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New Zealand Tablet, Volume XIII, Issue 17, 21 August 1885, Page 16

Wn. are glad to learn that a branch of the Society of St. Vincen de Paul for women has been founded in Dunedin. The object of the Society ia the relief of the poor, and it has always been found to work most successfully wherever it has been established. The active members meet ones a week to sew for the benefit of those who are in nei d of clothes, and their duty is also to attend to the wants of persons recommended by honorary members, to visit the poor ia their own particular districts, and the sick at the hospital. It is however, forbidden by the rules that anyone shall neglect her own household in order to fulfil these duties. The Society does not limit its attentions to members of the Catholic Church, bnt irrespective o* creed or denomination embraces in its sphere people of every form of belief, and it is also open to non-Catholics to become honorary mem. toers. The meetings of the active members commence by a prayer, and one of the Society's chief ends is the promotion of piety, it also pro. vides the means of gaining numerous indulgences. The ladies who have joined the Dunedin branch of the Society, as active members so far, are as follows :— President, Mrs. Fergusson ; Secretary, Mrs| Callan ; Treasurer, Miss Horan : Librarian, Miss HuUheson ; Ward.' obe kteper, Mri. Horan assisted by Miss D. Horan j Buyer of goods, Miss McKay assisted by Mrs. Callan ; Mrs. 0. Chapman, Miss Batislaa, Miss D. Horan. The Rev. Father Walsh has undertaken the duties of Spiritual Director. The first of the weekly sewing-meet-ngs has been held and the result is that already five persons have been supplied with warm clothing. Copies of the rules, or any other information desired may be obtained on application to Mrs. Fergusson, Dowling street, or Mrs. Callan, Mornington. We are convinced that the establishment of this Society will be hailed by all our Dunedin readers with pleasure as filling a notable want, and that ia ■tating the fact of this establishment we have done all that is needed to ensure to it the warm support of every member at least of the Catholic community. We may add that some Protestant ladies have also generously entered their names as honorary members. In con- ' elusion, let us hope that the Catholic women of Dnnedin have inaugurated a work that will be speedily taken up also by the Catholic men. The successful work of both branches " of the Society of St. • Vincent de Paul among ns would be productive of good untold, and , is an object that should be pursued with the utmost -vigour and • perseverance. ...!,_ „, Thb first football match of St. Patrick's College, Wellington, was played on Saturday, against the <( Rivals" football club, on the round of 'the'latter, in Hobson street, and resulted in a victory for the College by 18 points (1 goal and 4 tries) to nil. W. and J, Redwood, Saunders a,id Mcllro'y,', secured 1 theories, whilst G. Red- ■ wood, McMahon and Diamond, distinguished theniselves throughout the game, the latter k eking a gbaPa^a^eF^aifficult angle. Forham, , Parsons and Tripe, did good work for the defeated. Next Saturday, the 22nd, St. Patrick's will try conclusions with the Wellington College 2nd fifteen at Newton Park. The HouSetof Representatives have thrown out the clause passed by the Legislative Council, and amending the Education Act so aa to

exclude children under seven from the schools, t The enormous sum paid to the teachers to act as nurses to the f infants is pronounced necessary for the support of the system, and without the money obtained in- this way under, false pretences it seems it cquld'not stand, The absurdity of air this should be" palpable, but the perceptions' ofca people so besotted in the matter as the colonists of New Zealand can only be aroused when a bitter experience has in more ways than' one overtaken and punished them; We clip tht following from our contemporary, the Sydney Eopret* ':— Mr. Bernard King, who left Melbourne some twelve months Bince— where he had been, Reaching, for some yeara in St. Patrick's (Jesuit) College-— for the purpose of studying in Ireland, has returned to Australia, the climate of the old country being too severe on a constitution naturally delicate. On his way back Mr. . King travelled overland to Borne; where he ! spent a fortnight^TOn the feast of Corpus Christi he was presented to the Pope, an! it will interest Mr. King's compatriots $6, know that he asked the Holy Father's blessing on behalf of the Australian Catholic youth of both sexes, and that His Holiness was pleased to grant that special favour in addition to imparting the papal benediction to Mr. King for his family and friends. Mr. King is' now fast recovering, and speaks highly of the kindness shown him by several Irish. dignitaries in Borne, as well as the hospitality be experienced at tfte" hand) of Signor Acbille Spezza, and his brother, Canvn Spezza, grandnephews of Leo. XIII. Signor Spezza takes a lively interest in Australian Church matters, and exercises himself in the ' English language by reading on' Catholic papers, which he requested MX King to send him regullary * He expresses bis intention of visiting this country as soon .as he can obtain* A holiday, and, Mr. King, undertook to promise, him a hearty reception from the Catholic population of Australia. Mr. King is now, pursuing his studies here, and is at present located at St. Ignatius' College, Riverview. Those working men of Wellington who have petitioned Si r Gieorge-fJrey to obtain for them the means of emigrating to South Africa might find cause to repent if their 1 grayer' were to prov c successful. .The South African papers for. some time back- have given anything rather than favourable accounts of their colony, and drought, and dearth, and want bfworVhave" been the burden of their song in a very marked degree. They have besides given us certain details of a very horrible and shameful disease which has developed itself among their colonists as an epidemic, conveyed from black nurses through the little children into many bbuSsh&lds, and there are various other evils of which we knour nothing in%ew Zealand. The working men of Wellington, therefore, .wonld do -well, as the old saying is, to look before they leap\— The remedy, meanwhile, for the bad state of things in New Zealand--a much finer country than South Africa in many ways — is in the hands of the working men themselves, 'and "may be applied by them if they will unite t« return , honest and competent men, instead of self-seekers, charlatans, and ridiculous theorists, to Parliament. But it is vain to hope they will do so for, at least, an indefinite period ; claptrap haa taken possession of their minds also* and they are eagerly and steadily sacrificing their interests to it. Of this we require no clearer proof than the unanimity and boldness with which all proposals for reducing the enormous and ruinous cos* of. the godless education system have been rejected in Parliament Hon. Members know that they must continue to humour their "con" stituents in this matter, and to please their constituents and make sure of their seats is their first object. The workingmen may go to South Africa, or anywhere else they like, so long as that object is gained. In addition to the amount acknowledged by us last week, 15s. have been received towards the Invercargill convent fund, of which 10s. were subscribed by Mrs. Feldwick, On Tuesday, the 18th inst., the anniversary of the religious Profession of the Very Rev. Mother Prioress was celebrated at the Dominican Convent, Dunedin . A large number of the pupils and' ex-pupils assembled to honour the occasion, taking the matter as usual into their own hands, with the performance oE an affecting and pretty play, and some brilliant music. A very pleasant afternoon and evening were spent. We have seen a number of Christmas cards executed at Wan* ganui by Mr. A. D. Willis. The subjects are coloured views r of New Zealand scenery, contained in a framework of flowers and other pretty designs. The manner in which the whole are turned out, and the artistic work and taste displayed, bejng most creditable to the designer and executer. These cards will doubtless find a ready sale in the Colony, and be not only appreciated, but eagerly sought after by persons desirous of sending to their friends in other parts of the' world something most appropriate , as , coming from New Zealand. Mr. Willis is to be congratulated on ihe enterprise bo well carried out by him. , ( ,