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New Zealand Tablet, Volume XV, Issue 26, 21 October 1887, Page 18

The Most Rev. Dr. Moran was expected to return from Melbourne by the s.s. Mararoa, which arrived at Port Chalmers on Monday, and preparations had been made for the presentation, to which we have already several times alluded, to take place on Wednesday evening. A letter, however, was received from the Bishop to the effect that he had acceded to the request of the Archbishop of Melbourne that he would delay his retura for another week—to which he consented the more readily since some nuns of the Dominican Order, destined for Dunedin, had arrived at Adelaide, and his Lordship desired to accompany them in their passage to this Colony. It is expected that the Bishop will certainly reach Dunedin on Tuesday, and as the presentation will most probably be made to him on Wednesday evening, it is requested that those who have still contributions to the testimonial o forward will do so by Monday, or Tuesday at latest.

The Venerable Archdeacon Coleman was present on Wednesday evening at the meeting of the Confraternity of Our Lady of Perpetual Succour in St. Joseph's Cathedral, Dunedin. The Archdeacon delivered to the members a most interesting and practical discourse, recommending the frequent reception of the sacraments and attention to the devotion of the Rosary not only in the church but in their own houses. He also congratulated them on their numerous attendance.

We are glad to learn that mining affairs at the Shotover continue to present most gratifying features. A. private message informs us that in the Gallant Tipperary last week's scraping resulted in 68ozs. of amalgam from 50 tons of stone. Such tidings are particularly cheerful in these depressed times.

THE funeral of Mr. F. J. Tracey, which took place last week in Christchurch, was remarkable for tbe attendance at it of the members of the Bicycle Club to which the deceased had belonged. A procession of cyclists leading their machines followed the cortige to" the New Brighton cemetery, where the Rev. Father O'Hallahan officiated. The event is regarded as a gratifying proof of the spirit of good fellowship prevailing among the wheelmen, as well as a striking testimony to Ihe respect -in which their late comrade had been held by them.- 1 ' '

We regret to announce the death of Mrs. Donnelly, a lady wellknown in Dunedin, and for many years a highly-respected member of St. Joseph's congregation, which took place 6fr Sunday at Wellington. Mrs. Donnelly, who was the mother of JMr-.'J Mr-.' Michael Donnelly, editor of the Christchurch Telegraph, and of Mles'A.'C. 'Donnelly with whose graceful pen most of our readers are acquainted, had been in delicate health for some time previous to hey departure from this city, wh-'ch occurred gome months agoy^ajEJp;^ •'■

Ma. and Mrs. Agnew, we see, have applied to the Dunedin Charitable aid Board for assistance, but without very much success. If it be true, as confidently alleged, that these people were wrongly deprived of their improvements on their land by a mistake of the Government, and that in consequence they are unable to live upon i^ their case is something more than a hard one to themselves, for it gives, besides, to all the Colony an example of lasting injustice. It is much to be desired that an inquiry may be made into the matter and that, if restitution be due, it should be made without delay.

Tie second concert for the season of tbe Choral Society given in Danedin on Wednesday evening, proved very successful. The music performed consisted of Mendelsohn's " Hear my Prayer ;" Raff's "Morning Song"; and Sterndale Bennett's " May Queen"; etch of which was rendered with exceptional excellence. The solo singers were, Mesdames Israel and Gore, Mies Joel, and Messrs Blenkinsopp, Smith, and Oleghorn. The chorus and orchestra were also very efficient. Mr. Barth, the conductor, is much to be congratulated on the happy results of his labours.

