AUCKLAND.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume XIII, Issue 29, 13 November 1885, Page 13

AUCKLAND.

(From our own correspondent.) Auckland November 5, 1885. LATINO THB FOUNDATION STOKE FOB THE, CONVENT BCHOOLS,

SDRBKY HILLS. It wan annonoced by advertisement in all the daily papers and at all the Masses in the various churches, on Sunday that his Lordship the Bishop would lay the foundation stone of the schools at Surrey Hills at 3.80 p.m. Crowds, collected to witness the imposiner ceremonial. The Bite of the building is situate close to Newton West School, and close to the New North Road with frontages on Sussex and Tennyson Btreets, of about 80 feet and has a depth of 270 feet, or about four allotments. Between 2,000 and 3,000 people attended. A tent was pitched for the Bishop and priests, and immediately in front of it, a platform for the choir and harmonium. Prior to the ceremonial the Garrison Band perfoirued a number of musical selections. Miss Donovan presided at the harmonium and Mr. Knox officiated as leader of the choir. Shortly before four o'clock Dr. Luck ascended the platform, accompanied by the Rev. Fathers O'Sullivao, W. McDonald Downey, O Gara, and Lenihan. The choir sang the " Kyrie," the " Gloria in Excelsis " and the " Credo," after which his Lordsh ; p proceeded to bless and lay the foundation stone, and then, vested in cope and mitre, addressi d the assemblage. He alluded to the large number present and said the question of education was now one which vexed the public mind not only here, but all over the world, as to how ought education to be regulated and on what lines, whether on the lines of ignoring the exisience of God or instilling into the young the fear and love of God. He knew thit there were many listening to him who were not Catholics, but they felt an interest in the question as to whether the rising generation was to be Christian or heathen. How were they, the.i to educate their children ? If they were brought up as Christian?, they might hope they might live as such ; but if they were brought up as heathens they would give lasting proofs, as they could only too frequently see at present, that they would continue such. The purpose for which they had now assembled was this, that the Catholic body, assisted by friends who were not connected with them, were about to raise a school. They looked to the future generation, and got the goodwill of all who loved Christianity. That was the reason why they were about to erect this building, in order to bring up children in the fear and love of God, as well as fitting them for the position they will occupy intbis world. This was not a matter for the clergy alone, but for the people. The question had been touched on iv many other places , and if the Catholic Church acts on this principle every honest heart would praise them and co-oparate with them. Now that he had stated the reasons why they had assembled at the invitation of Father O'Sullivan, he would allow others to speak. If, he could afford it, he would put £1000 down for such a purpose, but unfortunately he could not, and bis donation therefore would be £10.

The Rev. Father Sullivan said : It was significant that this building which they were about to erect would be a church and school, as arrangements were made to have a sanctuary, so that people of the district could adore God on Sundays, while during the week it would be devoted to imparting education to the young. Education in the Catholic Church always went hand in hand with religion, for they believed that there could be no education without religion. Tbis was the great question which was now occupying the minds of the world, and maoy bad different ideas on the subject, some looking on it as a political question. He hoped that in time they would get aided iv the way of education by results, but if no', Catholics would have to continue as at present — to resort to their people alone to supply the means of education for their children. He hoped not, but the tyranny of the majority was strong. He appealed to them as men of reason, and believed that all the Colony would soon unite in having a thorough conception of what education was — to fit them for society and to impart to them that spirit of self-sacrifice for the good of others which religion alone could teach. He would not detain them further, but state that he bad been

authorised to announce the following donations which he was to place on the block : The Very Key. Consignor Fynes, £10 ; the Very Key. Father Walter McDonald, £10 10s ; Mr. P. Darby, £5 5s : the Rev. Father Tuckwell, £1 ; and th« Misses McLausjhlin, £1. The hey. Father McDonald addressed the meeting and said they had a grand attendance, and he believed they would have a liberal subscription. He regretted that he could not give 100 guineas to such a noble cause instead of teu guineas, which was his subscription. The collections were then taken, and resulted in £100 being made. It must have been utterly disgusting to the bigoted Orangemen and Freethinkers to see such a gathering after the united attempts of their champions— the twin apost!e3— the " Escaped Nun " and " Tessy Chapman," in exhorting Aucklanders for the last fortnight to trample out Catholic Bchoois, nuns, priests, bishops, and the Pope himself, and it is to be regretted that Mr. Ballance paid marked attendance to these two females, whilst he refused to pay a visit to the Marist Brothers' schools newly erected here, when asked by the writer of this to do so, and further that nothing would be done to relieve Catholics of the education burthen, as the House contained a lot of bigots who would not do anything for Catholics. But I verily believe that under a liberal exterior there are not two greater bigots iq the House than the Premier and the Native Minister. They should try and get a lesson in that respect from Charles Stewart Pamell.

PROFESSION OP TWO NUNS IN THE OEDER OF MERCY.

On Saturday last, Miss Prendergast (in religion, Sist*»r Mary Columba), a native of Ireland, and Miss Annie Kelly, daughter of Mr. M. Kelly, of Waikato, were solemnly professed by bis Lordship Dr. Luck, assisted by the Rev. Fathers Egan and Lenihan, at St. Mary's, Ponsonby. Miss Philomene Darby presided at the organ, and the choir for the occasion consisted of Mis? Darby, the Misses Tole and Miss S. Lynch. The various abilities of these ladies are so well known that it is scarcely necessary to remark that both the music and singing were excellent.

There are now 1,141 children in Auckland and suburbs under training by the Sisters of Mercy— viz, High Schools, 216; St. Joseph's OrphaDage, 85 ; and parish schools, 830. The teaching Sisters number 25, and are assisted by 7 pupil-teachers. Several meetings have been held here lately (presided over by the Bishop and the Rev. Father \V. McDonald) for the purpose of rendering more energetic support to the Freeman's Journal. Beveral influential Catholics, including Messrs. Danagher, Glee<:on, and others, urged the necessity of a change of management, as the paper was not sufficiently pronounced on National matters, and held up the N.Z. Tablet, Sydney Freeman's Journal, and Melbourne Adrocate as models in tint direction. The last meeting, which was held on Tuesday evening, closed by leading the matter in much the same state as before.