CHRISTCHURCH.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume XVI, Issue 29, 9 November 1888, Page 5

CHRISTCHURCH.

(From cur own Correspondent.)

The weather here has been bitterly cold during the past weekSlight showers have fallen almost every day. These, however, were welcome enough. They have made the trees, the dust laden hedges, and lawns look fresh and bright. People are congratulating themselves that the cold south winds and spring showers came last week, and did not, as usual, wait for the holidays. This is crying safe before being out of the wood. The clerk of the weather may have a sufficient supply of moisture and chilliness in stock to be able to distribute '"is unpleasant wares over next week. It is to be hoped, however, that the weather will keep line for the coming week. The faces cCtradcspeople, especially the drapers, grow veiy long indeed, if ihedays preceedine show day and cup day happen to be wet. Carnival week is the one time in the year to which the drapers look forward to, to recoup themselves for the looses caused by other seasons of dullness. The farmers and their feminine belongings muster in great force in Christchurch during show week. Showdiiy is their great festival. In order to put in an attractive appearance upon the grounds that day ladies, young and old, are prepared to spend some money. Cup day and the Riccarton lawn are the time and the place chosen by our aristocratic belles to make the great " hit " of the year in repaid to showing off elaborate costumes, but to the hearts of our country cousins show day is infinitely dearer, as the frtc at which to exhibit their new toilettes to their lady friends and make conquests of the other fcx. I ttunk it may be taken as an indication ol the returning tide ot prosperity, that it is generally anticipated that business will be pretty bmk during the coming week. The drapers shops are as busy as they can be, and the hotels are making great preparations to miot the requirements of the influx of holiday maker?. I must sny I like to see all the fups, and bustle, and eager anticipation which people exhibit in Christchuich in iegard to the first week in November, and I hope that the weather will keep fine, so that everybody's aspirations of happineßS, whether in reference to pecuniary gain or pleasure may be realised. Already numbers ot country people are in town ; Saturday'strains brought advance contirgents from all parts of Canterbury

In order to give eclat to the gaieties of the week Bir William Jervois is to visit Christchurch. He has promised his patronage to goodness knows how many things, he is to go to the show and inspect the abnormally fat cattle and sheep and agricultural exhibits, he is of course, to witness the cup race and give tone to the assemblage upon the lawn. Then he has promised to oe present at the performance of the " Mikado, ' and to go to Lancaster Park to see the Fire Brigade's pyrotechnic di«play on Thursday week. In fact, there is every indication that this week Sir William will be a very hard worked Governor indeed. In addition to all this, I believe he is to banquctted. Probably at the end of the week he will come'to the conclusion, that a Governor's life i>s by no means a happy one. Most people in Christchurch regret very much indeed that this is likely to be the last, "great occasion," to quote '■v-Geore Grey, upon which we shall have the genial Sir William amongst ua. He is popular here, as elsewhere in the Colony, and everyone is sorry to lose him. He has always been most couiteous and obliging in bestowing his patronage, and has also been most impartial. It did Dot matter whether the object for which his patronage was a&kcd was Catholic

