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New Zealand Tablet, Volume XVI, Issue 36, 28 December 1888, Page 18

On Tuesday, the Feast of the Nativity, Masses began in St. Joseph's Cathedral Dunedin at 6 a.m., and terminated with Pontifical High Mass at 11 a.m., celebrated by the Bishop,— with the Eev. Fathers Lynch and O'Donnell as deacon and sub-deacon respectively. His Lordship also preached on the Feast of the day. The shoir, under the conductorship of Mr. Ward and with Miss D. Horan as organist, performed the music — chiefly selected from Mozart's " Twelfth," with the " Adeste Fideles," at the offertory— in admirable style. Vespers and Benediction of the Most Blessed Sacrament were celebrated in the evening. The Crib had been arranged the previous evening within the inner door of the baptistery, where it will still give throughout the week a touching representation of the great event at Bethlehem, and the altar bad been beautifully adorned. The Dominican Nuns were accountable for all this pious work which they had performed as usual in a, very tasteful and devotional manner. There were large congregations at the various Masses, and great numbers received Holy Communion.

We would again remind our readers of the supplementary Bazaar of the Dominican Nuns, to take place at the Garrison Hall, Danedin, on January 2nd, 3rd, and 4th. The programme drawn up for the occasion, and now being rehearsed with a promise of great success, presents still more attractive features, if possible, than that performed with Buch applause a few weeks ago. Everything is being done to make the undertaking worthy of patronage and to repay those who give the aid of their presence to the object for which this bazaar has been set on foot. The necessity for giving the nuns the assistance they require in enlarging the sphere of their usefulness must be particularly evident to all those who last week witnessed the results of their year's labour, and saw how successful they had been in the great work of education. The proof arising from visible results is too powerful for contradiction. It must be admitted, therefore, that in assisting the nuns to provide themselves with the requisite Bchool accommodation, a work of public benefit is being performed. And this is the object of the supplementary bazaar.

We are requested to acknowledge on the part of the Dominican Nans, the receipt ot blocks and remittances in connection with their Art Union from Mies Hoare, Kerrytown, and Mr Gavan, Ireland.

The programme of the Caledonian Sports, which will be found elsewhere, speaks eloquently of the entertainment provided by the Bociety for tne public of Dunedin, and calls for the patronage de* Berved in return. With fine weather, of which we have now a promise, everything is certain to go off even with greater eclat, if possible, than in all former years, whose record, nevertheless, is a sufficiently brilliant one.

"Wei have received from Mr. P. Monk the sum of £13 5s collected at Skipper's by Messrs Monk, Cummings aiid Costclloe,in aid of the

evicted tenants' fund. We have also received from Mr. A. Tootaey, Ophir, an additional sum of £1 10s ; collected by Mr*. Gavan, as follows :— Mr. P. Power £1 ; Mr. J. Carrigall sqnt., 10f. The Skipper's list, together with one forwarded to os from Wellington, will be found elsß where. This is the way to keep up the spirit of old Ireland and to daunt her eremies. There is nothing they fear more

han this aid from abroad.

An article on BleEsed de la Salle, for whicji we are indebted to our able contemporary the New York Freeman's Journal, and which - will be found in another place, strikes us as particularly appropriate to oar columns this week, as we record also a success gained among ; ourselves by the sons of the Beatified, the Christian Brothers, during the year. We are obliged owing to pressure on our space, and th 9 occurrence of the holidays, to hold over several contributions and school reports.

The magistrates' bench at Wanganui evidently disapproves o the old tdage, "Spare the rod and spoil the child." A gentleman , who caned a boy for persistently throwing stones at his house has been heavily fined by the Shallows of the situation for the offence. No wonder public opinion in the locality, as we are told it does, condemns the sentence as tending to encourage larrikinism. It ial true their Worships fined the two companions of the boy who was caned. A fine, however, that punishes a parent is but a mild preventive for the ill-doingß of a mischievous child, who will regard no check but that of which he has bodily experience. If, besides*, people are to be allowed no defence of person or property against any larrikin that chooses to attack them except a comparatively tardy, and not always certain, appeal to the law, there will be little safety left in the country, and the roughs will have it all their own way. Justices' justice at Wanganui is, therefore, rightly judged defective.