If we may judge by the liveliness of the debate on the Address im Reply when the House meets on the 28th inst., after the adjournment) a stirring fight may be expected on the part of the Opposition. It is impossible that Sir Julius Vogel can quietly look on while the affairs of tne Colony are in the hinds of a Ministry such as he describes them to be. According to the worthy Knight, a more com plete team of non-entities were never got together, and even the manner of their getting together he derides as irregular ,'Bnd reprehensible. , We do not, however, see the inconsistency that to Sir Julius seems to lie between defence and justice, for surely it is justice only that any civilised community would seek ti visit even upon an enemy attempting to invade their country. Tho combination of public works and Maoris, may, perhaps, be a more legitimate subject for astonishment, but for our own part, we are content that there also the situation may be allowed space to develope itself. Poverty, as we know, makes us all acquainted with strange bed-fellows, and everything that appears to require explanation in the present state o £ affairs may be explained by the word Retrenchment. r-There.is where our interest centres, at present, and if Major Atkinson can show a f iir way of bringing it about without at the same time occasioning stagnation or retrogression, and we do not now say anything of our expectations ac to the matter, it is to be hoped he will be given time to try how his plans will work.— But, as we said, if the temper of the Opposition be anything like what we have already seen when Parliament reopens, an evil half-hour or two will be experienced there.— Absit omen 1 May the results not extend to the Colony in general.

Mr. Larnach who, to do him justice, always showed a disposition to improve the position of the miners which it is to be desired may also distinguish his successor.has left in the mining statement prepared by him.and with permission of the House laid on the table , some very important particulars.— A mining population, he tells us, of 11,782 men pays in the matter of gold dnty and other gold-fields revenue a tax amounting to £3|9s per head.— Bat to this must be added the consumption of dutiable goods by a population— including women and children, of 57,000 persoas, amounting to 16j 6d per head, so that every bread-winner of those 11,782 miners ia annually taxed to the figure of £7 9s. — Surely this is a state of things that loudly calls for amendment. — Is there any other country in the worJd, it may fairly be questioned, that imposes upon the very cream of its population, for the miners will be acknowledged on all hands to take the lead both in intelligence and industry— as well as in the immense stimulus given by them to the development of the country's resources of all kinds— so heavy a burden— amounting to a positive prohibition.— The Minister for Mines, in whatever combination, he may be found, has here an opening for his relieving genius, and, whatever may be the line that retrenchment may take, some stretch of liberality must meat this crying necessity.

Isit reapectfnl to the Parliament of the Colony, which Sir. George Grey rightly hailed several years ago as " august," that its opening should be made the occasion of getting rid o£ a lot of bad powder that cumbers the Government stores 1 Such, at least was the explanation given by the Minister of Defence in replying the other day to a question asked by Mr. Pyke— who, perhaps, desiring to forestall retrenchment, seemed anxious about the waste that was made in firing the vice-regal salute.— Or is there anything deeper in the matter than meets thejvulgar gaze. Is it meant, par exemyle, to typify much of the eloquence that is about to take place by an explosion of rubbish ? We, for our part, are of the impression that if the thing be done at all it should be properly done, and that the salute should be fired in the very best powder obtainable. But even £1 9.1 2s, the cost of the salute as stated by the Minister, seems a good deal to pay for p jwder that is absolutely worthless. On what, it would be interesting to know, does the Minister' base his calculations, or is a talent for valuing rnbblßh also a connecting link between justice and defence ?

v Mr. Fergus succeeds in finding a way to relieve gaol-warders of the duty of flogging prisoners, as he has conditionally given his promise to Dr. Fitchett to do, he will have done something in the •erv.ee of humanity, Of the brutalising effects of the duty in question we find for example an illustration in a late number of the Pall Matt WatstU. Au Bye- Witness, who gives a report of what he had seen in connection with the whipping of two children, sentenced in an English town to such punishment, thus describes the brutalising effect produced on the constables so employed :— " If the constable who administers the birch fails to draw blood, he ib subjected to al l he chaff and banter imaginable among his companions, and although the police constable can as a rule stand a good deal, a line must be drawn somewhere, and they are, according to my experience generrally found inclined to draw it at chaff. « God, Jack, 1 did lay it on to that kid that was to have the six strokes this morning. I fetched the blood out of him like . The poor little won't be able to sit down for a month, I'll lay my life.' I heard a blackguard of a constable remark to another constable, in a town a few miles from that in which the prison was situated, in which I witnessed the birchmgs, « But you have not got half a muscle, 1 rejoined his blackguardly companion, ' I would have killed the young if I had, been on to him.' " And," adds the writer. " these are the men who are told off to punish poor little defenceless mortals, who have made a trivial transgression of the laws of their country, and who are led to the whipping-form like lambß in her Majesty's name." As to the matter of whipping itself, we have nothing to say. What we would inquire into is the degree in which the occupation brutalises the men engaged in it. That they are brutalised and heavily brutalised is evident, and is it prudent to subject respectable men in our own prisons to a trainiug that has most probably had a chief part in this f Dr. Fitchett has done well in raising the question in Parliament, and Mr. Fergus will do better still if he gives it due consideration.

