CHRISTCHURCH.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume VII, Issue 392, 15 October 1880, Page 15

CHRISTCHURCH.

(From our own Correspondent.) October 11, 1880. P gress is the order of the day. The Royal mail coach, even in Nf ',v Zealand, has long given way to the locomotive, the two horse conveyance to the train ; our rough and uneven paths and roads have been made smooth and level, by the use of asphalt and the road roller. The old and to many of us familiar lean-to has V>een eradicated and been replaced by large and commodious mansions. Educational institutions have sprung up all around as if by magic ; in ■Sict, pi ogress is the order of the day everywhere throughout this new land. To the majority of the above colonists have contributed willingly according to their various positions, but in the rearing of educational institutions one particular class of colonists has largely f assisted, though perhaps not generally known. 1% is said that Catholics, so far as worldly pelf is concerned, do not keep pace with other people, that they are generally reckoned among the poor or middle class. To themselves the reason is understood, those not acquainted with the tenets of " Holy Church " it may well strike as remarkable, and sometimes is attributed to idleness, extravagance, ignorance, and even idolatry. Be this as it may, thoueh they are poor in the goods of this world, they have done and are "doing more towards education, and that which will exist after this world is swept away/than any other sect or class of colonists in New Zealand. They have not only assisted materially the State in erecting godless schools, but have purchased land all throughout the centre of population, erected schools thereon entirely at their own expense, where thousands of children of all denominations are educated according to the Btrict meaning' of the word by teachers, male and female, secular and religious, who have been specially trained for the work. The foregoing allusions I have been forced to make after taking a quiet stroll through the magnificent property owned by " The Sisters of Notre Dame des Missions " here, and through which the grand procesßion to take place on next Sunday is to pass. The locality of this property is rapidly becoming populated, making it still more valuable. It contains about four acres (city property), and is surrounded by a lofty and substantial fence of corrugated iron. Previous to its becoming the property of Catholics, it -was a huge eye-sore, enclosed by a most dilapidated gorse hedge, and studded with shanties or sheds used for the preparation of bricks. A considerable portion of it was ponds, from which clay had been taken in former years for bricks, one of these ponds in particular being about twelve feet deep and close upon 1000 in circumference. All these ponds have been gradually filled in, the larger being only completed a few weeks ago, and this will be the scene of the most impressive part of the ceremony on next Sunday. Few except those connected with the ConTent have seen these grounds, and it was only by special permission J had the rare pleasure of being shown through them one day last week. The paths, which cut one another at right angles, are wide and spacious, clean, level, and as smooth aB a table ; the squares are laid out in grass plots, and the trees comprise many varieties, concealing in many places little grotteos wherein are placed statues of Saints. The aspect of the surrounding foliage just now just now is grand, as the many thousands who will no doubt congregate within its boundery on next Sunday will be able to testify. Not far from the road and standing in the midst of a large opeu square I noticed a more than ordinarily looking solitary stone, and thinking perhaps it was a relic of the past, I was curious enough to make inquiries about it, when I ascertained that it was the foundation stone of the new Convent laid twelve months ago, amidst favourable forebodings. This stone is certainly not to our credit, as it should have cte now been the prop of a grand building. It will be seen next Sunday, by those in attendance, when I trust an effort will hi made afterwards to erect this building so badly needed. All the good sisters need to begin is that those who promised subscriptions should pay them, also that tbeir tickets issued for the art union be disposed of. When will be seen the care and pains taken by them in the training and educating of our daughters, and the pleasure with which thev°enter into everything, having for its object the " Glory of God," I doubt not but their appeal will be heard by all, especially Catholics. In order to give your readers an idea of what the procession will be like, permit me to mention one or two outlines. The procession will be opened by a little girl carrying a white banner, bearing the inscription " Society of the Holy itosary," surmounting a gold rosary and cross, all encompassed by the words " Credo in unutn Deum." A choir of sixteen girls dressed in white, with veils and red sashes follow ; then come the children who comprise the " Society of the Holy Rosary," as indicated by the leading banner, who will be divided into three parts corresponding with the divisions of the Rosary. The Joyful Mysteries will be represented by Bixty little gi.ls becomingly attired in white, and introduced by one carrying a blue silk banner bearing on one hide a rosary, and the words " Joyful Mysteries,"' on the other a gold crown and monogram of the >( Avc Maria." Each decade is represented by ten little girls wearing veils and blue rokettes, the large beads or "Pater No&lcr "' and " Gloria "' being represented by two larger girls with blue sashes, instead of rosettes, the decades being separated by a garland ol evergreens and flowers carried by them. The second part will be composed of society little girls also, the colour of their banner being purple, with the inscription, " Sorrowful Mysteries." Their sashes and rosettes are also purple, and follow in the same order as their predecessors. The third or labt part of the Eosary will be represented by sixty children. Their banner is pink and gold, with the words " Glorious MyAeries " inscribed, their rosettes and sashes being pink also. Immediately after come the " Children of Mary," followed by a choir of girls dressed in white, with veils and red sashes, then the "Guard of Honour,"' followed by the other confraternities in the parish, also Ihc parishioners. I think I have said sufficient to give an idea what the procession will be like and to cause as many Catholics as possible to attend. Every Catholic in attendance is expected to join in the pro-

cession, except mothers and others with babies, who will be assigned a separate place where they can see the procession, and partake of the many blessings to be gained on that day by all who devoutly attend. P- s - — A meeting of some of the leading Catholic gentlemen in the city was held last evening, 12th inst., at St. Leo's school, for the purpose of taking the initiative towards establishing a •' New Zealand Catholic Union,' 1 on the same principal as that established in England and parts of the Australian colonies. It was decided to write at once to England, also to Melbourne, in order to procure copies of the Rules in force in both places, and a sub-committee was formed to draw up a circular embodying tlie principal objects of the Union, copies of which are to be forwarded to the leading Catholic clergy and laity throughout New Zealand, Should these circulars meet with the approbation of the Catholic body, we may expect to see ere long a powerful organisation capable of judiciously dealing with matters appertaining to Catholic interests.