CHRISTCHURCH.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume VII, Issue 332, 29 August 1879, Page 15

CHRISTCHURCH.

(from our own correspondent.) August 25th. The weather here for the past week has been an improvement on the previous one. Business too is beginning to look up ; already people are preparing for the Spring and are busy in cleaning up their gardens after a somewhat protracted winter. The aspect of our city differs in many ways from yours. The city itself is a mile square, the roads running east and north, those running north being th« busiest. The garden plots in many cases come right into the centre of the town, and are neatly kept. This gives a very pretty appearance to the city and surroundings in the Summer season when the foliage is green and it has been frequently admired by visitors and strangers. I had the pleasure of witnessing a football match between Dunedin and Christchurch, or Otago and Canterbury on Saturday, and I never saw a better contested one. Dunedin, though lighter in build, were more active, and in my mind better disciplined. They played gamely and at one time had it all their own way. Canterbury made great endeavours to retain their prestige and the game resulted in a draw. To-day Dunedin played Wellington ; the grounds was not so suitable as on Saturday owing to the heavy rainfall yesterday. Allowance must be made for the Dunedin team, owing to their " tug of war " on Saturday with Canterbury, yet they were all there today. Wellington team was too heavy for them and their success laid in this, with certainly some very strong play. Dunedin played admirably but were over-matched, and lost the game by a touchdown. The attendance was good on both days, especially to-day, and if the shouting and hurrahing of [those present meant anything, the Dunedinites have made themselves great favourites with the general public here. Wellington has shown its prowess and I hope will retain it. The players deserve their victory, and I should be pleased to see them opposed to a Christchurch team before their return. If not I have no doubt an opportunity will be given them ere long to test their ability as premier club of New Zealand. John Hall is not coming forward for Christchurch. He is putting up for " The Selwyn." C. C. Bowen, as you are aware, is opposed by a Mr. Wearing for Kaiapoi, and a Captain Parsons is also spoken of. Mr. Bowen owed his election at the commencement to a great extent to the Catholics, they having almost to a man voted for him. They now know him and the result will show their power to punish a traitor, as I believe Mr. Wearing will be returned. Sir George Grey and S. P. Andrews are put forward by the " Reform Association " for Christchurch. The first named is certain to be returned, and the other, being a leader amongst the " Good Templars," will receive their block vote, added to which the plasterers and others have promised their assistance. He is apt to make it very awkward for one of the other two candidates. By-the-bye, has Sir George Grey ever during bis public life in New Zealand, granted the Catholics as a body any favours ? Why I ask, is, that ,in The Globe of the 20th, there appeared a letter headed " Sir Georgo Grey and Mr. Curtis's Rill," and signed "Artimas," accusing Sir George Grey of being the friead of Catholics. Now, it is a wellknown fact that the Premier neither voted for nor against Mr. Curtis s Bill. But the real object of the writer was not to bit Sir G. Grey, but the Catholic Church, its pastors and members. The same " Axtimaa" showed his horns some eight months ago when a Bazaar was being held here for a laudable purpose, and then in the columns of The Globe, accused the clergy as a body, of mis-appropriating moneys realized from Bazaars, instancing one which he said occured on the Continent somewhere. His object then was to make the Bazaar a failure, but he did not succeed, and he received such a rebuff from a correspondent that after a short fight the drew in his horns and we beard no more of him till now. I suppose he thought his subduer then, had decamped and he might again attempt to malign his neighbours, but the donkey is a second time frustrated, for I have before me The Globe of th? 23rd, containing a letter signed " Independent," which, if I don't greatly err, is the same old enemy of this subtle Pharisee hitting in his old style most effectively. "Artimas," after cautioning electors against voting for Sir George Grey or any man that promises to support him for fear grants should be given to denominational scL jolr which he roolly designate as a tyranny, " but only one of others in reserve," winds up with " My Lord, .... we are all thine ass." Now evidently he means himself as one of the n-e's, and likely the other meant is the Editor of The Globe, for inserting his calumny. If so, I forgive him. Though few Catholic Churches in New Zealand are so complete as the one in Christchurch, yet till lately there has been wanting what most of us have seen in the old land wherever the Nuns were located — a Private Chapel — for their special use. Of course they have one attached to their monastery here, but aa no separate portion

of the parish church could be set aside for them specially, they were prevented assisting the public devotions therein, except those in charge of the girls. Now, this want is supplied, and a neat addition occupied for the first time last Sunday by the Sisters is for the future to be their private chapel. Our Church originally was intended to resemble a cross in shape, but owing to the rapid increase in the parish, though it has been lengthened as intended, it has been found necessary to widen it in proportion. The Sisters' private Cbapel is on the north side, off the sanctuary and adjoining the convent grounds, so that they can enter and leave the Church without leaving their own premises, thereby causing them to comply more closely with the rules of their Order which I believe are very exacting. Their communion table is enclosed with perpendicular round poles, forming a grating, the top being ornamented with a Maltese cross.

