Current Topics

New Zealand Tablet, Volume V, Issue 265, 31 May 1878, Page 1

Current Topics

AT HOME # ABJxOAV.

' I'

OME fourteen years ago it happened to us to be present in a Parisian salon into which there entered a lady, whom circumstances had rendered an authority on matters then passing at the Tuileries. She came in smiling and said she, " I have heard the most ridiculous story. Some one or another has invented a tale about the

Empress, and reported that she appeared at the ball

last night in a tunic of peacock's feathers that hardly reached lower than her knees. Her Majesty's dress really was a more than ordinarily plain one of black velvet, but you'll find that she'll figure as emulating Juno in every one of the English papers." It turned out exactly as this lady said, and in about six months after we heard the canard advanced to the prejudice of her Imperial Majesty in a remote village of an English northern county. The staid folk in •whose house we then were uplifted hands and eyes in reprobation of the dreadful •woman who appeared publicly in the scant attire of a goddess, and all stuck over with the feathers of a most gaudy and conceited bird. They would not be persuaded that the thing was a mere invention, and, for aught we know to the contrary, may to this day believe that the catastrophe of Sedan was the reward righteously bestowed on such goings on. "We, however, have been admonished by tins little episode of the trust that it is often fit to place in the facts chronicled by the foreign correspondents of the English Press. A story somewhat of the same nature we take it is that said now to be related by the Count de Pallikao, who, they say, affirms that the Empress took a dislike to him because of a disappointment caused to her from a report which arose that he was bringing to her from China a chaplet of black pearls of untold value, but which proved to be a mere curiosity, and of no intrinsic worth. Does Pallikao hold that his presence must of necessity be delightful to all those who have experience of it ? We, indeed, think it plain that if under existing circumstances he has written this tale attributed to him there must certainly be something dislikable about him, even independent of black pearls. We think, moreover, that it is excessively unlikely a high and noble lady, such as the Empress Eugenic, could be influenced in likings or dislikings by such paltry considerations as this. We think it especially unlikely because she is known to have sold jewels to the value of £25,000, and which were otherwise precious through association, in order that she might obtain money to found a charitable institution, and likewise because, taken all in all, a nobler Queen or Empress there never sat upon the throne of France, with the exception alone it may be of one or two who were saints or very nearly so.

Who says that we are not prepared to fight the Eussians 1 It is to be hoped they have not got their spies at work here, for if they only hear of the valour that is ■brimming over amongst us and oomng in all directions — not through the " tops of our fingers," "but in regular clown-right hard knocks, they'll be very sure to steer clear, at least of Dunedin, — and, in fact, it would be a perfect relief to us to get a lick at them. The echoes of the whacks so valorously bestowed by Mr. Logan, Junr. hare hardly died away amongst us, when we have another member of our upper ten thousand making the welkin ring with the sound of his fisticuffs, and doing his very best to " punch the head," of a stalwart foe. It makes one feel quite comfortable in these threatening times to know that -we are surrounded by a whole brood of game-cocks that are only longing for an opportunity to show fight. Those of us who are peaceably disposed, if indeed there be any such amongst us, which we now incline to doubt, -will have nothing to do by-and-bye but hide their heads in the blankets and leave our fiery Hectors to battle it out on their behalf. The very lawyers themselves throw down their briefs and their umbrellas in the mud, in order to have a round at the noble art ; and, if we may judge by the signs of the times, it will not be long ere our magistrates join in the melee. It evidently has a powerful, and perhaps even an irresistible, attraction for the Bench. Meantime our vocabulary has received a most valuable addition, "Thorough Blackguard," and "Insolent Scoundrel," are most choice expressions, and we may frequently