Sib William Haeoowbt, speaking in the House of Commons on Sept. 12, quoted the St James's Gamette as suggesting that machine guns should be used against the Irish people :— The most detestable ana scandalous language has been used by the Time*." Sir William went on, " for the express purpose of driving the Irish to revoltlanguage such as never before degraded the press of a free country If the advice of the Unionist press had been followed, what, between machine guns, evictions and Tory landlords, soon very few Irish people would be left."— Bui it has always been plain that eventual ■laughter was what tne extreme members of the par*;y looked to as the great desideratum. If, provoked by the prudence and calmness of the Irish people, in whose continuance the speaker expressed his confidence, they are now more furiously appealing to their chosen remedy, there is nothing to astonish us. And, if we may judge by what has occurred at Mitchelstown, prudence and calmness will prove ao hindrance. li eland depends for safety on the Tories' dread of the English masses.

The (predictions of M. Vambery, the Cassandra of Central Asia, apparently draw nearer every day to their fulfilment. M. Vambery foretold some months ago that Russia would bring about the escape of Ayuub Khan from Persia with the intention of overturning the English allianc? with Afghanistan. And now behold the Prince is at liberty, all the reports that spoke of his death or capture proving false— and is engaged in organising a rebellion against the ; Ameer. Russian newspapers, meantime, declare that their country will not actively side against England, but that she will not bi D d herself to abstain from profiting by the results that may befall. Never before was a Goverment with their eyes open and fully warned by competent authority ao befooled as that of England has been in all the transactions alluded to. The only consolation is, perhaps, that they could not help themselves— and it would have been vain for them to struggle against fate.

While disatisfactiou is growing among the English people it seems sadly out of place that a parliamentary leader like Mr. Chamberlain should occupy himself, as he is at present, by fomenting division and discontent in Ire Und. All the rwsult of his work there can but be at the utmost the renewal of stiife that has existed for a^es and of which nothing but evil has ever come. °

Iff it be true, as the cible reports, that the Pope has appointed a commission of Cardinals to arrange a mtdus vivtndi with the Kingdom of Italy, the question of conciliatioa has taken a practic.il form°even sooner Ihan it was expected. We do not, however, attribute too much importance to such repoits, and wehhould be very guarded in receiving as genuine any information given on the wibject. We do not know whether the anouncement that the Holy Father will preside personally At the opening of the Jubilee exhibition may be taken as a token of an expectation entertained by him of a freer method of life ere long than that to which he has so far duiing bis pontiiicate been confined But we think that, without presumption, it may possibly be so iuter-

preted. The matter,- however, rests entirely within the judgment of the Pope, who alone understands the position thoroughly, and the Catholic world will implicitly follow his decision.

The coroner's jury have returned a verdict of wilful murder against the police inspector and five of the constables accountable for the death of the two men killed at Mitchelstown. This, however by no means implies that the men will be duly punished for their crime. The manner in which the policemen who kille Hanlon at Tooghal was dealt with is enough to assure us of this. And, indeed, we might also gather as much from the release »f the soldiers recently sentenced to imprisonment lor riot and violent conduct towards the people. But Ireland is< in the hands of men, one of whose organs recommends that machine-guns may be incontinently employed for the maintenance of law and order— and what is the value of a life or two under such circumstance's? The coroner's verdict is, perhaps, a sure recommendation to promotion, and it is certain to result in a refusal of the Government to prosecute, if carried so far.

