CANTERBURY CATHOLIC LITERARY SOCIETY.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume XV, Issue 16, 12 August 1887, Page 7

CANTERBURY CATHOLIC LITERARY SOCIETY.

A be. onion, which was largely attended, took place in the rooms of this Society on the ordinary weekly meeting night, August 2. Refreshments in abundance and variety were provided, and a most en joyahle evening was spent. It is proposed to hold another such gathering shortly, bat on a larger scale ; and, judging from the interest taken in this first meeting, re-unions bid fair to become a great success. A letter was read from the Secretary of the Literary Societies' Union, stating that a public competition, open to all members of the Association, would take place towards the end of September next. First and second prizes are offered for essays. Two prises are to be given for elocution, for extempore speeches and for poetry. About this stage of the proceedings the Society were agreeably surprised with the unexpected entrance of the Rev. Fathers Gleeson, Halbwachs, and O'dalloran. It is needless to say that they were heartily welcomed. The Bey. Father Gleeson, of Launceston, Tasmania, at present on a tour, kindly addressed the members. In the course of an eloquent Bpeecb, to which nothing but a verbatim report would do justice, he spuke of the corruption and evil tendencies of modern literature, and of the necessity, ou. the part of Catholics, to read Catholic literature. The more the Catholic Church was made an object of study and investigation, the more would she be venerated, and the better able would Catholics be to give satisfactory reasons as to their faith to those of no, or of other creeds, and that the worst character or all was a bad and an ignorant Catholic. After religion nothing is so noble as the study of letters. The Rev. Father proved that patriotism is a virtue which should be cultivated wuh especial care. A man regardless of his country and race is totally unworthy of esteem. He said that it is the history of a country which entitles it to veneration. New Zealand, though naturally rich and beautiful, is as yet possessed of no history, whilst lieland, as she is now, was the land of saints and of scholars, when the Germans were worshippers of heathen divinities. The saints, scholars, poets, orators, and the past history of Ireland should be, therefore, objects of interest to the Irish Catholic, either at Home or abroad. Father Gleeson also spoke of the beauty and excellence of Moore's poetry, and of the splendid oratonal talents of Mr. Sexton, M.P., and of others, and that with admiration for such men all Irish Catholics should be filled. These sentiments will obtain for Ireland the natural liberty of every people— the. liberty to direct the afiairs of their own land. The very interesting programme arranged was then successfully gone through. Mr. Belmer, an adept at the concertina, gave two solos in taking style. Mr. W. Hoban rendered "A Flower from my Angel Mother's Grave," in a manner showing that he is equally as happy with regard to sentimental as he is known to be at comic songs. Recitations followed by Messrs D. Pope and F. Cooper. The song, " Tne Ship that Never Returned," was given with effect by Mr. W. Foluy. Ur. E Bagley danced a hornpipe in his customary finished manner. tSongs were also given by Messrs W Bagley, M'Donnell, and Holland, while Mr. Joyce related a most amusing incident experienced by him during his recent official tour throughout the Canadas. Mr. Geogbegan sang " O Love, Will Tou be Mine," and, in response to an encore, " Keep away from the Girls, Boys." Mr. Hoban was again successful with his second song (comic), "The Pride of Donegal," (or which be received an eLCore. Mr. Holland is deserving of much praise for interest taken in the entertainment ; an 1 a vote of thanks being awarded to the two young ladies, Misses Geoghtgan and M'Nalley, who kindly presided at the piano, the meeting closed.

K ; ng John used to extract his Jewbilee offerings with a pair of forceps. Victoria's method is just as effective and less gory. — Pilot. How Irish tenants are robbed by landlordism may be estimated from this single case . In 1843 Mr. Trench (Lansdowne's agent) was appointed agent over the Monaghan estates of Mr. Shirley, which, with those of Lord Bath, were more than £40,000 (200,000 dols ) per annum then. When this estate was granted to the ancestor of these landlords it wes let for £250 per annum. In 1729 it was worth £4,000 a year ; in 1769, £8,000 ; and in 74 years afterwards, £40,000 a year. It is more than this at present. la all thosa years the landlord has never spent a dollar on the land. All the improvements have been made by the tenants ; and with each improvement the rent was racked higher.