Another shocking murder has occurred in London,' possessing ' features that seem to connect it with those already bo mysteriously committed, although it has taken place in a different district and no mutilation has been made. The person murdered, however, was also a woman belonging to the abandoned class, and certain marks on the body seemed to show an interrupted attempt to mutilate as before. In any case, there is an additional proof that the Government are incapable of providing for the safety of the city, and the probabilities are that they must also be found incapable of providing for the safety of the country generally should the occasion arise. They are bolcly devoted to the one object that concerns them most nearly, that of coercing Ireland in the interests of the ascendant classes, especially those in England, and their energies are not sufficient to embrace anything further. It is. meantime, a strange connection that associates coercion in Ireland with murder in London, and, in some sense, brings the victim lost in the vice of the city into contact with the distant peasant, who knows no such contamination. The chain of events, nevertheless, brings many straDge associates together.

Things in the Soudan are iust now again occupying a good deal of attention. A letter, for example, written by Osman Digna, boasting of the capture of Emm Bey and Mr. Stanley, the famous African explorer, has caused a good deal of commotion. The conclusion, however, seems to be reasonably arrived at that there is no truth in the boast. Osman Digna's forces, meantime, have been defeated by General Grenfell near Suakin, and their rout is said to be complete. But we have so often heard of the final defeat of this rebel leader and his followers that there is room for us to doubt on the present occasion. All that the defeat .spoken of has meant hitherto is what it probably Btill means, that is, with some difficulty keeping Suakin itself free from attack, while the whole country remains in the hands of the rebels. Ihey, in fact, seem marvellously to sustain continual defeat and slaughter, and, whatever may be done, to be, ever ready to return as bold and numerous as before. As Mr. Gladstone, alluding to the matter the other day, remaiked, it is evidently JimDOSsible to reduce the Soudan to subjection.

De. Tanner has taken another opportunity to tell a plain truth or two in Parliament. The Doctor, in a fit of candid heat the other day, and in anger there is often as much truth as there is in wine, informed Mr. Balfour that be was a "swindler, coward, thief, and liar." The whole truth, or even as in the present instance a modicum of it, is, however, not always expedient to be told, and Dr. Tanner paid the penalty by being suspended during pleasure. But as the Doctor has the courage of his convictions, he will, no doubt, manage to survive the punishment inflicted upon him — and will live to tell a bold truth or two once more.

Another sign of the times has occurred at Stockport, not at Stockton-on-Tees, as reported by mistake, whore Sir Horace Davey, a follower of Mr. Gladstone's, who was at the bottom of the poll at the last election, has been returned by a majoiitv of 390 over the Unionist candidate. Nothing can be plainer than the fact, made evident cither

by victories like this or defeats by largely diminished majorities, that Mr. Gladstone is steadily winning his way, and that the mind of the country is with him more and more. The longer the Torieß adhere to office the more signal will their defeat be when they are at length driven to appeal to the country.

The only news we have received this week touching the Parnell Commission is to the pffect that the House of Commons will permit the Clerk of the House to produce before the Commission the members' roll, containing Mr. Parnell's signature. This is possibly due to the hostile spirit of the Unionist majority, but, otherwise, there is little importance in the matter. Mr. Parnell's signatures exist in abundance, and one more or less cannot make much difference. Something more, however, than the most skilfully forged signature will be necessary to prove the authenticity of the letters — and the conduct of the Times, particularly in resisting and postponing the Scotch action, is not favourable to the belief that it possesses the necessary proofs.

Two prominent Statesmen have delivered themselves during the week on the question of the colonial connection with the mother country. Lord Aberdeen advocates Imperial federation, and scoffs at the notion of the separation of the colonies from England. Sir Julius Vogel, on the other hand, expresses himself as of the opinion that the use of powder and shot alone can preserve the union between the colonies and England, But we may be pretty sure that powder and shot will never be so employed. England's experience in America, were it that only, might be sufficient to assure us of this. Lord Aberdeen's argument, meantime, seems the more sound — Imperial federation, to be brought about sooner or later as we believe, ii the true policy for all — both old a.nd now.

Another case of falsely giving an Irish name came before the City Bench on Tuesday morning (writes •' Tapley " in the Melbourne Advocate of December 8), when "Thomas Kelly ' was charged with being drunk and disorderly. The Herald says that " Tbomas K.elly,'' who did not appear, was no other than Dr. Wright, who, when arrested, was entered in the charge book as " Thomas Kelly clerk, no religion." It is a pity that those persons who give false names cannot be punished for so doing. At all events recent events have shown how " Irish " crime is manufactured in Victoria.

Myers and Co,, Dentists, Octagon, corner of George street. The/ guarantee highest class work at moderate fees. Their artificial teeth gives general satisfaction, and the fact of them supplying a tern" porary denture while the gums are healing does away with the inconvenience of being months without teeth. They manufacture a single artificial tooth for Ten Shillings, and sets equally moderate The administration of nitrous oxide gas is also a great boon to those needing the extraction of a tooth. Real— [advt.]