A doubt has arisen as to whether the man executed for the murder of the late D'Arcy M'Gee was the man who actually com. mitted the crime. It is stated that there |are ground bto 'belieTe that the murderer is still living and at large. Whalen, who was executed, is said to have acted like anything rather than a guilty man, but to have given reason to suspect that he knew more than he chose to reveal.

Off Mr. O'Brien's arrest at Kingstown he was condemned to Cork gaol-but not before, it will be remembered,. he had delivered a defiant and spirited speech to a public audience in Dublin— where he was accommodated with a cell nine feet long by four broad, and in every particular a " black hole." He was afterwards liberated on bail but the G vernment have given him a foretaste of what is in store for him, i they ever manage finally to lay tbeir clutches on him. It is no sinecure to be an Irish patriot as things now are, but the men are made of the right Rtuff , and there will be no failure on their part. By the time Ireland obtains a parliament of her own she bids fair to see it led by a band of well-tried heroes. Mr. O'Brien, coming out of his narrow cell resolved, if needful, to return there. Mr. Dillon struggling alone with the police at Mitcbelstown, these are the men whom their country may well be proud of and not Mucius Scsevola himself could give to the enemy a finer example of what they have to contend against. Theirs is the spirit of Ireland and it must need« prove indomitable.

A tbades congress at which socialistic tendencies were shown followed up by largely attended and somewhat riotous meetings, of the unemployed in London, is a significant hint of trouble to come, that cannot safely be neglected. It is hardly a time to settle the matter by the contemptuous dismissal given by the aldermen at the Mansion House to a deputation from the great meeting held on Monday, in Trafalgar Square. The men already knew that the workhouse authorities, to whom these comfortable citizens referred them were appointed for their relief, but the relief they would give wag evidently not such as they chose to avail themselves of. The insult was reckless as it was harsh and cruel. It was but natural tnat the people should be incensed by it, and had they succeeded in their march on the city, the magnates who offended them might have had cause to regret their action. Effective for a time, however, as the resistance of the police may be, it can only help for the moment in repressing the results of a cause that requires wise and sufficient treatment It is to b 3b 3 regretted that the men in whose hands the Government of England is at present, even if they had not otherwise managed to fill their hands beyond their grasp, are hardly calculated to deal with the difficulty,

The open advocacy of socialistic principles by the workingmen m England, and the riotous proceedings, and monster meetings of the unemployed in Lnndon, take an additional significance from the presence of men exceptionally qu ihfied to lead in a popular digturbance. There is, for example, Victor Dare, of whom the Pall Mall Gazette gives sketch, and who is an anarchist of an undoubtedly d ingerous nature.; As depicted by the Gazette, we may take him for an unscrupulous adventurer, possessed of all the philosophic pretences anl jargon, by which a mob of the pres3nt day, may be deceived and mastered, and capable of exciting them to any extremes of ruffianism that might suit his purpose. The people and their leaders with whom the Government may have tj do ia England bid fair iruly to fulfil all the accusations that have been falsely brought against those in Ireland, to whose ruin the Government is fatuously devoting all its powers, Perhaps, after all, it may not be on some foreign battle field, but in the streets of the great English cities, that the cause ot Ireland will be fought out. And, if so, Nemesis will be complete.

