablet. Fiat Justitia. FRIDAY, MARCH 17, 1876. ST. JOSEPH'S NEW SCHOOLS.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume III, Issue 150, 17 March 1876, Page 10

New Zealand Tablet. Fiat Justitia. FRIDAY, MARCH 17, 1876. ST. JOSEPH'S NEW SCHOOLS.

++ The Catholics of Dunedin have erected large new boys' schools at St. Joseph's in this city. The expense incurred by their erection, and the providing of a residence, &c, for the Christian Brothers who are to teach in them, and who may be expected here in a few weeks, is very large. Already three thousand pounds have been expended, and more will be required to put everything in working order. The school consists of three halls, intended to accommodate two hundred pupils. The halls are large, airy, and well ventilated ; in addition a well-paved play yard and shed, together with other indispensable out-offices have been provided. The halls will be furnished with every requisite for efficient teaching. The desks and seatb have been made for some time ; the stands are of cast iron, from the firm of Kincaird M Quein and Co. in this city, and the wood work is of kauri, from the estab-

lisbment of Mr. D. W. Woods, also of Dunedin. The plan of the furniture, and indeed of the entire building, with the exception of the play shed and out-offices, were drawn by the Superior of the Christian Brothers, Melbourne, and, throughout, everything has been done exactly as he requested. When in addition to this, it is borne in mind that the Christian Brothers are highly qualified and most successful teachers, it is not too much to say that Catholics may congratulate themselves on the prospect of having high-class and most efficient schools in their midst. They will no longer labor under any disadvantage as to the means of obtaining an education that will put them, at least, on a footing of equality with their fellows, and fit them to take their place in the race of life and progress with their neighbors of other denominations. And, it appears to us, that not only Catholics, but also all citizens ought to congratulate themselves on the establish- v ment of Christian Brothers schools in Dunedin. The more schools the better, provided they are good. There is room, and more than room, for all ; there can hardly be too many pood schools. Ignorance may be said to be legion, and it will take no less than an army of zealous, qualified, and laborious teachers to dispel and dissipate it. The Christian Brothers schools are not establi3lied in rivalry of other schools, but purely for the purpose of supplying a Catholic want, and of giving a Christian education to Catholic children. We Catholics entertain no jealousy of other schools, on the contrary, we hail with the greatest satisfaction the establishment of schools by other denominations, and nothing would give us greater pleasure than to see even the Government plant schools in every locality of the Province where even a dozen children of school age are to be found, provided godlessness was not introduced by secularism. It gives us great pleasure to think and feel, and even in some instances to know, that we are not, in the great effort we are making, shut out from the sympathies of our fellow citizens. There are many liberal, generous gentlemen and ladies in Dunedin, not belonging to the Catholic body, who hail with satisfaction the establishment of Christian Brothers schools for the education of Catholic youth. These look upon the new schools as a powerful instrument for the elevation of a considerable portion of their future fellow-citizens, and an important contribution to the sum total of those means which are such powerful instruments of public order and industrial enterprise. For these reasons we are sanguine enough to anticipate that the Bazaar and Art Union Lottery which the Catholics of Dunedin. propose holding immediately after Easter will be largely patronised by citizens generally. Indeed indications already exist that such will be the case. In point of justice,j ustice, to,t >o, Catholics have a particularly strong claim, inasmuch as they labor under the great disadvantage, owing to their conscientious scruples, of being unab'.e to avail themselves of the facilities of obtaining education for their children provided by Government out of the general revenue of the Province. Protestants of all denominations have a monopoly of these facilities, and the Government refuses to allow us to share in them unless on conditions which would amount to a repudiation of our religious principles. There are many of our fellow citizens who feel for our isolated and very trying position as regards the public school system, and who have already given substantial proof of their sympathy, and of the sense they entertain of the hardships under which we labor ; and there cannot be a doubt that they will see it to be their duty to aid us oji the present occasion. To every right-minded unprejudiced man it must be a subject of great satisfaction to see good schools established by any and every section of the community.