have occasion to' employvjhem. Wefjp. coure, had been for some time acquainted with" them, and even with the characters described by them ; it is impossible to go through life without acquiring a good deal of knowledge wij&n it-might perhaps be bliss not to possess. But, the fact is, we > did not -until now know that these were terms fit for polished lips to utter ;it seems, however, that they are so. A learned member of the Bar of New Zealand has not scrupled to employ them> and, what is more, the Magisterial Bench has pronounced him perfectly excusable in having done so. " For such conduct," said J. N- Watt, Bsq,, R.M., referring to^ Mr. Millar's having stopped Mi. Denniston in the street and complfanpd of his action in a certain case, "Mr. Denniston had no means of obtaining legal redress, and could be pardoned for using the language he had done" His Worship added, indeed, that " the defendant might have laid an information against Mr. Denniston for insulting language, but he had taken the law into his own hands." Still it may not unreasonably be asked what -would have laeen the use of Mr. Millar's laying this information if the Resident Magistrate were prepared to coneider the language complained of excusable ? This, however, is beside the question; what we are concerned with is that we have gained two strong expressipns which it may be convenient for us by-and-bye \to use. " Thorough blackguard," and " insolent scoundrel," are parliamentary. Will our readers remember this, so that hereafter, if we come to use either the one or the other, or it may be both together, they shall not consider themselves entitled to say we speak scurrilously or express ourselves by any means in an ungentlemanly manner. And, moreover, we have to inform any one towards whom it may seem fit to us to employ these terms, that in return they must not attempt to lay a finger on us, otherwise they will subject themselves to having their heads punched "as severely as possible," and to being fined into the bargain. Truly our education is being perfected by the Bar of New Zealand, and as we learned from Mr. Haggitt's defence that " personal violence," on one attacking by word only, is occasionally commendable, so now we learn from Mr. Denniston's example that disgraceful language is excusable, and the seal is set upon our knowledge by the approbation of the Bench.

The Lenten Pastoral addressed last year to the clergy and people of Perugia by\>heir Cardinal Archbishop, the present Pope, has recently excited a considerable degree of attention everywhere. It is indeed a remarkable utterance, distinguished alike for learning, thought, and piety, and is most deserving of study. It is very desirable that it should be read in its entirety by readers of all classes, but, as we know that many persons are deterred from reading grave documents when they appear of any length, wehave undertaken to give an abstract of it, in order to bring its principal points within the easy reach of all who peruse our columns. The subject then chosen by His Eminence was " Civilization, and the relation borne by it to the Church." Civilization, in whose interests it is said that churches and ministers must be limited, and places of sin multiplied ; that demands tasteless and shameless plays ; in whose name are practised shameful usury and dishonest games. In whose name also a filthy Press debases the mind, and prostituted ait defiles the eye and corrupts the heart. Society progresses, and tends towards perf ection. Man m society goes on towards perfection in three points of view— his physical well-being, his moral relations with his fellows, and his political conditions. The different degrees of this successive development to which men united in society attain are civilization. But is it true that civilization cannot "bear its fruits in a society which lives in the spirit of Jesus Christ, and in the midst of which the Catholic Church speaks with the voice of a mother and mistress ? Will a man be condemned not to mix in the society of those who rejoice in civilization in the physical, moral, and religious orders, unless he is rebellious to the Church, and if he does not repudiate her 1 It is easy for men of good- will if they reflect calmly, and make an impartial research into facts to answer this question triumphantly for the Church. The subject, however, is too extensive to be treated of in a pastoral letter. Part of it only can be taken up, and that part is a view of civilization in respect to the manner in which it realizes the conditions by which manis perfectionated under the physical and moral relation. This point of view is the most important, because of the disordered tendency of our epoch, which is chiefly pre-occupied with things that regard merely temporal science and results. Would it, then, be possible for a man, while following the teaching of the Church, to attain to that degree of civilization he might attain to were he independent of the Church ? Montesquieu gives the answer. ("JSsjyrib des Lots," 24, III.) "Admirable thing! The Christian Beligioß, which, seeming to have at heart only our bap-

