Untitled

New Zealand Tablet, Volume XVI, Issue 24, 5 October 1888, Page 15

The municipality of Poitierp, France, recently received, through the hands of a priest of the diocese, the sum of 18,525 francs -an act of restitution on the part cf a penitent. To questions that were put to him, the priest gave the sole reply : " Let the Government thank religion." It is worth recording that the authorities a few days afterwards, conveyed their formal acknowledgments to the worthy ecclesiastic, with a large sum of money to be distributed in alms. The Admiralty have been doing their best for years past to knock the bottom out of the venerable superstition that " Britannia rales the waves." I think that, after producing the " torpedo gunboat " Band fly, they may very well feel that they have come about as near success as they are likely to. I hope all my readers saw the account of this vessel's voyage from Portland to Berehaven— how she rolled and pitched to such a degree tbat not only was the pendulum intended to record her heeling quite ÜBeles«, but every officer and man on board was prostrated from sea -sickness ; how the sea broke over har in such a way that no one could go forward of the bridge, to that her one gun in the bows was absolutely useless ; and how she was unable to make more than Bix knots, her nominal speed being nineteen. As all this was in a sea in which the Hercules barely moved, there can be no doubt that her officers are right in their opinion that in a gale in the open sea she could not live an hour. We have got three ship* on this pattern, and to all appearance they ought none of them to be trusted outside the Norc, — Ti'uPk,

nCtire t! T * Wther to repeal thiß Act or to render ortoennmpJ \? * neceßßar y here to attribute motives Hn^?o?H«M c for retaining the present Bomber of Members in our House of Representatives These SrsTZ "*£*** the Vi6W We hto P»ace before ou riders to-day. The question is, What do the public really the sL^T' *t6t 6 Pe °,? le ° f thiß countl 7 8 *" SSSTirCh ° tt .if BUbjeC v thGy did at the laßt « eneral frustration S ST 8 then > to be on the alert to prevent the frustration of these views. The Act by which the number « i?S£?^ IV6S Wa V edaced ™ very imperfect, inasmuch view Tf > n ° T*?"* 7 f ° r effectin * the ob J ect * had in iTwL'n?^/^ mJ* su PP lem «*ted by another, which Thkl / have been passed in the last session. « L*l* I°7 T Dg) 1D Part ' fco want of time > and in P«t, the Gnt ' V-tT ° n the P° rfc Of not a fe *' Whethe tnhill T e t V 8V 8 ™, earnest in thiß matter > ™ are in In rW doubt " h ; c u h only next session of Parliament can clear up. But the point we desire to emphasise is this : S! J? T ! V f hc give ™niistakable indication of its no h Z °v 1° h , aVC ° nly Be ™ty-four representatives nothing will be done next session to provide what v necessary m order to give effect to the Act LnZ° TT 8 ag °' and that ' consequently, the new 2^nf f PIJP 1 Jr egen l tatlVeß mußt consißt > »s heretofore, £ .hSTS " emberS * If the 11 * 5 are content that it Bhall be so, nothing more need be eaid than that the people XJST?- * fi ? le - Bat if ' on the contrary, it is4hSir determina ion to have a reduced House of Representatives and Legislative Council, it will be necessary for them to be ™rZ\ 8 T agEl ?> Bt , he tactics of a certa^ of their representatives m Parliament who are determined to defeat InltW- J? fßßlOnsf 881Ons ag0 ' and who > if Permitted by an ™!f £ P a I' to ? n JBUeJ BUe their P lan of campaign, will either IT«L ♦ or defeat all attempts to pass the meaeures LZn yJ° Tender lfc ° peratl>e b * stonewalling or otherwise rJt e \^ 7 mak f e *P edie »t. In common with the vast majority of the people we never had a doubt as to the wisdom of reducing the number of our Members of Parliament, innlT 6 £T •*° Pmi °^ that even fift 7 or Bixfc y representatives would be quite sufficient for New Zealand. A reduced number would, in our opinion, whilst contributing very largely to economy help to the better and more rapid despatch of a 5a 5 d ffi gO n fa V° render ' if not at least extremely difficult, the return of undesirable Members of Parliament If, then, the people of this country adhere to f™^ *JJ e7e 7 S aTe their representatives at the last general election it will bo necessary for them to renew this mandate by making it clear during the recess that they have not changed their views. This can be done through the medium £• * !T 8 ' an< ? bj public meet ings, and if it be not done LZ a a g T tly feared that aU the time and eloquence expemoed on the Representation Act two sessions ago have been expended in vain.

