GENERAL NEWS.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume IV, Issue 203, 23 February 1877, Page 17

GENERAL NEWS.

The Sacred College of Cardinals is composed, in great degree, of Prelates far advanced in years. It is to be expected, therefore, that death should make frequent inroads upon their number. A submarine cable dispatch, on the Ist of December, reported the decease of his Eminence Cardinal Patrizi. He studied for the sacred office of the priesthood, and after a brilliant collegiate career, was ordained. His promotion in the Church was rapid. He was created a Cardinal on the 11th of July, 1836. Subsequently he became Dean of the Sacred College, and also held the titles of Arch-Bishop of Ostia and Velletri, Aichpriest of the Basilica of St. John of Lateran, and Grand Prior of the Order of Malta. He was highly esteemed for his zeal, learning, ability, and devotion. His Holiness Pius IX. was warmly attached to him, and his decease is the subject of great sorrow and grief. The Eight Hon. James Whiteside, whose death is announced, was a distinguished Irish orator. He was called to the Bar in 1830, and rose rapidly in bis profession. He was counsel for the defence of O'Connell in 1843, on which occasion he delivered a powerful oration. He also defended Smith O'Brien and bis fellowprisoners in 1848, and acquired great popularity in Ireland, in 1862, as the successful advocate of Teresa Longworth in the triai to establish the validity of her marriage with Major Yelverton. Mr. Whiteside was a strong Conservative, and held important official positions, attaining in 1865 the Chief Justiceship of the Queen's Bench in Ireland. He was author of three historic works concerning Italy. "We are glad to learn that a new Catholic Calendar is about to be published in Paris. All calendars hitherto have shown themselves indifferent to Catholicity ; but the new one is to indicate throughout the year with precision the " decrees of councils, the causes of schisms, the spoliations of the Church, the glorious interventions of the Popes in all the great facts of history, the Crusades and their results, etc." Almanacs and calendars, both in France and Italy, have been made of late great instruments for the spread of opinions, both political and religious, hostile to Christian society. But now, so old and celebrated a firm as Pirmin-Didot thinks it worth their while to bring out for the new year a splendid quarto volume of 600 pages, at a price of 25 and 30 francs, embellished with fourteen chromo-lithographic and two hundred ordinary engravings, "of the highest character of Christian art," entitled, " La Sainte Vierge," and edited by the Canon of Poitiers. The receipts of the Society for the Propagation of the Faith, for the year 1875, amounted to $1,119,493. Of this sum $193,410 were spent on the missions in Europe ; $587,252 on those in Asia ; 141,077 on those in Africa; $161,788 on those in America; $106,639 on those in Australia, and $71,843 on various items. In France the schools that are under the care of the Christian Brothers, have attained a wonderful superiority over secular schools. At a recent examination in Paris for places in superior schools, the pupils out of the Christian Brothers' schools won fortysix out of the fifty places, leaving only four open to the pupils of the secular schools.

Lectures on Scientific Theology are being opened in Belgium. At Tournai, Bruges, and Ghent regular conferences are about to be given to laymen by learned divines, specially authorised for that purpose by the bishops of the dioceses. The ' Bien Public,' in announcing this movement, says " that there cannot be a greater mistake than to iup-. pose that theological knowledge is the exclusive property of the clergy, and that in these days of conflict; it is especially desirable that the. laity should understand theological questions."

Convents are now being sold in Prussia by the dozen ; while thousands of schoolmasters are wanted all over the country to fill the vacancies that have arisen for years past, and the government even go so far as to advertise in Jewish papers for Jewish teachers in cases where no Christians can be found to do the work. Vast numbers of members of religious orders of both sexes are constantly driven out of the country to pine away their existence in exile vifth had hitherto been so useful to large classes of their own ' x Jbple. Among the convents recently closed by order of the Prussian Government there is one belonging to the TJrsulines, at Dorsten in Westphalia, On this property there is a mortgage of .£15,000, and when it came to be Isold by auction it was generally thought that there would be no outside bidder, and a government official, Heir Riese, was just about to have it knocked down to him for £75, when the agent of Count Droste-Nesselrode, a Catholic nobleman of the district, arrived on the spot and secured the prize by bidding JES more. From a statement we find in the Westphalian ' Yolks-zeitung,' it appears that the Count means to keep the property intact until "better times" shall begin for the Church ; and as the same nobleman already holds the mortgage in his hands, it is quite possible that this convent, at any rate, will not be alienated from the pious object for which it was originally intended.

HistoblCAL ! Vide " Jurors Reports and Awards, New Zealand Exhibition." Jurors : J. A. Ewen, J. Butter worth, T. C. Skinner. "So far as the Colony is concerned, the dyeing of materials is almost entirely confined to the re-dyeing of Articles of Dress and Upholstery, almost useful art, for there are many kinds of material that lose their colour before the texture is half worn. G. HrasCH, of Dunedin (Dunedin Dye Wobks, George street, opposite Royal George Hotel) exhibits a case of specimens of Dyed Wools, Silks, and Feathers, and dyed Sheepskins. The colors on the whole are very fair, and reflect considerable credit on the Exhibitor, to whom the Jurors recommended an Honorary Certificate should be awarded." Honorary Certificate, 629 : Gustav Hirsch Dunedin, for specimens of Dyeiug in Silk Feathers, &c.

"Dttkb op Edinbttbgh" — The old wooden structure that did duty as the Duke of Edinburgh. Hotel, in Russell-street, for so many years, has, we are pleased to observe, given place to a new brick building, erected at considerable cost, in order to meet the rapidly increasing requirements of this popular and important part of the city. The present proprietor, Mr. D. Habbis, has spared no reasonable expense in furnishing and fitting the building with every modern comfort and convenience. The situation is extremely healthy, and commands splendid views of the ocean and harbour, and is within easy reach of the business part of the city. Persons in pursuit of a respectable and comfortable residence will do well to go to the " Duke of Edinburgh " Hotel, Rusaell-stree*, Dunedin. — [Adyt.]