piness in the next life, yet also assures our happiness on this earth." Labour is considered as a Bource of prosperity. Its lowest form, manual labour, and its highest form, the study of nature in order to know its forces and to apply, them to the uses vof life, have been most of all encouraged by the Church. Labour has ever been, and is still, despised wherever Christianity has not been or is not known, Aristotle and Plato despised it. The Greeks refused to labourers the name of citizen, and ranked ttuan as slaves. Cicero looked upon labourers and skilled workmen as barbarians. Terence shows that to live respected at Rome it was necessary to lead an idle life. Juvenal says the occupation most dear to free was "To cringe, to fawn on the rich in order to obtain bread and sanguinary amusements." Tacitus describes the ancient Germans as holding labour in horror ; and to-day we see the same amongst nonChristian peoples. In India a Brahmin is defiled if he touches a Pariah. The savages of North America leave labour to their women, vho are treated as slaves. " Even amongst ourselves," says a writer in the Revue des Deux Motides, " who have nevertheless arrived at so great a degree of culture, labour is scarcely honoured except in. words, and although the rich are toadied to, small countenance is given to those whose hands are hardened with the instruments of j labour." Amongst Christians, on the contrary, from the very first labour was greatly honoured. Jesus Christ had been subject to a poor artizan, and did not blush at using His blessed hands in the workshop of Nazareth. The Apostles desired to support themselves by labour. The Fathers recommended and exalted it. St. Augustine and St. Ambrose extol its utility. St. Chrysostom says it serves also as an exercise for fortifying our moral nature. All beautiful and true thoughts of labour have come from the bosom of the Church. The Church used her influence to have these thoughts embodied in deeds and institutions. Monachism arose, consecrated to labour ; hut today we have forgotten its origin, and how deeply civilization is indebted to it. But'if labour is a source of wealth, and public wealth a sign of civilization, and of human perfection in the relation of exterior and physical well-being, no one can doubt that the Church has historically incontestable rights to the acknowledgments of all men, and that a struggle undertaken against it in the name and in the interests of civilization would be as f oolish as it would be unjust. Will any one abandon, the Church affirming it to be incapable of favouring civilization and promoting progress? Let him consult first the history of society in Italy. No man of good sense will hare the audacity to maintain that in the works of political and industrial grandeur vre modems are on the roa:l to surpass our Catholic fathers. Venice, Genoa, Lucca, Pisa, Florence, and other communes and provinces of Italy, when they were full of faith, possessed a power which, considering the times and the imperfect means of the epoch,- surpassed that of the most flourishing modern nations. Their flags floated abroad in reverence and honour, and the people did not remain inactive at home. They cultivated the arts, and their negotiations increased by all honest means the public and private wealth. Lucrative work was furnished to manufacturers and labourers, and foreign gold and trade drawn to our markets. From this came the luxury condemned by Dante and others. Luxury increased, and the splendour of the fine arts. The names of Giotto, Arnolfo, Brunelleschi, Raphael, Titian, Vignola, Palladio, and a great number of others, worthily crown the picture representing the progress of civilization in a society which was not obliged to break away from its attachment to the Church, and become unbelieving to keep_ up with the march of progress, and add charm and comfort to its life. But the Church, has the additional merit of having kept men within the bounds of reason, and prevented an excessive love of labour. The unbelieving modern schools of political economy consider labour as the chief end of man, and man himself a machine valuable according as he is more or less productive : hence the slight regard for morality, and the abuse of the poor and feeble. What complaints have we heard even in countries reputed at the head of civilization on the subject of the long hours of labour enforced there. When we view many facts related by lips that cannot be suspected, it is impossible to repress feelings of indignation against those who dream of confiding to such barbarians the hopes of civilization, which they pretend to favour. This intemperate labour ruins not only the body, but the soul also. The life of the spirit grows weak in these poor victims of labour once more become Pagan. All that elevates man comes to be forgotten by them, and all that in man belongs to brutal passions and animal instincts is left without a curb. These partisans of civilization, separated from the Church and from God, would throw us back many centuries, to that state of things that prevailed when Juvenal wrote that the human race lived only for the amusement of a few citizens. The Church only can. throw off this incubus. She breaks the continuity of labour by the rest of Sunday and the Christian .feasts, when the poor labourer realizes that God has not created him to remain tied down eternally to mere material things, but to be their master. The war declared in the name of civilization, by the sects and infidels against Holy Church is unjust, for she only puts into practice the conditions by which man is perfected in his physical and material relations. Civilization not only has nothing to fear from the Church, but it has everything to hope for from her aid. Science has found out many forces in nature, which were either unknown to man or had escaped his rule. These discoveries are excellent, but the infidels have wished to use them as a weapon with which to strike the Church, as if they were made in spite of her. To give colour to this odious calumny the pretext is set forth that the Church insinuates into hearts a mysterious horror of earthly things, whence it is concluded that if some good should result from this progress it is due to the revolt of what is called the modern spirit against the Church. There is no more absurd and xmfounded accusation. Nothing can be desired by the Church more ardently than the glory of God, and the perfect knowledge of Him ■which is acquired by a study_ of His works. If the universe is a book on each page of which is written the name and wisdom of God, the man will have more love for, and approach nearer to, God, who reads more closely and intelligently in this book. He who holds that the Church obstinately keeps this book closed must know nothing of the burning zeal that possesses her bosom. But the Chiu-cb is not only filled with he love of God. She also loves

