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New Zealand Tablet, Volume XVI, Issue 37, 4 January 1889, Page 17

On Monday, December 31, the concluding ceremonies of the Pope's jubilee year took place <*t St. Joseph's Cathedral, Danedin. At tbe morning Masses large numbers of the congregation received Holy Communion, so as to gain the indulgence granted on the occasion. In the evening, besides the recital of the Rosary, and the Benediction of the Most Holy Sacrament, th« Te Deum was song. The altar had been beautifully decorated with flowers by the Domini* can Nuns, and was brilliantly illuminated. Oo Tuesday, the Feast of tbe Circumcision, the usoal Massed and ceremonies of the day wen celebrated .

The Christian Brothers acknowledge with thanks the receipt of one pound for the gymnastic fund from a gentleman who was present at the display in the Choral Hall, Dunedm, on the 20th Dec.

IN our reference to the asphalting done at the Christian Brothers' School (St. Joseph's), Dunedin, we should have Blated that the quantity done exceeds 1000 square yards. Oo this there is a small debt, which the school children are trying to clear off with the assistance of their kind friends.

The Parnell Commission is not without its more amusing incidents. The following detailß, for example, which the Nation of November 17 gives us concerning an eminently unsatisfactory witness will be found entertaining :— " Tom was dressed in a long, baggy swallow-tail coat of grey frieze, with brass buttons before and behind —the old-fashioned style of Irish coat, still very common in Western

Ireland. Into the witness-box he carried bis cudgel, also his black bell-top hat, which he clapped on the ledge in front of him. In a couple of minutes Tom threw the court into hopeless confusion, The Times' counsel had called on him to prove that he had made a deposition to the effect that the reason why his house bai been burnt was that he had paid his rent against the wishes of the Land League. But now, to the astonishment of the Times' counsel* he denied all that. " I can't answer you both at once," said Tom, to the President and Mr. Murphy, Q.C., staring at them, one after the other. Nobody could find out from him what be had *aid, or what he had done. He could not teil whether he bad joined the Land League— after the burning business. A ticket of some sort was given to him on one occasion ; but, said Tom, with a delightful frankness which completely upset the gravity of the court, • Sure I was too intoxicated at the time to know what the ticket meant.' He then let it out tbat it would not have been of much use even had be been sober— for he knew not how to read. In spite of protests from the bench and from counsel, Tom would tell his lorg domestic yarns, and fight shy of a straight answer. Mr. Murphy gave him up in despair. So did Sir James Hannen. No one could make anything of him. At last Sir Charles Russell tried him, and— will it be believed ?— succeeded !— one of the greatest forensic triumphs of the period. Sir Charles at last drew the admission from him, 'I never, never said me ho use was burnt because I paid me rint ; never, 1 he shouted, clapping Mb fist on the bench, ' as far as I can understand.' When Tom had made this emphatic declaration, one of the Times' solicitors stepped into the witness-box and stated on oath that Tom's first deposition was in direct contradiction to that which he now delivered. So that probably we are not yet done with rambling, incoherent, confiding, good-natured, and totally perplexing Tom Connair, of Loughrea, County Galway.

The celebrated Dr. Barr, whose name is destined to live among the baser records of Irish history for the part he took in the prison treatment and consequent death of poor John Mandeville, has met with retributive justice — not, however, from the hand of an Irishman. He has been dangerously stabbed at Kirkdalc, Liverpool, by a negro prisoner. But let it be recorded, to his credit so far as it may be so, that Barr does not reserve his brutality for Irish patriots. Other men, moreover, know bow to requite it as it deserves. It is not thought tbat the wound will prove fatal.

A LETTER from Mr. Gladstone to an Italian nobleman has been published, in which the writer recommends an appeal to arbitration of the European nations as the only means of averting a sanguinary war. A particular sensation has been caused by the suggestion < f the author of " Vaticanism" that the temporal statuß of the Pope should form one of the questions discussed. — But Mr. Gladstone, as we know. is distinguished almost above all other men by his bravery in acknowledging any mistake that he has made and in seeking to amend it. It must, indeed, alarm the supporters of the present state of things in Italy, to hear this declaration that the Roman question is not regarded by Mr. Gladstone as finally settled. It is, meantime, ominous to find that he takes so gloomy a view of matters— particularly as the arbitration he speaks of will hardly occur.

