TIMARU.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume XV, Issue 42, 10 February 1888, Page 13

TIMARU.

(From our own Correspondent.) His Lordship Dr. .Grimes is expected here on the 26th. Addresses are in preparation on behalf of the clergy and laity of the district as also from the local Branch of the Hibernian Society. The arrangements in connection with the official reception are entrusted to a strong committee, who are determined to render the occasion worthy of the importance of Timaru, as the second town in the diocese, and characteristic of the fervour and enthusiasm so conspicuous in the Irish nature when a feeling of profound regard for a prince of the Church evokes a spirit of spontaneous loyalty. The half-yearly meeting of St. Mary's Branch of the Hibernian A. C. B. Society was held last month. The balance-sheet showed a credit balance of some £80, and a roll of membership consisting of 60 benefit and 9 honorary members. The installation of officers took place as follows :— Bro. H. P. Madden, President ; Bro. Thomas Sheehy Vice-President ; Bro. M. F. Dennehy, Secretary ; Bro. M. Crannitcb Treasurer. Although the Branch has been over five years in existence it does not appear to flourish either finally or in numerical strength.owing on the one hand to the long and unexpected drain on the sick fund from time to time, and on the other, to the scattered nature of the population from whose ranks most of the members might be recruited In addition to the credit balance indicated ihere is a further sum of £25 which the Branch has contributed towards the establishment of a United Friendly Societies' Dispensary, an institution which is now carrying on its operations in Timaru. The amalgamated societies number 650 members. The capitation loss to start the business was fixed at 10s per member, thus giving a capital of £325. A new shop has been leased at the corner of Boss Arcade, opposite the Post Office and a brisk trade is being carried on outside of supplying the ordinary wants of members. The board of management were fortunate in securing the services of a highly competent managing dispenser in the person of Mr. G. E. Warburton, a young gentleman who for some