man, and desires that lie should prove himself to bethatwhichhe really is, the lord of creation. And why should she be jealous of the progress the age has made by itg studies and discoveries ? Bacon of Verulam has said that a little science removes us from God, but that a great science leads its possessor to Him. If the Church is solicitous lest harm be done by vain men, who think they have grasped all because they have touched lightly upon all, she is full of confidence towards those_ who apply their intelligence in studying nature seriously and profoundly. If any savant strays from God, it is a sign that his heart was already contaminated. He is an Atheist in spite of science. Copernicus was profoundly religious ; Kepler thanks God for the joy he experienced in contemplating the works of his hands ; Galileo found Holy Scripture and nature to exhibit equally the work of God. Linnseus was so moved by his study of nature that he praised God in words that sound like a psalm ; Fontenelle says that the importance of the study of the physical sciences lies in its elevating us to a more perfect idea of the Author of the Universe, and reviving in our dark spirits the sentiments of admiration and veneration due to Him; Alexander Yolta was a sincere Catholic, and to Faraday unbelievers were insupportable. Such are the effects of science, and such the reasons why no reflecting man is deceived by the pretence that the Church views with suspicion the study of nature. You see, then, how hurtful a thing it is to combat Holy Church under the pretence of f avo'iring the interests of civilization. But it is not sufficient that labour be ennobled and sancti « fled, and that man continually extend his empire over nature and bend it to his service. We must also remember that a great number of our fellow men are unable, owing to circumstances, to gain a livelihood by any species of labour. It would be a horrible spectacle if these unfortunate ones were excluded from the movement called civilization. Paganism had a way of getting rid of its infirm classes. Modern admirers of Pagan civilization would do well to recall to themselves what this method was. From the first the Church took care to ameliorate the condition of the unfortunate. She was not content with establishing asylums and hospitals, she planted in the hearts of her children the Divine virtue of self-sacrifice. There is not a corner of the earth where there are not to be seen persons who have renounced all worldly goods to consecrate themselves to the service of the needy of every kind. What is the object of war against the Church 1 To throw men down to the lowliness of labour taken as their supreme end, adopted as an instrument by which to elevate themselves above the bowed heads of other men, and upon their bodies trampled beneath their feet, What is this modern civilization which, condemns the Church, and with which the Church's august chief, the infallible master of the faithful, declares nothing can be had in com* mon. It is a civilization which would destroy the Church, and all the good with which she has enriched us, — a spurious thing which has nothing of civilization but the name, and which is the perfidious and implacable enemy of true civilization, It is a calumny that the Church has an aversion for the arts and the sciences, or_ for the study of nature and her forces. The Fathers of the Vatican Council teach that the Church aids and encourages the arts and human sciences. She admits that the sciences, as they come from God, can, if they be treated as they should be, with the Divine grace lead to God. She condemns the science which deifies human reason," the science which in vain seeks to destroy Biblical cosmogeny, and debases man to the level of the brute. Do not be seduced by those who approach you with flattery and deceiving words. The facts me there to show where this insensate struggle against the Church, in the name of civilization, has led us. We see multitudes who have lost that hope in the future, which is a consolation faith gives to the unfortunate. We see a small number of them on whom fortune has smiled, who have not the least spark of charity in their hearts, and are attentive only to hoard up money and enjoy the pleasures of life. On one side men trembling in despair and seemingly reduced to the savage state ; or the other oscene joys, dances and feasts which excite the indignation of the poor man, who has not been helped, and provoke the chastisements of Heaven. See 1 what we have gained. See what is to be expected from this war against the Church in the name of civilization, and which threatens to plunge us again into barbarism. It would seem that God has raised up this great Pontiff to protect the working-man, now when che war has openly commenced between, capital and labour. The enemies of the Church have already cried out that Pope Leo is formidable, because it is believed that he may rally around the standard of the Church the populace of Europe. But; such a war cry as that we have now listened to has in it nothing formidable to the good. If he who has uttered it be permitted to stand between the employer and the employed, a new era has dawned upon, the world, and the "Light in Heaven" vrill soften the glare of the rich man's home, and gladden the hearth of the poor man. Me. Geokob Vesey Stewabt in a letter addressed from Ireland to his settlers at Katikati, through the columns of the Bay of Plenty Times, thus expresses himself :— " Judge Keogh has just delivered a most remarkable charge to the County Londonderry Grand Jury. Mr. Sullivan and soiae Home Rule or rebel members have taken exception to it in the House of Parliament, and as the worthy Judge is a Catholic they only show that unfortunate religious bigotry which has ever been, and ever will be, the bane of this unfortunate country." The charge alluded to is certainly as Mr. Stewart says, a most remarkable one. Its being delivered from the judicial bench makes it so. Had it been spouted by an Orange demagogue from an inverted barrel in the street, it would have been quite commonplace and commc ilfcvut, but, emanating from the seat which is supposed to be occupied by justice, and where inflammatory politics are strangely out of place, no utterance could well be more remarkable. Here is the most offensive portion of it, worthy, indeed, though not of a Judge, of " So-help-mc-God Keogh." " But turning from those who are engaged in that which they choose> to call a commemoration, if words of mine