The Times, it appears, is not so averse after all to those practices of which it makes its chief charge against Mr. Parnell. It now transpires that although it has brought forward as one of its most serious accusations Mr. Parnell's acquaintance with|Sheridan, whom it alleges to be an assassin, it is itself quite willing to associate with him if expedient. The Dublin Fireman tells us, and no doubt tells us truly, that it has offered him £10,000 to become an informer before the Parnell Commission. It was an infamous wickedness in Mr. Parnell, therefore, to be acquainted with an assassin pure and simple, but the Times may with impunity employ the assassin, traitor, and liar, for, unless in this joint capacity, he could be of no nse to it. But this is quite in accordance with the general logic sf the Times, carried out, moreover, in action by it. The Pall Mall Gazette, besides, had already reminded it that it had assassins on its staff of correspondents. But what is praiseworthy in Italy, for ex. ample, is infamous crime in Ireland, also in accordance with the practical logic of the Times.

The Rev. Dr. Buckridge, S.J., has paid Dunedin a visit this week en route from Melbourne to Timaru, where he will conduct a religious retreat. The rev. gentleman has been the guest of his Lordship the Bishop and the clergy of the mission.

We are requested to acknowledge on the part of the Dominican nuns the receipt of blocks and remittances in connection with their art-union from Mrs. Bayste and Miss Leigh, Dunediu ; Mr. Thomas O'Connell, Ashburton ; and, through one of the nuns belonging to the convent at Invercargill, from friends in that town.

The H.A.C.B.S.'s fete at the Caledonion grounds on Boxing Day was, as usual, very successfully carried out. The various events were

well contested, the hurling match between the Irish Rifles and Hibernians, in particular, being watched with interest. The Hibernians came off winner*, The other events were won as follows :— Youths' handicap foot race. 300 yards, W. Baird, syds, 1. Handicap foot race, 120 yards— first heat, I. McQueen, 10 yds, 1; second beat, J. Houston, 8 yds, 1 ; final heat, I. McQueen, 10 yds, I. Youths' handicap walking r»ce, one mile, G. Drummond, scratch, 1. Hibernian handicap, 300 yds— first heat, I. McQueen. 15y ds, 1 ; second heat, P. Grant, 8 yds, 1 ; final heat, J. McNair, 14 yds, 1. Maiden wrestling. Ford and J. Melea divided. Handicap walking race, one mile, G. Galloway, 30 yds, 1. Handicap half mile race, P. Grant, scratch,

1. Irish Jig, B. Stewart and Sheering, tie. Maiden wrestling, Cumberland style — the first prize went to Sonntag, with D. Melea second, and Brown third.

The Caledonian sports at Dunedin have been, as usual, well attended this week, An event of interest was the presence of Joe Scott, who arrived from Europe by the Ruapehu, and appeared on the grounds wearing his champion's belt.

The second annual dinner of the Commercial Travellers' and Warehousemen's Association was held in Danedin on FridayMr. Robert Wilson in the chair, and Mr. George Ball acting as vkechairmau. Several good speeches were made, the chief speakers being Sir Robert Stout, and Messrs. Bell, Fish, Jones, and Denniston, A very agreeable evening was passed.

Although we have it on very questionable authority, namely, that of lago, or his eong, that " a eoldier's a man," the practical proof s we otherwise receive of the fact enable us to believe it implicitly. — Soldiers in Ireland, for example, have again Bhown that their sympathies are, as those of a man should be, in the right quarter. Twenty-five men of the Berkshire regiment have paraded the streets of Kilrush singing " God Save Ireland." The police were true to their nature, and attacked the people who applauded the gallant demonstration, but took good care, after their kind, to keep clear of " Tommy Atkins." To find that a BoldierV a man, and knows how, like a man, to show that he is bo, can hardly be agreeable to Balfour and Company. Manliness is their most formidable enemy.

We desire to call the especial attention of our readers to the letter in another place in which the Most Rev. Dr. Moran gives a practical proof of how necessary he considers it that Mr. Parnell should now be supported. The Bishop's letter should be sufficient without anything more from us.

We have again to remind our readers of the Bazaar to be reopened in the Garrison Hall, Dunedin, this (Wednesday) evening. A visit just paid by us to the hall, as we go to press, enables as to speak highly of the preparations being m»de. The decorations arc very pretty and in good taste, and the martial character of the room is testified to by the guns and swords that, in addition to flags and devices, enter into them. The display in the stalls is quite worthy of the fair ladies who preside there, and that is as much as we need cay. A fountain is playing in front of the stage, and there is an abundance of beautiful flowers, arranged as if by the deft Angers of Flora herself. A number of the prizes intended for the Dominican Nuns Art Union are hung around the walls, and conspicuous among them is a perfectly marvellous picture of St. Patrick worked in Berlin wool. Visitors will do well to give particular attention +o these prizes. The general programme, which will commence as before with the Grand March, will be quite as good as that previously performed and some new items have bee a added that are sure to meet with applause. The Kinder Garten exercises, which were so much admired some weeks ago will be several times repeated. A crowded attendance, therefore, is expected, and we can confidently promise that all who are present will be well entertained.