CHRISTCHURCH.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume IX, Issue 468, 31 March 1882, Page 11

CHRISTCHURCH.

(From our own correspondent.) March 27. 1882. The buildinsr. now npproachirg completion, prethk sents a highly satisfactory appearance, but the EXHIBITION, numerous applications for space have necessitated further addition*, and two porches will be erected, giving sixteen additional bays. Exhibitors are now busy fitting up their several departments, and a temporary tram runs through the building, some railway trucks having been kindly lent to the promoters by Mr. Back, the manager of railways, so that the various cases and packages delivered at the gates can be at once conveyed to their respective destinations. An office has been placed at the disposal of the Custom House Officers, and a room will be devoted to the sole use of the representatives of the Press, a boon which they will no doubt greatly appreciate. The number of British exhibits will scarcely be lees than those in the Melbourne Exhibition, and it is understood that applications from Australia had to be declined in consequence of the bars having been all allotted. Exhibitors of articles of the value of £100 and over, will be granted free passes : of the value of £50 and over, season tickets at half-price ; and where attendant 9 are constantly required, they will receive weekly free passes. Mr. Dick, the postmaster, will establish a branch post-office and money order room close to the telegraphic department, and in the matter of telegraphy, Government have made the same concessions to the promoters as were given them by the various Australian Governments. Mr. Meddings has received the electric apparatus from Timaru, and erected it. The Government exhibits will arrive about the Ist prox.; they include geological exhibits by Dr. Hector, telegraphic do. from Dr. Lemon ; and maps, plans, &c, which will occupy a considerable amount of space, from the survey department. A number of Austrian and Japanese exhibits have already arrived, the former consist chiefly of glass articles ; the latter of bronzes, porcelain, and lacquered goods. In the Ladies' Court, the promoters intend to award six silver and six bronze medals, and twelve certificates of merit An exhibit for this court has been prepared by an old ledy resident in this city ; it consists of a large patch-work guilt, of handsome design, in which are no less than 3420 different pieces, all put together since Mr. Twopenny's arrival here. The old lady is said to be justly proud of her work. The promoters have decided on a reduction in the price of season tickets, which will be, in the case of the head of a family, two guineas ; for the other members, one guinea each ; but all these tickets must be applied for at the same time. Free passes will be allowed to volunteers taking part in the opening ceremony, and a special train will run from Timaru in time for that event. Besides the reductions made by Government in the matter of railway fares, the Union Steamship Co. will issue tickets at holiday rates ; that is, 30 per cent, off two single fares, which tickets will be available up to June 30. The Tramway Co. are laying a loop line at the main entrance to the building, so that passengers from the city and from Addington can alight at the same time. Ten additional police constables, one sergeant, and two detectives, will arrive from Wellington for duty in Christchurch during the time of the Exhibition. The Mayor's ball will be held in the art gallery on Thursday, April 13. Most probably the next meeting of the Grand National will be held at Cbristchurch instead of Ashburton, as otherwise Messrs. Joubert and Twopeny would have felt inclined to get up a days racing in the city on the Queen's Birthday. Letters have been received by the Mayor, and also by the promoters, from Commodore Erskine, from Hobart, expressing his regret that he is unable to bring H. M. S. Nelson to Lyttelton for the opening ceremony, but that he hopes to come down in her before the Exhibition closes ; while he will send down H. M. 8. Miranda at once. Suggestions have been made by various persons interested in the welfare of the Destitute Patient's (Hospital) Relief Fund that a fancy fair should be held in the Exhibition building, if permitted by the promoters : but whether the idea will be adopted instead of the proposed calico ball remains to be seen. The Austrian Band will head the procession on the opening day ; the St. Andrew's and Hibernian Bands have also offered their services (all members of bands will be admitted free), and probably country bands may attend if satisfactory arrangements can be made with the railway authorities. The Fire Brigade will take part in the procession, as also the Good Templars and the Orangemen ; the latter with sashes and colours. The Protestant Alliance Band may be able to attend. It is as yet uncertain whether the Volunteers will join the procession, but they have been invited to do so. In order to obviate any posssible jealousy, it has been decided that a ballot for order of j reeedence shall take place on the 31st. Each of the Friendly Societies and trades has been requested to appoint a Deputy Marshal to take charge of its particular division. The atrocious scandal in connection with this the fchool has scarcely assumed the proverbial form of kobmal a nine days' wonder, and the apathy and supineschool, ness of the parents does indeed seem incredible. Society, however, has not quite done with the matter, and very justly condemns the appointment of Mr. Malcolm — the Principal— to investigate the affair, as obviously he (as the authority whose management, next to that of the Board, was most open to question) would be very unlikely to help in bringing the true facts to light. Society says that " when the so-called enquiry took place the two children [whose conversation was overheard] were /brought face to face with one girl, who immediately began to cry, whilst protesting her innocence ; another girl involved was dead, and two others were not forthcoming. From other little children nothing but tears and denials could be obtained. This is the evidence which is sufficient to Patisfy the Board. The writer of the letter who complained to the Board is satisfied that it is impossible to get any criminatory evidence out of the children ; but he is no less satisfied p| the troth of bis original statements, and the allegations put for-

