A CONTRADICTION.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume XV, Issue 16, 12 August 1887, Page 11

A CONTRADICTION.

TO THE EDITOR N.Z. TABLET. Sib, — Permit me to make a few remarks on the controversy that has been carried on in your columns for some time back. The feelings of respect I owe to the priesthood prevented me, up to this, replying to Father Carew's ill-advised letter, and I think it a great pity our priests should engage in such a controversy. But now that Mr. Harney (?) makes such unfounded statements with regard to the feelings of my countrymen in Timaru towards the priests of their own flesh and blood, I think it right that every Irishman should speak out. Of course I have no right to speak on behalf of the Irish in Timaru ; I leave that to themselves. But I will speak as regards my own immediate district. As you observe, he wants to praise the French Fathers at the expense of the Irish clergy, and it is with th.it I will first concern myself. Well, sir, to come to the point at once. His statement that we have expressed a preference for the French Fathers to those of our own nationality, I fling in his face as a falsehood, and let me tell him this : that there bas not baen in New Zealand of any nationality a priest who has left a brighter record behind him than the late sainted Father O'Reilly, of Wellington. He does not know, I suppose, either who Father Driscoll or Father Cummings were. Oh, no ; it would not suit, it would spoil comparisons. Why, sir, the Catholics of Te Aro, Wellington, as far back as 1872, waited on the then Marist administration of the diocese to

request that an Irish priest be given them as assistant to Father O'Heilly. I will not put in print what took place then, bnt if the gentleman wishes to hear it I can refer him to some of the deputation. He may hear something from them, ton, about poor Father Driscoll, who was afterwards lost in the City of Dunedin. So mnch, so far as Wellington i 9 concerned. Let him go to the Hutt and ask the people there if they would change Father Lane for any of his predecessors. Let him go up to Palmerston and ask the same question with regard to the self-sacrificing Father Macmanus, or at Wanganui with regard to the dear soggarth, Father Kirk ; or, to finish up, if he asked such a question at New Plymouth, why, sir, he would, to use Tim Healy's expression, find himself " licked into a cocked hat," or dropped over the breakwater for a mild ducking. He s»ys we Irish all respect the French Fathers. He is quite right, sir. The Irish shed their blood in thejcause of France on many a battle-field. They expect a great deal from the French, and they get a great share of their sympathy in their present struggle ; but, apart from Buch considerations, they respect them because they are priests. They would respect Hottentots in the Bame garb. It is a part of our nature May we never lose it. It has been acknowledged by "Mr. Harney " that we loved the. French Fathers. Now does it appear that they loved us in return? A Marist Father told me that in 1873, when an ardent wish was expressed here that Dr. Moran should be transferred from Duneriin. to us, the said Fathers notified Propaganda that if they did not get a bishop of their own Order to succeed Dr. Viard they would leave ns in a body. That does not look as if they reciprocated our love and affection. In referring to this Ido co only in reply to Mr. Harney 'a letter, and I regret to have to do so. With regard to the great question, we are all glad here to see our Bißhop made Archbishop, but as Irishmen we are sorry to find that it has been at the expense of an illustrious and dear countryman who has borne the heat of the day and the brunt of the battle. It surprises me to hear some of your correspondents say you want to lower His Grace in the opinion of bis people. Why, sir, Bince his arrival in New Zealand there has been five, nay tea tinaes as much of the columns of the Tablet taken up with notices of his sermons and -visitations as wiih those of anyone else. It is no wonder the people of Otago would grumble. If it were the other way about you would see what a storm would 'be raised. I will say nothing with regard to Christchurch. It has been pointed out to me that it was a matter of expediency. A Marist bishop was wanted there too. It is all nonsense to say that Dr. Grimes is Irish. A priest who knew him in college assures me that he was never looked on as such at Dundalk. Then, granted that it was necessary a Marist be appointed, were there not plenty of Mariat Fathers in New Zealand of the nationality of the majority of the Catholics of Christchurcb, men who have done wonders? Some of your correspondents say the indignation is justified, but should not be put in print. How is it to be kaown that we are indignant unless we express it in our acknowledged organ? Now I hope your correspondents will bring the subject to a close, and remain as they were described by Curran : Thy sons they are brave But the battle once over In brotherly peace with their foes they agree. — I am, etc., Jebemiah Hublet Upper Hutt, August 6, 1887. P.S. — Allow me to state that no man, not even any of the Marist Fathers themselves, caa accuse me of the slightest disrespect to them during the 15 years I have been in New Zealand. I have been as good as a man when called on during that time and will in the future so long as my means will allow, but much as I love them, I love the priests of my own flesh and blood more, and I have never met any of my countrymen to use a digger's expression " worth his salt" who does not feel the same. However, if such there be go mark him well." I see a breach has been made in your subscribers' list. The following good men and true in this little district have rushed forward to fill it and form a reserve. Messrs. John Small, William Neazor, James Walsh, James Leddy, Cornelius O'Connell, and Michael Fitzgerald. More to fill up future gaps. I enclose my subscription up to the end of the year.