The Masses offered in St. Joseph's Cathedral, Dunedin, on Sunday, were, as announced, Masses of Requiem, in compliance with the command issued by the Holy Father. At 11 a.m. Pontifical High Mass was celebrated by the Bishop, with the Rev. Fathers Lynch and Vereker as deacon and sub-deacon, respectively, the music being Bung in a very effective manner by the Dominican nuns' choir. The Bishop who preached a sermon appropriate to the occasion, spoke also of the consolation it afforded him, and the pleasure it would give the Holy Father to know how fully the Catholic congregation had availed themselves of the privilege afforded. His Lordship announced that over eight hundred people in the parish bad that morning received Holy Communion, His Lordship also announced that on Sunday next, the Feast of the Most Holy Kosary, the devotion of the Qtiarantore would be commenced in the Cathedral.— Pontifica 1 High Mass would be celebrated at 11 a.m., and, immediately afterwards, there would be a procession of the Blessed Sacrament, on whose termination the Most Holy would be placed on the High Altar where It would remain until Tuesday morning. High Ma3 8 would be celebrated at 7 a.m. on Monday morning, and again on Tuesday morning, when the ceremonies would terminate with another procession. The Biehop explained the customary nature of the devotion in places where opportunities existed for carrying it on, so tbat, from one church to another, it was always proceeding. That ■aid his Lordship, could not be the case here, but the Synod of Sydney had decreed that tht devotion should so take place throughout the colonies as to be perpetual in them as a whole. Each principal church would carry it out in turn. A collection, also in accordance with a decree of the Synod of Sydney, was made in aid of tbe mis-

sionsto the aborigines of the colonies, and the Bishop thanked the congregation for their liberal donations. The attendance at all the Masses was large, and the charity towards the dead, which is so distinctive a mark of the Irish Catholic, in particular , was very plainly manifest, *

We have to return onr most sincere thanks to those of onr subscribers who have so kindly responded to the appeal lately issued by us and hastened to send us in their subscriptions. By doing so, they flave obliged us much, and done ns a nseful e.rvice. O n r double thanks belong to those who, i n Bending in their money, have still allowed weir names to remain on our subscribers 1 lists, and thus sigaified their intention of continuing their support to us. And, if a newspaper, in order that it may be published, needs the subscriptions due-it has also need of the subscribers who shall owe the subscriptions in onestion and pay them at their convenience-and we should be sorry to ba over-urgent in calling-in the amounts owed to ua. There is no reason, therefore why anyone in forwarding to us the amount of an account due should also order the stoppage of his paper-but, on the contrary, by doing so he helps to deprive us of the support without which we cannot exist, and which it will hardly be excessive presumption in us S??l haVG deserved of hitn - H » newspaper, in short, is to be published in the interests of the Irish Catholic people of the Colonj so that they need never be at a loss for an advocate and defender when they want one, it is not by their stopping their paper, any more than by their neglecting to pay for it, that such an object will be secured. We trust, then, that the Post Office orders and cheques forwarded to us will be accompanied rather by the names of new subscribers than by the melancholy words, "Stop my paper." The response to our appeal, as we have said, has been very prompt and general, and we desire to express our sincere gratitude for it. Some few there still remain, however, who have evidently not had time to remember our claims, and to whom, in consequence, we are again obliged to appeal. It will be a great satisfaction to us if, at an early date, ws are able to return thanks to them also, and to assure them tbat they have rendered as valuable service in forwarding us the amount of their accounts. There is great virtue in a Post Office order, especially if it comes from a subscriber who is resolved to continue a subscriber, and, still more, if it comes from one who, besides leaving his own name with us. desires us to add another to our list.