ward in this journal. In the meantime, we are informed that a workman engaged in effecting repairs upon the roof of the school has been witness to most disgraceful behaviour on the part of the children." Your contemporary protests against the "audacioua assumption " that the Board have a right to consider a scandal like this a '• private matter," and it " inclines to thirk that the members of the Board deseive to be bundled neck and crop out of their present position," a conclusion with which most of your readers will cordially agree. Nevertheless, I opine that we have about heard the last of this unsavoury matter. By way of supplement to your quotations regarding lobd byboit. the Catholic leanings of this much-abused man, as also my own previous remarks on the same subject, I may add that had he never written another word respecting his own private belief, his exquisite " Hebrew Melodies " should be sufficient to disperse for ever the delusion of his being an infidel, In them can be clearly seen not only his profound conviction of the immortality of the soul, but also the marks of true Christian feeling. In " Manfred " his belief in one God and Creator is most unhesitatingly expressed. In '• Childe Harold " he gave expression to the sentiments which pervaded him, when visiting St. Peter's, as follows : Stanza, 153. " Christs' mighty shrine above his martyrs tomb." Stanza, 154. " But thou of temples old, or altars new, Standest alone,— with nothing like to fchec— Worthiest of God, the holy and the true, Majesty, Power, glory, strength, and beauty, all are aisled In this eternal ark of worship undefiled." Stanza, 155. " A fit abode wherein appear enshrined Thy hopes of immortality ; and thou Shalt one day, if found worthy, bo defined, See thy God face to face, as thou dost now His Holy of Holies." Mrs. Shelley was anxious to have Byron's little daughter under her care, but his apprehensions lest her faith should be disturbed by the conversation of Shelley himself prevented Byron from allowing her to remain under their roof. I venture with much deference to advance the opinion that the fact of Lord Byron having dared to stand up in the House of Lords and defend the cause of Catholicism in Ireland, is quite sufficient to account for the storm of abuse and constant misrepresentations which were his lot through life. The Queen has requested M. Gounod to compose a varieties, nuptial march on the occasion of the marriage of Prince Leopold, Duke of Albany. — It is highly satisfactory to know on the authority of no less a personage than that champion of ill-treated nuns (whose convents he is always longing to inspect) Mr. Newdegate, M.P., that there has never been known such wide activity as there is at present on the part of the Church of Rome. — A society for the promotion of good manners under the title of the " Semper Fidelis Society" has been formed in England, and already many branches in connection with it have been established. What a pity there is not one started here ! — Mrs. Agar Ellis, whose claim to have the guardianship of her children was refused some time ago, has petitioned for a judicial separation from her husband. She applied for leave to Bee her children during the remainder of the Christmas holidays. The solicitor-general, on behalf of Mr. Agar Ellis, opposed, because the wife being a Catholic, she would influence the children against her husband's religion. Her application was refused. — The successful candidate for the serviceable position of Secretary to tbe C.J.C., is a Mr. Penfold, a new arrival, who, therefore is in happy ignorance of the impossibilities expected of him. Tbe Jockey Club have, however, accepted the offer of Mr. Stead to have the accounts kept as heretofore, in that gentleman's office, and the Committee have therefore thought themselves justified in returning to the old figure of £150 as the Secretary's salary. It is to be hoped that a proportionate reduction in the articles of brains will likewise be made, as is but fair, but the Chairman had to answer numerous questions aa to the suitability of their selected candidate, selected, too, after co much trouble. Oh 1 the delights of being a secretary, especially at £150 per annum ! in this season of almost universal bad crops, it is really a pleasure to hear that Mr. Johns, of the North Road, has just threshed 72 bushels of wheat (purple straw tuscan) to the acre, from a field of 24 acres. The same ground last year produced 14 tons of potatoes to the acre. — Mr. Dickinson' 8 cricketing pavilion at St. Alban's well known at least to cricketers, is about to have a formidable rival in a similar building which is now being erected by Mr. Judge, in Hereford street, next to Collins' Hotel. It will be large enough to admit of two wickets being pitched, and owing to its very convenient and central position, it should be largely patronised. Members' subscription will be one guinea for the season. — A closer inspection of the statue of St. Joseph, mentioned in my last, as having just been presented by an anonymous donor to the Church of the Most Blessed Sacrament, justifies me in speaking in the warmest terms of its great beauty, although having no pretensions whatever to be an art-critic. I venture to think, that the figure of the Infant Jesus, is exceedingly beautiful, both in feature and expression. As to St. Joseph himself, one cannot be but struck by toe sweet, grave, somewhat Bad eyes, with their far-off look, and the delicate, almost attenuated hands, to full of character. In common with many other Catholics, I must own to a preference for unco'oured statues and picture* so many coloured ones being simply hideous in the extreme, with their crude and staring red, yellow and blue shades, but in the case of the beautiful Munich statne just alludedto, no objection of this kind could be brought, Owing* doubtless, to a gentle hint from Father O'Donnell, in bis sermon on St. Patrick, that a statue of that great saint would form a very suitable companion to that of St. Joseph on the other 6ide, I am informed that the Hibernians immediately expressed their desire to be permitted to make an offering of this statue. Whether or not the rest of the congregation were a little bit hurt or jealous at being excluded, deponent sayeth not, but at any rate their laudable zeal has stimulated them to offer a precisely similar statue (of St. Patrick) to be placed in the new church of St. Mary's. It is also understood that there will bo no lack of offer-

ings to this last-named church, as soon as it is erected, in the shape of painted windows, a pulpit, an altar lamp, a statue to our Blessed Lady, etc., etc. The bazaar is finally fixed to take place on Thursday, ' Friday, and Saturday in Easter week, the 13th, 14th and 15th of April, but lam sorry to notice that the Mayor's ball falls on the first of these evenings, however, we may fairly hope that the crowds visiting tbe Exhibition will be so great, as to give us an overwhelming number of generous and large purchasers, so that the good cause (the payment of the new Convent) may be greatly benefitted.