News of the Week.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume VI, Issue 306, 28 February 1879, Page 13

News of the Week.

The Rev. Father Hennebery will open a mission in Ashburton on March 16th next. The subscription list now open in Dunedin for the purpose of aiding O'Donovan Rossa in his illness is deserving the consideration of his fellow-countrymen. The gentleman in question finds himself anished from the neighbourhood of bis friends, and from his native

land, to which he is prohibited from returning, and since the failure of his strength he is unable to do anything towards his own 1 support or that of his family. Subscriptions may be addressed to Mr. R. A. Dunne, box 143, Dunedin. We have received a copy of the Fourth Annual Report of the St. Viiwnit tie Paul Boy's Orphanage, Emerald Hill, Melbourne. The Institution is under the care of the Christian Brothers, and is conducted with their usual ability and devotion. The report states that the orphanage has never been so crowded as present ; the number of boys sheltered there being on December 31st 188. Of the economy practised in the support of the inmates we gain an idea when we are informed that the daily cost of each child is 1 l£d. This moderate sum provides them food, lodging, clothing, and an education and general training, whose excellence is testified to by the fact that the pupils are much sought after as apprentices, so much so that few boys oveT thirteen arc to be found in the institution. It further speaks volumes both for the boys themselves and for their teachers, the Christian Brothers, that those pupils who have been sent out into the world still look upon the orphanage with affection, and come on Sundays to play with the children resident there ; or to read some of the well chosen books to be found in the library, whence also they are allowed to carry books away with them, which present a sure preservative against the vicious literature of whose evil effects we hear so much just now. The institution, in short, is a genuine Catholic charity reflecting infinite credit upon the worthy society by whose members it is conducted, and meriting the patronage bestowed upon it by ihe Archbishop of Melbourne and his clergy, as well as by a large number of the laity, who signify their approbation by liberal subscriptions. There is a split in the Cabinet caused by Sir George Grey's refusal to sanction the appointment of Mr. Luckie as Commissioner of Annuities. The praiseworthy efforts of Irishmen in New Zealand on behalf of the widows and orphans of the late Fenian prisoners are still spiritedly kept up. We have this week received from Mr. Michael Cary, of Tinkers, a sum of over £10, collected by him for the purpose mentioned. We forward the money by to-day's mail to the editor of the Nation. On the 18th inst. the members of the various societies connected with the Catholic Church in Christchurch, assembled for the purpose of presenting the Rev. Father Macnamara with a farewell address and a purse containing 50 sovereigns, subscribed as a testimony of respect to him by the inhabitants of the parish which he was about to leave. The chair was taken by Mr. Nolan, and an address which testified highly to the esteem in which Father Macnamara had been held by his flock was read by Mr. Taylor. The rev. gentleman in whose honour the demonstration was made replied in cordial terms, and while thanking the societies for the good will shown towmls him, added a few words for their future guidance.