can carry any weight, I would address myself from this place to the opposite party, who are anxious,'l make no doubt, to display their un. questioned loyalty to the Crown of England and to British institutions. And I would say, to lay the foundation of my appeal to them, that I thoroughly sympathise with their great historic aspirations, and I believe that I myself would not be at this moment able io think or to speak as I choose but for the deliverance which was witnessed from your Walls. With these words on my lips and in my heart, I would say to that party opposed to the demonstration of to-day, would it not be wiser for the descendants of those men who were " tried and not found wanting " — for the men who arc here now, and will be here, I have no doubt, if again required — to look upon such demonjga -tions as this prepared for to-day — in which I again repeat there is "niching but disgrace to commemorate — with the charity of silence and contemptuous derision ? If they do that there is no clanger of a violation of the peaoe." This speech was 'delivered at Derry on March 18th last, and we should think that had the Irish members allowed it to pass unnoticed they would have been guilty of a gross neglect of their duty. Mr. Stewart, however, is good enough to stigmatise them as "rebel members," considering the opprobious qualification he uses an equivalent to "Home Rule." Mr. Stewart must very well know that Home Rule and- rebellion' have nothing at all in common. The Home Rule movement is a most justifiable effort to bring about constitutionally a necessary change in the form of Government, by which Ireland may be encouraged and see her interests promoted, instead of being, rts she is to-day, oppressed and shamefully neglected. Would Mr. Stewart have considered New Zealand so desirable a country to settle in, had she been governed by means of a Parliament at Sydney, which was prepared to act to her prejudice, whenever the interests of New South Wales required it ? But this gentleman also gives his proteges to understand that the Home Rule movement is exclusively Catholic. Does he not know that one of its earliest and most zealous advocates is the Rev. Joseph Galbraith, an Anglican clergyman and Fellow of that thoroughly Protestant institution, Trinity College, Dublin ; that Mr. Butt, the great leader of the movement is a Protestant, and that many of the supporters of the measure are also Protestants 1 The bigotry which Mr. Stewart deplores in others has surely closed his own eyes to the truth. The parable of the mote and the beam appeal's most applicable to his case. As to " worthy judge" Keogh. being a Catholic, we believe he was indeed baptized into the Church, but the event seems to have made a much weaker impression on him than had he received the deserts of his later life and been well ducked in a horse-pond. That he would remember, at least, and it might have a sensible effect upon his proceedings. To hear him spoken of as a Catholic is pretty much the same as to hear Mr. Sheehan, or Mr. Rowe, or some of that tribe amongst ourselves, dignified by the same name. It can hardly please them, unless it be that it occasionally is made to pay, and it insults us, — but this, we conclude, is why it is so often done. Home Rule and rebellion are as yet widely apart, but it may be, and if we are to judge by the languge of Mr. Justice Keogh, it is the desire of the English government to see them confounded. It will not be the first time, that such a line of policy lias been adopted towards Ireland, if •> rebellion be now excited there in order to get rid of her just demands for fair treatment.

