NEWS OF THE WEEK.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume IV, Issue 192, 1 December 1876, Page 12

NEWS OF THE WEEK.

Since the remarks in our leiding article respecting the rumored apparition of the Blessed Virgin at Marpingen were written, we have come across the following in the London 'Tablet' of Sept. 2 : — " Some of the Liberal journals continue to denounce the things which are said to have happened in Marpingen as a swindle andTa fraud. Some of the Liberal candidates in their electioneering addresses call on the Government to prosecute the impostors. On° goes so far as to demand that the Government shall decide whether it is a miracle or a swindle. The gentlemen who write these things are careful not to name any • impostors/ and thus they keep themselves clear of an action for libel. They appear to have forgotten that the local authorities did institute at the time and on the spot a very searching inquiry, and that not the slightest ground could be discovered for charging any of the persons concerned with fraud. The ' Germania' commenting on all these things observes, that it is not within the province of a lay tribunal to decide whether those apparitions are miraculous. It warns the Liberal writers that between the extremes of 'miracle' and 'fraud' there is the mean of fact, the existence of which may be incontestably established, even when its character may be uncertain or obscure. It recommends them to avoid the blunder of Dr. Virchow in the case of Louise Lateau, who denied the proved facts lest he should find himself constrained to admit their preternatural origin." ■ The ' Bay of Plenty Times' says :— « Some people don't believe in advertising, because they say ' Nobody reads the papers.' But let them get into a scrape, and we'll find them flying round to the newspaper offices with the request 'Please don't mention that little affair, it is a mistake ; I don't want my name published all over the country.'

We have to acknowledge the receipt from the Government printer of several numbers of ' Hansard/ ending with that dated November 21, 1876.

In consequence of the holiday falling on Thursday, we are obliged to anticipate our usual time of going to press by twentyfour hours. We beg of our readers kindly to attribute any shortcomings they may observe in our columns to this cause. We learn with regret that a driver in the employment of Messrs. M. and J. Meenan, of George-street, Dunedin, met with a severe accident, by wliidi his leg was broken, on Monday last The unfortunate sufferer wag conducting a loaded cart to the residence of a gentleman in the Kaikorai Valley, when the leader appears to have taken fright at a passing dray and started, causing the shatter to fall, and jamming the driver against the embankment, which resulted in the injury alluded to. That talent lor writing uneven rhymes, which many persons mistake in themselves or their friends for poetic genius, is rife in New Zealand as elsewhere. We fancy this is one of the chief difficulties of (he editorial flmir; for while it is unpleasant to be under the necessity of mortifying the aspirations of well-menning people by refusing to in-ert their contributions in the columns wherein it is their hearts desire to see them, justice to the body of subscribers to a newspaper ccmpels the rejection of matter absolutely unreadable. However, it occasionally happens that the nature of an editor is bo kindly that the rigid determination demanded of him in cases of this sort gives v ay, and he is induced to publish some extraordinary emanation or other. We have been reminded of this fact by finding, in the midst of a contemporary, a production in verse on the poisoning of a dog, and the sentiments attempted by which we can only characterize as fiendish m the extreme. If the true mind of the " poet" be expressed in bis lines, indeed, we are happy to believe that the breadth of the isltmd intervenes between his habitat and our office • for the only imprecation which lie has left unuttered, and the only evil that he has omitted to call down upon the offending head, is the necessity of learning hia verses off by rote. Tickets have been issued for the Art Union to be held next June in aid of the Conventual buildings which are now being erected in Dunedin. In addition to the prizes printed on each ticket, it is expected that several will shortly arrive from Europe, of which a number have been ordered in Borne, the fountain-head of art. It -was at f rst feared that it would be necessary to defer takin<*

further steps in the matter until all the pictures had been received,, but on consideration, it was thought better to make a commenced ment with the prizes already on hand, and amongst which are to be 1 found some charming gems that would grace a collection of thelighest pretensions, and which would, in themselves, make* thepurchase of a ticket for the lottery most desirable. Since, however, the names of the paintings which, have been printed on the tickets were published, some other pictures have arrived from Melbourne | and three landscapes, executed in oils by Mr. Power, have been secured. They represent severally, Mount Blackwood, the Waterof Leith, and a view from Potter's Gully. The first-named is an • Australian, sketch, and the scenery, extremely beautiful in itself, has been copied with much skill. It is a view, of a nature not uncommonly found in the country where it was taken, of a long Btretch of forest, terminating in a mountain of picturesque form, and endowed wLh all the richness of coloring which is so marked a feature of the woodlands of Australia. The Water of Leith, as its name imports, is a local scene ; but in addition to the foliage and running water that form the attractions of the neighborhood, some figures of artists engaged in the pursuit of their avocation are introduced with good effect. Potter's Gully is a wild mountain region of New Zealand, abounding in bold and rugged featuresAll these three pictures are contained in gilt Alhambra frames. The formal opening of the new organ gallery at St. Joseph's Church, Dunedin, will take place on Monday the 11th inst. Theorgan has been re-erected by Mr. Litolff, and has undergone extensive improvements at the able hands of that gentleman. The music chosen for the occasion consists of Haydn's First Mass and selections from Handel's Oratorio of the Messiah, compositions whose well-known perfection needs no comment from us. The choir of the Church, which has been reinforced for the time beingby the addition of several amateurs of recognised merit, has been rehearsing now for some time under the leadership of Mr. Charles Sykes, and a first-class performance maybe expected to result from their efforts. Persons desirous of securing places should do so at once as only a limited number of tickets will be issued.

The unfortunate death of Mr. Owen Laverty (says the ' Mount Ida Chronicle'), which, in common with all who knew him, wemost sincerely deplore, again draws attention to the dangerouscondition of the ford at Mardling's Ferry, Hyde. It is most unfortunate, when the gradual completion of large works in and near the more settled districts was relieving the Treasury, so that there was hope that the few works in the interior which were so urgently needed could be piovided for, that a harassing change should arise, making it difficult to know to what governing body to look for the pledges of the past. No work has been more often promised by the Provincial Government than the bridge at Mardling's- Unless the General Government can be induced to construct the bridge, charging the cost against the land fund of the province, the Counties of Waikouaiti and Maniototo will require to find the money themselves. That the river can go unbridged for another year is out of the question. The valua in human lives lost at this dangerous crossing would long since have built many bridges.