NEWS OF THE WEEK.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume IV, Issue 195, 22 December 1876, Page 11

NEWS OF THE WEEK.

We have received from Mr. Macedo, Catholic Bookseller, Princes street, Dunedin, the ' Irish Australian Almanac' for the forthcoming year, which contains some capital engravings, chief .amongst them being a portrait of Archbishop Taughan, of Sydney, a splendid face, suggestive of the talent which distinguishes the

[ eminent prelate in question. The almanac is furnished with the most complete information on Catholic matters, and will be found inestimable to both clergy and laity. Messrs. Mills, Dick and Co.'s Otago Provincial Almanac and Directory for 1877 has now been issued. The almanac is peculiarly neat and handy, and contains in a small compass a vast amount of information. There are few subjects, in fact, a knowledge of which is in constant requisition that are not treated of, and in the most convenient form, Gardening, Health, Postal Eegulations, Gold Buying, Customs, Land, Law, and, in short, everything that persons of business habits require to find ready to hand are here contained. In addition, Rose's Southland Almanac is included in the volume. * We observe that at the Kumara matters appear to be assuming a more cheerful aspect. The surplus hands are decreasing, and art abundant supply of water has been introduced. Preparations are being made for Christmas sports on an extensive scale. A numbkb of farmers residing in the Spring Creek district have recently imported a steam threshing machine from England says the 'Marlborough Express* of the 13th ult.,and intend giving a public exhibition of its mode of working at the farm of Mr. IL Eedwood. The machine is worked by steam, and the only fuel required is straw, with which it feeds jtself as it goes alon<*. leavbllisbs along the Main Southern Road from Albury to the Bowning railway Btation (says the ' Yass Courier'), by Cobb's coaches, cannot fail to be disgusted at the extraordinary number of drunkards that are observed about the various wine-shops and inferior public-houses that, at intervals, flank either side of the highway along the route. At some of these places men are to be seen whose behaviour indicates that their minds are not under the government of reason. At the grey dawn, as the coach speeds along, the sight becomes lamentable. Dozens of men are to be seen sleeping off their debauch, in a. worse condition than the beasts of the field. At other places, where the shearer has bejn "lambed down," he presents a most pitiful appearance— his eyes are bloodshot, his lips parched, and having no more money, he is 1 looked upon as a nuisance by the inmates, and is regarded as only fit for Tarban Creek. The liquors vended in nine-tenths of these places licensed by the Government are deleterious and villainous compounds, and the so-called colonial wine is so adulterated that those who attempt to quench their thirst with it at some houses are known to become lunatics either temporarily or permanently! Here we have a key to the solution of the mysterious disappearance of many men, and to the numbers of inquests held on bodies found floating in the Murrumbidgee. It is a sad commentary on the wisdom of our Legislature that such destruction should be tolerated under the broad daylight of beaven. Under proper supervision an end could be put to the sale of these poisons. If persons are licensed to sell spirits, then by all means let it be decreed that such only are sold, and not that fiery liquid which, we are told, is a sort of cross between schnapps and kerosene. Thousands of fine fellows are ruined in health and constitution yearly, in connection with the debauch attendant on the shearing and lambing downseason. SHEJMusical Festival at St. Joseph's Church, Dtmedin, came off on Tuesday evening last, and was, as we hoped, a thorough success. There was a very good attendance, and the music rendered on the occasion was beyond all praise. A chief feature in the performance was the brilliant organ playing of Mr. Charles Sykes, the talented conductor of the choir, who, although he has long been known to those who frequent the church in which he acts as or<»anisfc as a perfect master of his instrument, had, we believe, hardly up to the present had an opportunity of acquainting the general public with the fact, that his powers as a pianist are quite equalled, if not indeed surpassed, by those which he possesses over the organ. His playing is distinguished, not only by extreme brilliancy'of execution, but, as well, by a depth of expression that seems almost peculiar to himself, and, for example, the extremes of his ability were well shown, on the present occasion, in the triumphant chords of " Fixed in His Everlasting Seat," as compared with the pathos of " Cujus Animam." Of the excellencies displayed in his performance of the other solos given by him, limited space forbids us to speak; each iv its way was perfect. The music of the Masses and the Hallelujah chorus were executed by the choir in superb style proving, besides the native talent of the vocalists, that the utmost diligence had been employed by each, in the preparation of his part and that no pains had been spared by the conductor on their training. Of the vocal solos, Rossini's plaintive aria, "Pro Peccatis," was rendered very finely by Mr. Leary, whose rick bass was heard to great advantage in its grave, deep notes. Mrs. Bartlett gave with, great expression "He was desoised." Mr. W. Ibbotson sang with much effect Gounod's "Nazareth" which was eminently suitable to his full and pleasing voice, and Mr Fraser sustained splendidly the tenor part in Zin°-arella's "Laudate." "O Rest in the Lord," a delicious aria of Mendelsohn's, was done justice to, which means a great deal, by Mr. Hawkins, a young gentleman who, we believe, on this occasion j made his debut as an amateur singer in public, but who, if we mistake not, has a busy musical career before him. He possesses an alto voice of wonderful quality, and which for richness, compass [ and power we have never heard equalled in organs of* its kind, j at all times rare, and sought for with anxiety in choirs that do not i admit of the presence of ladies. On the whole the festival was highly enioyable and thoroughly successful. The members of the choir were afterwards entertained at a supper in St. Joseph's schoolroom. . The Rev. Father Donovan left Port Chalmers on Wednesday last by the s.s. Arawata for Melbourne ; change of air havino- been ! recommended to secure his complete recovery from the effects of his late accident. The rev. gentleman was accompanied by his sister, Miss Donovan. A TOBCHLiGHT procession of firemen will take place in Duneiia on Saturday evening next, 23rd inst.