The business at the last meeting of the Dunedin Catholic Literary Society was a debate, « Would Intercolonial Freetrade benefit New Zealand. The affirmative side was represented by Messrs. Carolin, Eager,N. Griffin, Hayep, Jackson, Power, and S. A. Dunne; the negative by Messrs. G. Sullivan, O'Connor, Leahy, and Faulkner, and an excellent debate resulted in a victory for the Freetraders by a narrow majority. The Protectionists were in a minority, but came well prepared, and made a close fight of the question.

Murder and suicide, then, are ugly things even to the moat perverted minds, and do not encourage the risk of repetition. Mr. John Dillon and Mr. Blanc have both been released from prison owing to the stato of their health. Balfour is plainly afraid of a second edition of the ghastly tragedy of Tullamore, though it is probably more the fear of public opinion and its bearing on his party, than any remorse of conscience that influences him . That Mr. Dillon has been released unconditionally, we may learn from his first act, which was to address an audience in Dublin on behalf of the Plan of Campaign. Mr. Blanc's sentence was one of those which had been doubled on appeal. It was for six months, four of which had expired.

IHAT is a pretty revelation made by the Melbourne Telegraph as to the kind of freedom promoted by Orangemen. X report in the paper referred to informs us that the Footscray branch of the Society has been broken up, owing to the refusal of oae of its members to sign an engagement proposed to him by the grand committee of the order, and in consequence of the part taken by him in a recent election that he would henceforward submit himself passively to the Orange' representatives appointed to supervise elections. This is the blockvote with a vengeance, and something more besides, bordering very closely on tyranny and intimidation. But we see how freely society would work if Orangemen had their will and how free and independent our institutions would be under their liberal management. Somehow or another and at one time or other something ia sure to happen that throws a light on the inner nature of everything that opposes the Catholic Church, and shows its deceit and villany. The present case is an occurrence of the kind with regard to the Orange Society. Roman thraldom is a fiction but Orange slavery is a revealed fact.

The publication of extracts from the diary of the late Emperor Frederick seems to be creating a great stir in Europe. The publica. tion it appears was made without the permission of the present Emperor, but it is not easy to understand how the editor could have gone to work without the connivance of some member of the Imperial family— whether the Empress Victoria or another. At all events the

publication has been made, and is said to bear all the marks of bein* genuine, although Prince Bismarck has attempted to deny it" authenticity. The •litor, one Professor Goeffeken of Hamburg, ha * been arrested and there is in general the devil to pay, as the saying is. But German affairs are otherwise rather unfavourably before th c public owing to an approaching publication by Sir. Morell Mackenzie of the details of the late Emperor's illuees. According to the forecast already publi 6 hed, the treatment of their illustrious patient by the Ger-nan doctors may be described, in a word, as botchery and butchery Their meddling first brought on cancer and afterwards hastened death by rough and bungling usage. On the whole then, there seems to be a good deal that is unpleasant taking place with regard to the Imperial House. r

Thk London murders continue to be the crowning horror of the period. Another body has been found still more dreadfully mutilated than those previously discovered. And as yet there is no clue to the mystery. The suggestion that the crimes have been the result of an offer made by an American for certain parts of the human body may probablj be dismissed as The uncertainty and apprehension caused, meantime, must necessarily be excessive.

The Neva Zealand Church Times gives, as an instance of the corporate integrity of the Churca of England at the present day or as a proof, we suppose, that the Church of the period is identical with that which existed in the country nine hundred and ninety-nine years ago, the fact that a certain lease then granted to the Government has now fallen in, the property leased reverting to the Church. The writer, however, tells us that at the time in qaestion the Church granting the lease was, as he says, « under the headship of the Pope of Rome." Here then i^ a strange phenomenon— that of a body which loses its head, but still preserves its integrity and remains identical. Surely in this there are traces of a monstrous life All tbat may seem actually proved, meantime, is the remarkable tenacity with which the new Church clung to the temporalities of the Church overthrown , and which, with its head, retained its spiritualities that could not be usurped. The falling in of this long lease and the seizure by the Church of England of a property leased by the Catholic Church in tbe country is only an instance of continued spoliation. There is no more a proof in the matter of the identity of the Churches concerned than there is of Dr. Benson's being the successor to St. Augustine, in the fact that his Grace gives a charming garden-party at Lambeth Palace. But we may make the Church of England welcome to her one proof of identity with the ancient Church, tbat she owng her temporalities, or as much cf them as a greedy and apostate nobility allowed to fall to her share. And, by the way are the descendants of that nobility a l so proved identical with' the religious Orders plundered by their ancestors ?