The first of a series of conferences to be given to young men engaged in laborious employment took place last Sunday, in St. Patrick's Hall, Barbadoes street. The weather was unfortunate, which caused the attendance to be smaller than anticipated, though a fair number had assembled. Rev. Father Ginaty who convened the meeting was present, and though reserving for another time when his audience would be greater, the most important part of his intended discourse, he nevertheless, entertained his hearers with some sound, practical admonitions. He alluded to what young Irishmen had to do in this new country, what they have done and are doing wherever the English tongue is spoken, how the future depended on their manliness and morality, and exhorted them in an earnest and feeling manner to be ever faithful to their Holy Mother The Church. To be so, they should in the first place be practical Catholics, avoid bad company, discountenance the now-a-days common vice of cursing and swearing, keep away from public houses, which have been the rum of thousands, and endeavour to establish a reading-room where they could spend their leisure hours in improving one another. The date of the next conference will be announced from the altar, and I would advise all the men in the parish, married and single, to attend as I am positive they will learn something to help them along in their trials through thiß life. The members of The Living Rosary (a confraternity existing in Chnstchurch for years past) voluntary contribute a small sum per month towards defraying the expense of vestments and ornaments for the altar. The last addition in the way of vestments, till about a fortnight ago, was made, if I mistake not, by the Rev. F. Chataigner, when parish priest of Christchurch, now over eleven years ago. Those ordered by Father Ginaty and received by him a few days before the Assumption, consist of Chasuble, two Dalmatics, Cope, Humeral Veil, all made of a magnificent cloth of gold ; also a very beautiful white water silk vestment, adorned with masses of gold embroidery ; eight lace Albs ; eight vases, four china and four bronze ; and eight bouquets of flowers, four golden and four white. On the back of the Cope is a splendid group of figures, worked by the hand, representing the Coronation of our Blpssed Lady in Heaven by her adorable Son. She appears seated at His right hand, with two angles soaring above her, holding a mitre and in the act of placing it upon her head. This design seemed all the more appropriate, as the vestments were first used on the feast of the Assumption, Fnday the 15th inst. On the back of the Chasuble, there is a true figure ot the Good Shepherd, and figures of angels along the sides of the Cope, the whole of which belong to the Middle Age design. The Dalmatics and Humeral Veil are in keeping with the other articles, all being bound round with a deep fringe of artificial shamrocks composed of green and gold. The vases are emblazoned with appropriate representations of St. Patrick, The Good Shepherd, Sacred .Heart, bt. Joseph, St. Bridget, &c, and are of a superior quality. It must be gratifying to the members of The Living Rosary to know that they have been in some way instrumental in the procuring of those necessary and beautiful ornaments, and it also shows what may be done by the smallest donations when made generally and reguJarly. I don't mean to say that the whole cost was contributed by members, though in a Jarge paiish like this it ought to, especially when i all the advantages of membership are known. The next monthly meeting of members will take place after Vespers, on next Bunday, when all those good people anxious to assist in decorating the altar (a work always pleasing to the humble Catholic) will do well to attend and have themselves enrolled members of The Living Rosary. s

Messrs. Mebcer and M'Donald report for the week ending August 27th :— Retail prices only.— Fresh butter, in A and lib prints, best and favourite brands, Is 8d to Is 9d per 1b ; good ordinary butter, Is 7d to Is 8d per Ib. Fresh butter is getting more plentiful, and is now on the fall Salt butter is still beiDg sold ietail at Is 3d per lb ; good salt butter in ke:rs is firm at Is per lb. Eggs are still lOd per doz. ; cheese, best quality, 8d per lb ; side and roll bacon, 9d per lb ; prime colonial hams, 10^d per lb. Messrs. Scanlan and Company's establishment South Dunedin furnishes ihr residents in St. Ivilda, South Dunedin, and Kensington with an unequalled opportunity for supplying their wants without thetroublc of having lecourse to the city. Groceries, drapery, boots and shoes, and general stores, may all be had there of the best possible quality, and at prices totally unprecedented. Mr. J. J. Hall, accountant and estate agent. Prince street, Dunedin, is prepared to execute all commissions entrusted to him with punctuality and care. Mr. Hall's well-known reputation as a business man of experience and ability is a sufficient guarantee for those who may have need of his services. It will be seen by advertisement on another page that Mr. Henrr Eichardson, saddler, has removed to 58, George street, premise's recently erected. His stock is a new, large, and valuable one, consisting of riding saddles, harness of all kinds, collars, &c, &c. Mr. Eichardson will be glad to see his old customers when they are in Dunedin. We desire to inform our Kumara subscribers that Mr. J. 0 Hagan has been, appointed our agent for their district.