The controversy occasioned in Oamam lately by Mr. Shrhnski's remarks touching Catholics and the Education Act has had the advantage of calling the attention of certain liberal-minded and unprejudiced Protestants to the question, and, in consequence we find in the Oamaru Evening Mail an excellent leader on the subject. The Mailis a journal of most just, principles, and, as has been already well proved, iJK^sarless in the exposure of wrong-doing. We trust that on the present occasion the good example shown will be followed by others of the Colonial Press. We subjoin an extract from the leader alluded to : — The religionists of the colony are virtually divided into two classes — Protestants and Catholics. There are others, but they are in the minority ; and it is not difficult to satisfy such, as, if the present Act does not supply them with religious education, its omission to do so does not materially interfere with their religious convictions. Protestants have no desire that the taxes paid by the Catholics should partially defray the expense of educating their children. We believe that they would far rather let the Catholics manage their own schools after their own fashion. Protestants may not be able to understand any religious sect carrying their religious scruples so far a3 are Catholics ; but now-a-days they usually know how to respect the motives of those who differ with them, for the age of religious intolerance has fortunately passed away, and every man is permitted to enjoy his own religious belief without interference. That the education they are offered in return for their money would be interfering with their religious convictions we have no doubt, for we are told that the combining religious with secular eduoation is one of the cardinal rules enjoined by the Roman Catholic Church ? Then, if this be the case, it would appear to be unreasonable to expect members of that church to send their children to the Government Schools. . They might as well be naked te send them to a Protestant Church (which wo,isd

scarcely be a greater violation of the teaching of their religion), or," it would be just as reasonable to expect a Protestant to send his children for religious instruction to a Roman Catholic Church. In each case it would be calling upon people to pocket their religious convictions. Something should at once be done in the matter, for what would be the result if the Roman Catholics should fail in their attempt, from lack of funds, to establish schools for their children 1 One of two things : they must either allow their children to grow up in ignorance, or be driven to the necessity of sending them to the Government Schools. Parliament must indeed show respect for so large & section of colonists, and rectify tlie evil of which Roman Catholics complain."