or Protestant ; be was just as ready to attend one as tbe otler. His successor may boast the possession of higher rank, bat he will scarcely be able to claim to be a more genial gentleman than Sir William Jervois. I have beard the much-renowned and well-puffed Misß Lydia Von Finkelstein, and I cannot say that I think a great deal of her. In tha Grst place, I dislike to see a woman upon the platform ; in the second place she is not nearly such a clever and brilliant woman aa I had supposed her to be. Her lectures are somewhat shallow, and are dibfifjured by more slangy expressions and comic bye-play than one would expect to fiud in the address of a learned Arabic scholar such as Miss Von Finkelstein professes to be. She is a good actress", and has great dramatic power. When representing tbe manners of tbe people of Palestine and giving some scene from their daily life ahe is at her best. Her explanation of some of the customs of the people as bearing upou tex s of Scripture were vtry iuter> sting. She explained the parable of the eager search of the woman after the lost piece > f silver and the rejoicing of her neighbours over its discovery, by pointing out that the lost piece of silver referred to io the <iospel was evidently one from a cnain which the married women of Palestine wear to this day. This chain contains ten pieces of silver like coins. It is the marriage gift of the husband tv the wife, and has something the same signification which the wedding-ring has in European lands. The loss of one of these coins from this preciojs chain, the preservation of which signifies fidelity to her marriage bond, is regarded by a woman of Palestine as the greatest misfortune and disgrace which could befall her. Hence the diligent search for the loßt piece of silver. This view of Hie matter was challenged by a writer in one of the daily papers. He states that the reason why the piece of silver was of such importance to the Palestine housewife, was that it represented a sum of mon«y, which, in those days, would have been of considerable importance to poor people in Palestine in the station cf life of those from among wdom our Lord took his illustrations. For myself, I think I prefer Miss Voa Finkelstein'a explanation. In tcr first lecture another incident which I liked waa that among tbe sampler which she was showing of the various articles of dress worn by the men and women of Palestine, there was a garment " without seam, woven from the top throughout," such as was i he coat our Saviour wore, and for which ihesjldicis cast lots, not wishing to rend the costly vesture. A handsome bcrder was woven all round the'eoat, aci this border.MissVon Finkelstien said waa the hem upon our Saviour's robe, to which allusion is made in the Bible. This species of garment ia worn by the rich men of Palestine to this day. It is made of the finest camel's hair and is very costly owing to its being woven " without seam. Her explanation of how our Saviour, during His poverty on earth, came to wear so costly a garment, was that the " women ministered to Him," and to show their love for Him wove for his nse a costly coat of this kind. Some how, I thought that the exhibition of this article of Eastern raiment carried one's thoughts bpek to the earthly sojourn of our Lord and its tragic close, more than any other incident in Miss Von Fmkelatein'a lecture upon " The Haunts and Homes of Jesus.'' The past has been a very busy week at the pro- Cathedral. On All Saints Day there were Masses at 6, 8, and 10 o'clock, the last being Pontifical High Mass. Father Halbwachs wa9 deacon, Father Marnanc sub-deacon, Father Cummings assistant priest, and Father Bnand master of ceremonies His Lordship the Bishop pre> ched a short sermon irom the throne upon the festival of the day, concluding with an appeal to the charity oi the faithful on behalf of the souls in purgatory. At the termination of the ten o'clock service, a large number of school children were received into the Holy League of the Apostleship of Prayer and Living Rosary by Father Cummmgs who invested them with tbe badge's of the sodality. Previously to the investiture Father Cummings addressed a few woids to the children upon the advantages to be derived from joining the League, and pointing out the slight obligation which membei ship entailed. In the evening there was solemn Benediction by hia lordship, followed by Vespers, after which the altar was denuded of its ornamentation and the clergy, vested in black copes and dalmatics, solemnly chanted the Vespers for the dead. On Fm'ay there was commemoration cf Ail Souls. It being the first Fiiday in the month, a largs number of the members of the Apostleßhip of brayer approached Holy Communion at the eirly Massis. At ten o'clock there was solemn rcguiem Mafs, coram ejj'wcopo. Father Cummings was celebraot and Fathers Halbwacha and Marnane. dtacou and sub-deacon respectively. The choir rendered the Gicgorian Missa Defuncton'um. Brother Joseph was in the choir and his fine voice added considerably to the effect of t be musical portion of the ceremonies. Father Briend also rendered assistance in a similar manner. His Lordship pronounced the absolution at tbe catafalque. In the evening the usual meeting of the Apostlevhip of Prayer took place. The Bishop occupied the ihrone and all the local clergy, including the new priest, Father Laverty, occupied seats in the sanctuary The congregation was not large. The Hey. Father Cummlng^ preached a suort discourse, exhorting members to do ail in their power to asssst the holy souls in purgatory. He pointed out to his hearers the practical means by which this could be done. In passing, I may say that it is always pleasant to listen to Father Cummiag a sermons. He has a strong, clear voice, and always uses the very bst English. He is never florid, but is a forcible speaker. He does not use a stung o I words for the sake cf producing sound, or for the purpose ci " padding "' his sermon. In short, his discourses a*e characterised by three points which are very good in a preacher — he is concise, brief, and practical. On Friday night Fainer Cummines paid a well- Reserved tribute of respect to the memory of the late Father Keignier, who died lately at Napier, after a missionary career of nearly 47 years. Father Cummings related a little instance of Father Eeignier's life. This incident, which waa recorded by a Protestant journalist, goea to show how self-den j ing Father Reijnier was. A few years ago he was ou a visit to Wairoa. He had just returned to his lodgings after a weary day's toil in the discharge of the duties of bis sacred calling. After