What a happy mistake was that made by the police inspector at the Herbertstown evictions, who beat so severely the friend of an English M.P. — that is, happy not for the victim— who, perhaps, found that friendship occasionally proved costly and led into dangerous positions, but for the Irish canse, on which it must throw some light* Had this English gentleman not been beaten by him the inspector wonld not have apologised, and bad he not apologised no Englishman wonld ever have guessed the motives that led to his conduct. " I mistook him," he said, " for an Irish member. They pay us out in the House of Commons, and we mean to pay them out in Ireland. "Does not this explain whole chapters of Parnellism and crime, and can it fail to produce a profound effect among the English people to whom it is now credibly reported? Never, indeed, did a man receive a thrashing more fortunately for someone else.

Attbb the affair at Mitchelttown, a young man was seen to dip his handkerchief in the blood of one of the men who had been killed, and then folding it carefully to put it in his pocket— with the declaration that he would keep it as long as he lived in memory of the murder that had been done. It is thus that the records of the past haveibeen faithfully preserved among the Irish people, and there is nothing to wonder at, therefore, if generation after generation renew the struggle that their fathers carried on, and show themselves true inheritors of their traditions, their sentiments, and their spirit.

Thkbe is a new and promising field of labour being prepared for the Chiniquys and other sons of the gospel light, who devote themselves to the extinction of Popery. It exists in Korea, where complaint is made by a Protestant missionary that unless the members of his sect do their duty a little more energetically — in supporting the mission, we conclude — there will be a " Romish instead of a heathen people to convert." But, as we all know the ease with which a Romish people are converted, this should form matter for congratulation in Evangelical quarters. The Protestant missionary, who delivers his lament in the columns of the Yokohama Daily Herald, thus describes the work of the Catholic missions :— " They have, as you know, a large following in Korea of the natives, and from those that we have seen, they have some noble converts. These men are all trained to work in some way or other for the cause, and thus they have a host of workers. For the training of these men they have now in Korea, as far as I can learn, ten, if not more, French priestsall but two of whom are well versed in Korean, and they have just added to their Korean- Romaniet literature several tons of tracts, all of which are neat specimens of work, and go far ahead of any other Korean printing that has yet been done by foreigners. They have already bought a large tract of land on the main street of Seoul, near the centre of the city, on which they expect in a few years to begin the erection of a cathedral. For the purpose of raising up a native ministry, they have from fifteen to twenty Koreans studying for holy orders in their theological seminary at Nagasaki." But what a glory it will be for our Evangelical friends when they have won all this over from Rome.

Mb Gladstone, acknowledges himself to be in favour of the construction of the Channel tunnel ; Ha looks to public opinion to settle the matter finally in a rational way :— " We believe," he says, " that it will dispose of part of that luxury of terror, that indulgence in the production of passion which unquestionably has become the most powerful agent of late years in the management of national concerns, I am afraid chiefly in retarding benefits, but while we look upon it with patience we know that it will go by after a while."

Mb. Chambeblain's tour in Ulster is eminently worthy of the tactics of "Toryine." It is both vicious and weak, the one because it attempts to revive the worst features that have ever prevailed in connection with Ireland's misgovernment and wretchedness, that ie, those of religious bigotry ; the other because it seeks to make up for failure in England by recourse to a completely inadequate substitute. As to the success attributed to it ia certain quarters, and the fear Baid to overwhelm the Home Rulers, they may be taken for what they are worth. We find the programme predicted in the national papers which covered it with ridicule in advance. They knew that Mr. Chamberlain was coming, and were not much ruffled at the anticipation of what his visit must produce.

It is rumoured that the Duke of Devonshire has been converted to Home Rule by Mr. Gladstone, and that his Grace it endeavouring to persuade his son, Lord Hartiogton to follow his example. But, if so, and whatever the probablities are it is not impossible, Lord Hartington does not seem as yet to have given a favourable response. His Lordship, we see, calls on the Liberal Unionists to reunite for the purpose of maintaining law and order in Ireland, But we fear he calls in vain. If they separated in full view of the situation, their sin was certainly against light and there is no place of repentance for them. But if the Tories possessed of all the powers of coercion