Hebe is an Australian Colonist who i 9i 9 apparently apeing the Duke of Westminster. His Grace rccnlls an invitation to dinner sent by him because the gentleman invited has attended a Home Kule ba quet. Mr. Archer of Queensland, whoever he may be besides Agent-General, resigns his place in the Federation League because Lord Roseberry a Home Ruler presides at its meetings. But what wa<> snobbi-hnessj in bis Grace the Duke is simply « cheek " in Mr Archer. The Duke may be a cad but he remaina a duke. Mr' Archer makes a fool of himself and has nothing to fall back upon

Great indignation prevails in London against Mr. Mathews the Home Secretary, and Sir Charles Warren, Commissioner of Police Neither of these worthies is found so energetic and successful in dealing with the mysterious murders as he was in dragooning the people in Trafalgar Square and Hyde Park, and the consequence ia that th c resignation of both is loudly demanded. Ths use of a Tory Government, however, is rather the repression «f the people than their protection, and the soone.- that is brought home to the mind of the English masses, the better it will be for the country and ttaa empire

The Dominican nuns desire to acknowledge the receipt of artunion block i and remittances from Mrs. Nesbitt, Dunedin • Mr J Adamson, Ross ; and Mr. A. M'Dounell, Gowe's Creek.

Thb latest accusation brought a ? aimt the National League is that its funds have been applied to aid in resistiag evictions and tr.her purposea of the kind, Bat, we should say, it is the duty of the League to do so, and that it wouli be seriously in fault were it to neglect so necessary a work of humanity and justice. The nature of this accusation again thows the straits to which the enemies of the cause are reduced.

A cobbespondent at Westport inf itmi v* that Ma=s will be celebrated m the new church in that town on Sunday next but th^ the formal opening of the church will not lake place until the re urn cf the Archbishop of Wellington from Europe.

The constancy of Mr. Gladstone to the Iruh cause has been again shown in his refusal for the present to fupport the agitation in favour of Home Kule for Scotland lest it should adversely affect the Irish question. Mr. Chamberlain, meantime, has been declaring at Nottingham that Mr. Gladstone is preaching pure anarchy. Joe, however, is still smarting under the castigation he received from Mr Parnell, and must be expected to give |attreance to his feelings with proportionate bitterness. It is not likely that any one very much minds what he says.

Coebcion appears to be losing somewhat of its vigour :— two priests for example, Fathers Clarke and Farrelly, convicted of inciting to boycotting, have been sentenced to the reduced term of six weeks' imprisonment, and Mr. J. E. Bedmond, M.P., on conviction for conspiring to prevent the re-letting of lands— 3r to balk the landgrabber, has only got five weeks without hard labour. There are iecded Bigns of weakness in all this as compared with the sentences of three months lengthened to six oa appeal. Even the brave Mr. Balfour it appears can only go to the length of his tether.

The Rev. Father Aherne, late of Waipawa, and the Rev. Father Prcndergast, late of Napier, who are about to leave the Colony for Australia, arrived in Dunedin from Oamara on Tuesday. The Rev. gentlemen, whose departure from New Zealand is the occasion o f much regret, are the guests of the Most Bey. Dr. Moran, but will proceed to-morrow (Thursday) on their passage to Melbourne.

Dating from St. Andrews, the Bey. George Angus writes to tba Whitehall Review of August 16 :— « A copy of the N.Z. Tablet of June 29 has been sent to me, and ia an amusingly suggested con nection between myself and the Whitehall Review it is stated that I deserted the ministry of the Presbyterian Kirk for the priesthood of the Catholic Church. Inaccuracies should not be perpetuated, so let m ay that I never was in the ministry of tbe Presbyterian Kirk at all." Well, that's one scored in favour of the Kirk, and we congratulate it accordingly.

We have received from the Government Printer several copiea ofo f the Report on the Dairy Factories in New Zealand, which we shall be happy to forward, on application, to those of our subscribers who desire to see them.