years managed the establishment of Messrs. Wilkinson and Pettit of George street, Dunedin. The rules are registered under the Friendly Societies' Act, and the institution is managed by a Board consisting of delegates from the contributory bodies. The present secretary is a member of the Hibernian Society. So far the concern iB ackuowledged to be a boon, not only to the Societies, but to the general public, as its existence exercises a wholesome check on private establishments in the matter of quality, quotation, and purity of drugs. A medical association is another feature which at present accompanies the introduction of this movement, which is this : that each individual member has the privilege of appointing the doctor of his choice every six months, with the option of making a change at the end of the quarter if necessary. This concession gives to minorities, in lieu of election as previously obtained, full representation and satisfaction. Arrangements are pending by which it is proposed to establish a branch of the H.A.C.B. Society at Temuka. All that is required is that not less than 13 candidates should pay 10s each and forward a requisition to the nearest Branch with a request that the district officers authorise the opening by granting a dispensation. Even the good pastor, Father Fauvel, has himself volunteered to contribute nearly one-half the schedule amount required for opening the Branch. On Sunday last the Very Rev. Prior Butler preached both in the morning at 11 o'clock Mass and in the evening at Vespers. In the morning the text was from the gospel of- the day, taken from St. Luke, chapter via., verses 4 to 15. The very rev. preacher considered: (1) the seed, that is, the word of God, (2) the sower, that is the Roman Catholic Church, or only true church and (3) the soil or the various dispositions of the hearers. The first proposition wag handled most effectively, with a clearness and force of argument involving a thoroughness of detail, a lucidity of style, and that logical conclusion which rendered the singularly able exposition so simple as to be simplicity itself. The next point was explained in vivid language and with a quiet succession of arguments, asserting that the Church was today what she was at her initiation and that she had outlived empires, powers, and evil machinations, because she was the divinely commissioned repository of divine truth. He pointed to the disunitedness of other churches or sectaries, and their comparative feebleness, closing with a brief reference to the various dispositions of men, and a telling exhortation to all to receive and profit by God's word. In the evening the church was crowded, a large number of nonCatholics being attracted by the public announcement that so distinguished a preacher would take possession of the pulpit. The sermon was based on the Magnificat, " And all generations shall call me blessed," etc. Here was exhibited a masterly justification and defence of the special adoration of the Blessed Virgin Mary, closing with a brilliant peroration, in which the striking beauty of the language employed was not more apparent than the keenness and conclusivnesa of the arguments adduced. The celebration of St. Patrick's Day is to take the shape of a concert on the evening of the 19th March. Christchurch talent is mentioned as a special attraction. Captain Sutter, ex M.H.R. for Gladstone, now in England, writes to Timaru friends eulogising the actions of the Salisbury Government m discountenancing Gladstone's proposals re Home Rule. The ancient mariner denounces Gladstone in most unmeasured terms. He professes as much contempt for the G.O.M. in attempting to draft a Home Rule programme as he did for Sir Robert Stout when he twittled our learned Knight on the floor of the House with very limited and leetle knowledge of local Government as compared with himself. Perhaps the fussy old mariner may employ himself in the development of a scheme that "will excel in statesmanlike conception the rejected measure of the greatest living statesman, and thus hand his name down to posterity as the author of the eighty-eighth edition of " Manacles and Manitoba." Constable Joseph Kenny effected a clever capture on Friday morning between 3 and 4 o'clock. A daring burglar entered the boarding-house of Mrs. Holmes in the dead of the night, and in his stocking-vamps went from room to room where lodgers were sleeping and appropriated to himself a watch and chain, £1 16s, a pair of boots and other belongings. Alarm being given, the constable mentioned, dressed himself in capital disguise, with a Tarn o' Shanter to cover his mobile features. Encountering his quarry moving along a lonely terrace, the constable bade him 'good morning.' The burglar, seeing the constable making towards him, after exchanging a few words, attempted to clear a high fence bounding a garden, where he could elude pursuit. He was at once within the grasp of the powerful arm of the constable, who, however, had a narrow escape, as the fellow made several attempts to stab his captor with a pair of sharp-pointed scissors and a knife. The struggle was persevered in with heroic bravery by the constable, notwithstanding that he was engaged in a life-and- death fight with a muscular antagonist of the vagabond type. The constable having triumphed, handcuffed his man, and brought him single-handed to the lock-up: After the hearing of the case to-day, the Bench complimented Constable Kenny on his prompt and ceurageoas conduct, and requested Inspector Broham to submit the case to the proper authorities. This Inspector Broham stated he would be most happy to do. Constable Joseph Kenny's many friends will be pleased to hear that his risky but clever capture may be the means of lifting him one rung on the ladder of promotion. .. 9n9 n Tuesda y morning the boys' school received quite a surprise visit from Archbishop Redwood, accompanied by the Very Rev. Prior Butler, Fathers Foley, Chastagnon, and Lewig. The senior classeß were engaged at free-hand drawing. His Grace passed between the forms, and noted any points that gave promise of superiority of style, while to the slipshod artist he gave a gentle reminder that progress in studies is necessarily the outcome of great patience, perseverance, and attention. His Grace then briefly addressed the pupils, complimeriting them upon their bright, intellectual appearance. He paid a tribute of praise to the Timaru boys' school as being fortunate in having a principal of ability and experience to direct them in their studies: He hoped the Timaru boys' school would always be ;foun4

in such a forward state as that in which, as he was Informed Wtheif * pastor, it ranked at present. After dwelling upon the advantages of primary education, his Grace expatiated upon the special use of drawing in the various callings in life, and exhorted the pupils to cultivate a taste for it. He then announced that in a few weeks they .would be asked to welcome their new Bishop, whom they would learn to love. -Living in a democratic country," said his Grace, "I will put to your votes a proposition which will be acceptable, perhaps, to most of you. The proposition, which was the granting of a balf'7i 3? a Z? ° avin g been P ut » nd declared carried, the hea-i-master CMr. *?' °: Oarth y) called for three hearty cheers for the Archbishop, • to Which the boys responded in a most enthusiastic manner.