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fail, what hope of success is there for tha Liberal-Unionists ! The only reliance of either party must be on the English people, and how they stand affected towards them their undisguised and openly con« fessed dread of an appeal to the country sufficiently reveals. " Thank God." says the Times, " there can be no dissolution for«V« years." ~

Thk unsatisfactory state of the French War Office may be about to lead to a serious danger for the nation. Recently the secret plans of the mobilisation of an army corps were sold by some of the clerks to a prominent newspaper, and now a general officer is accused of selling decorations. In consequence of some remarks made on the Government by him about this, General Boulanger has been placed under arrest— with a threat that the question of depriving him of his command will also be considered. But the result is that the Gemeral obtains the strong support of the Chamber of Deputies, and, possibly to save himself and gain tha mastery, meditates an immediate war with Germany. All depends now on the disposition of the army. If they believe in the fortunes and capacity of the General and are prepared to follow his lead, the fate of France is in his hands. It is to be feared, however, that the corruption which certainly prevails at the head may pervade the whole body, and that once more want of preparation and dishonest management may bring about the fall of France. Boulanger, as he at present exists, is a constant threat to the safety of the country, and the position he fills can hardly be much longer submitted to. Bat in his knowledge that it is so lies the climax of the danger.

What may be the pertinence of Mr. Chamberlain's remarks at Belfast as to the connection between England and her colonies —as reported by the cable ?— He surely does not suppose that federation will make the authority of the Imperial Government press more heavily on the Colonies that it does at present. But if the Colonies in federation, preserving even more independence of the Imperial Government than Ireland claims, remain united to the Empire, it is difficult to see why a federated Ireland under more modified circumstances should become totally independent. As to the characteristics of a distinct nationality they will continue to exist as hitherto whatever may be done, and all the question is as to whether they shall be friendly or hostile. Mr. Chamberlain's tour will not conduce much to the interests of friendship.

Cbbtainlt the machine-guns are needed. There is Mr. O'Brien with tke stifling air of the black hole at Cork hardly expelled from his offended lungs, and with the certain knowledge that the door of the cell may again be closed on him in a few days, still defying all the powers of Coercion— holding a meeting that has been proclaimed, and publicly burning the proclamation. Never before was an unfortunate lion so bearded in his den, an.l never were law and order so contemptuously cast to the winds— h.-wdly, however, to the winda of heaven, which would have nothing to do with them. The St. Jams'* Gamette is right, the machine-guns are needed, and, if men of iron can be found to fire them so much the better. Perhaps, nevertheless, humanity rather than machinery, if it were tried for once, might answer all the purposes legitimately required.

r^THB Government, in prosecuting Mr. T. D. Sullivan, were late in the field. When the League was proclaimed, the editor of the Nation had openly defied them by printing in return a proclamation in hie paper denouncing the attempt made on the liberty of the Press. Notwithstanding the penalty denounced, of six months* imprisonment, he declared that he would publish every report sen* to him of the proceedings of any branch of the League suppressed He further advised that the branches should not court suppression,' but that under it, if pronounced, they should continue to act as usual— holding their meetings, in secret if necessary, and carrying on their business. We see that they have taken Mr. Sullivan's advice, and that he has been as good as his word. But as for the Government, they have proved themselves beneath contempt.

Mb. Gladstone, in opening the Liberal Conference at Nottingham, where he has received a great ovation, most happily characteriied the methods of the Government in Ireland as " impertinence." Tha word is one of those terms whose meaning is not easily definable, although we all understand it. It,-however, well expresses a combination of pig-headed obstinacy, paltry self-conceit, and an insolent disregard to the advice and remonstrances of all who understand tha country's needs. It is evident, aa Mr. Gladstone also believes, that under such a Government mischief must result in every part of the United Kingdom.

Mr. J. W. Hall's hydropathic establishment and Turkish baths, Octagon, Duoedin, are recommended as affording an approved system of treatment for persons suffering from various illnesses. Mr. Hall is a perfect master of the system, and patients may entrust themselves with confidence to his care.