An action for libel has been instituted in Wellington because o£ the appearance in one of our contemporaries of the following passage: "A journal resorting to pure inventions, a sign that its writsis were depraved, and that, concocting stories as they did, was a fraud upon the public, as a man does not pay his money to be regaled with fictions from the pen of obscure scribblers." Whether this is true particularly of journalists and subscribers to journals in. Wellington or not, concerns us in nothing. What we are concerned with is, that if the press or the public would generally act upon the sentiments here expressed, the columns of Catholic papers need not be so much occupied as they now coomionly are with the refutation of calumny. They have been very much so of late, and again in our character of '• Fiction Crusher," it devolves upon us to contradict several rumours that hare prevailed. They are to be found amongst those circu'ated with respect to our Holy Father the Pope, and the name of which is "legion." ' It is not true that Pope Leo intended to snub Pope Pius by refraining from mention of him on the coronation day of the former. Whatever may have been the reason of his Holiness for his silence on this point, disrespect cannot be nvunbered amongst them. In his Allocution delivered to the Cardinals on March 28th, Pope Leo spoke of our late beloved Holy Father as his " Immortal Predecessor," dwelling upon the grandeur of his Pontificate, and his many virtues. It is not true that the Pope meant or means to compromise the Temporal Power. Of this, says he, the Holy See has been " violently despoiled," and therefore is hampered in all its measures ; but still he places this temporal power -under the '• inviolable protection of right and reason." It is not true that the Revolutionists expect concessions from him, " The new. Pope," said Deputy Bovio," " at once pronounced his non possunnis" It is not true that the policy of the Vatican, under the reign of Pope Pius, will in anything material be departed from. — " Pecci," said King Leopold of Bslginm to'Ratazzi," "would above all make apparent concessions to the temporal power, and in all outward forms he would continue a man of the world. But his devotion to the Holy See will be predominant in him, and his principles, as well as his almost fanatical firmness, will prevent him from any weakness. He is one of those priests whom one must honour, but who are too much ruled by their own doctrines." In which description given by this Protestant King we discern the character of a man firm in the faith, and determined, cost what ib will, to act upon his convictions. Finally it is not true that Pope Pius left an enormous sum of money to the Church. This falsehood seems to have originated in a desire to impede the collection of Peter's pence ; a fund which it is still most necessary to provide for the support of the Sovereign Pontiff.

The Education Board has not replied humbly to the Dunedin School Committee. They have not answered as we hoped they ■would — " Dicwni en garde, madameF On the contrary they have sustained their rights, and in consequence, as might be expected, there is a pretty row. Mr. Bell has drawn up a document for the chastisement of the Board, expressive of the Committee's " surprise and dissatisfaction " at its goings on. Mr. Fish has shown a most astonishing acquaintance with his dictionary, and accused Professor Shand of making a disingenuous use of his adverbs, and the whole Committee have resolved on quashing the two unfortunate teachers, Cooke and Rix, appointed by the Board, and have dared them to budge an inch in the direction of teaching without the authority of their lawful lord and master, the Dnncdin School Committee. It is to be hoped that in the revision of the Act a clause may be introduced for binding over Boards and Committees to keep the peace towards one another; otherwise we fear the administration of the secular system will hardly prosper in New Zealand. There is too much of the turkey-cock element amongst our educationists to admit of that calm atmosphere necessary for the favourable cultivation of the "young idea."

A case -which looks like a diabolical attempt to blast the life of an innocent woman has occurred at Dunmore in the Couuty Gal way. A girl of about 17 years of age, and whose education ha.l ju~=t been completed at a convent school, was induced, they say, against her will to marry a man many years her senior. In four months after the marriage the husband died, and it was alleged he had been poisoned by pb.ospb.oius administered by his vrifc. Any one who

reads the evidence given oa the trial must, however, conclude that there is not a particle in it that so much as reflects upon the character of the accused, -while there is abundance to suggest the probability of an atrocious conspiracy, more especially on the part of the nephew of the dead man. On the conclusion of the case for the prosecution, the foreman of the jury came forward and said that the body represented by him having taken careful notes of the evidence, and given them their earnest attention, had already come to the conclusion that there was no case whatever against the accused, and that to prolong the trial would be a mere waste of time. A verdict of Not Guilty was in consequence handed in and the prisoner dismissed. Dr. O'Leaxy, M.P., has since written to the Galway Vindicator stating that he had been prepared LjS rove conclusively that the deceased had died from natural causes, and by no description of poison whatever.