reciticg his office he retired to rest, from which he was shortly aroused again to visit a dyin? Maori woman who lived eight miles off. Without a murmur the saintly old priest arose, and, passing out into the darkness, walked the whole way on foot in the pouring rain and over what the journalist termed a" beastly road." Owing to the darkness arid the difficulty of walking in the rain over a rough road, it was midnight when the pged piiest reached the bedside of the dying woman. He spent some hours in smoothing tbe path to eternity of Ihe departing soul, and then, without haviDg obtained a change of clothing, Father Reignier §et out through the rain upon his return journny. He walked all the way back to Wairoa, fastirg, in order to cay Mass for the reposeof the soul of the poor Maori. At this time Father Reignier was almost 73 years of age. Doubtless the life of this good priest was made up ot countless similar instances of devotedness.

The Hibernian Society's hall, the erection of which I have watched with considerable interest and pride, is completed. On Saturday afternoon, Mr. O'Shaughnessy, tje secretary of the Society, received official intimation from the architect that the building was finished. Next week the Hibernians will take possession of their Tery handsome hall. After they have done so I shall say something more about It. It is the intention of the Society to celebrate the opening with a banquet. This will be baptising the hall in a laudable manner. The date of the banquet is not yet fixed. It will not, I believe, take place until Mr. itobert Lonargan returns from Melbourne.

It does one's heart good to read an address like the one sent by the Irish Catholics of the Lower Hutt to Archbishop Walsh. It is not the money which goes with it which will make such a message cheering to those who are spending their lives in Ireland's cause, but the evidence which words like those contained in the address give that some at least of the Irish people abroad are in unison with those at Home in wishing to ccc justice done to their country, and that though thousands of miles of ocean lie between them and their early home, they have not forgotten Ireland. Were the hearts of all Irishmen abroad true to their native land in demandiug the restoration of her rights, what a power might those exiled children whom famine and persecution had driven from Ireland's shores, become in aiding her to attain her destiny, by winning back once more the independence of which she was so cruelly robbed long ago. But, unfortunately, all Irish hearts are not true to Ireland. Many of them, when they have left her, forget their soirowing motherland in the Atlantic. Their hearts grow cold towards her ; they think that it is better to cringe to her enemies than to remember her wrongs. Thus, in those in whom Ireland should find her strength, Bhe too often finds her weakness.

" A Good Priest's Advice " in last week's Tablet should be read by every Irish Catholic in New Zealand and carefully stored away in their minds. The friend which Miss Von Finkelstein describes the good shepherd to be to the sheep in Palestine, that the Tablet has been to the Irish Catholics of New Zealand. This the majority of them recognise. They know the Tablet as their defender and their friend. In its voice, they recoguisi the true tone of their legitimate leader, which has raised them from a position in which they were despised and placed them upon an equality with tbe people of other nations in New Zealand. Remembering what the Tablet has done in the pa9t, and is still doing, and what a beacon light it has betn. and is, to the Irish Catholics in this Colony, I could as soon imagine any one of that country and that creed cutting off their tupply of bread as sending in reference to the Tablet, such a mandate as " btop my paper."' I believe that it is likely that Father Melu will shortly visit the Maoris at Kaiapoi.

On Sunday morning at eleven o'clock Mass, Father Marnane called the attention of ibe people to the necessity of contributing to the collections for the schools. Even with the fees and the seat rents there was, he Btated, a deficit, to make up which caused the parish priest much trouble.

Among the successful Christchurch candidates for the solicitors examination in September, was Mr. Foley, a young Catholic Irish colonial. It is always pleasant to see our people advance.