Colonial Notes.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume XVI, Issue 43, 15 February 1889, Page 3

Colonial Notes.

THB formal opening of St. Patricks Seminary at Manly, near Sydney, took place on Wednesday, January 23rd. His Eminence Cardinal Meran presided, vid there were present also the Bishops of Maitland, Goalburn, Bathurst, Armidale, Auckland, and Graf ten, and a large anembly of the clergy, including members of the Orders of the Jesuit t, Marists, Passionista, Redemptorists, Vincentians, Franciscans, Dominicans, and Missionaries of the Sacred Heart. There was also by special invitation of his Eminence, a numerous attendance of the laity. The building was nn-t blessed by the Cardinal, who afterwards gave Benediction of the Most Holy Sacrament in the chapel. •• With reference to the altar in the chastely furnished chapel," says the F'reewtan's Jturnal, "it may be mentioned that it was one of the molt attractive exhibits in the late exhibition held at the Vatican to celebrate the Hoiy Fa'her's Gulden Jubilee. The altar, which is composed of the choice marbles of the Pyrenees beautifully blended in an elegant design, was, we ird^ratand, not only much admired, but much coveted during the Exhibition, and when it was known that the Holy Father wou.d probably include it in his magnificeot distribution of gifts to the churches and colleges of the Catholic world there were, we believe, numerous applications from all quarters for this particular altar. His Holiness, however, had, ;t appears, decidea that the altar should go to Australia as a mark of his affection and admiration, and this decision he communicated to Cardinal Moran while his Eminence was in Rome. The money value of the altar is ■etdown at £1,000, but the circumstances of the gift invest it with a value and an interest of a much higher order, for ii|is the first direct personal gift of the kind from the Sovereign Poatiff to the Church in Australia " In the afternoon the guests assembled in the principal hall of the building, where his Eminence declared the seminary open, and the Very Key. Father O'Farrell, C.83.R , delivered an eloquent address, with which the ceremonies terminated. The Nic Caledonicn, claims the beatification of the Blessed Chanel as a French glory. It is under this title, says our contemporary, that we would speak of the beatification of the Bey. Father Pierre Louia Marie Chanel, one of ourfellow-conntrymen, the apostle of an island which is French t«-day, the martyr of his faitb, and, because of his virtues as a man, a Christian, and a priest, because of his devotion reaching even to heroism, henceforth set apart for the admiration and imitation of the whole world. The name of the Blessed Chanel is a French glory ; it is also a Caledonian glory, since Futuna is ODe of tbe dependencies of this colony. Bis triumph is, again, for us what we shall call a domestic joy ; Bince this ppostle bo justly and highly honoured is the brother of the apostles of thia country and their joys are ours also. The Bishop of Maitland left Sydney on January 3 by the Mariposa for San Fransiaco en route for Europe. A chief object of his Lordship's visit is to make a suitable provision of religious teachers for the boys' schools of his diocese. Previous to his departure from West Maitland the Bishop was the recipient of affectionate farewell addresses from his clergy and people. "On Tuesday," "says the TrcemarCt Journal of January 26, " Dr. Murray came to Sydney, and on the following day he was a prominent figure at the opening of St. Patrick's Ecclesiastical Seminary. At the banquet which followed the blessing of the College, the Cardinal-Archbishop, in informing the company that Dr. Murray would be leaving by the mail boat for Sao Francisco during the afternoon, took advantage of the occasion to refer to his Lordßbip's departure in very feeling language. His Eminence spoke of the Bishop of Maitltnd as the oldest and most revered friend he had in Australia, and while he was happy to say his Lordship was not going away on account of failing health, but on important business, he (the Cardinal) expressed the hope that Dr. Murray would return with renewed energy and increased strength to continue tbe labours in his flourishing diocese which he had so successfully carried on for the past 22 years. All the other bishops present alluded in graceful terms to the Bishop of Maitland ; and Bir Patrick Jennings, speaking on behalf of the laity, said that no bishop in the colony had made himself more beloved tnan Dr. Murray, adding that be did not think any Bhip leaving Sydney could be more heavily freighted with blessings than the Mariposa toat afternoon." Tbe annual meeting of the Sydney branch of the Irish National League was held on Tuesday January 22nd. The President's report gave a favourable return of the year's proceedings. A sum of £1100 bad been remitted to Dublin, and a furtber Bum of AG66 lss lid, to be

remitted in dn« time, remained in the hands of the treasurers. In addressing the meeting, the President dwelt particularly on the necessity of m.king the approaching visit of the Irish delegates a success— particularly from * financial point of view. Mr. J. B. Free* hill was re-elected president. Messrs William Walsh, J. O. O'Connor, and Charles O'Neill were elected vice-presidents, and Mr. James Ward secretary. The necessity for the old precept " Man know thyself " was never more strikingly illustrated tban by Sir Henry Parkes in the coarse of ft speech recently made by him. The speaker contradicted the current belief that be was an autocrat and tyrant, aod.on thecontrary,claimed credit for extreme gentleness of disposition — the distinguishing and creative characteristic of the gentleman. '• What I mean by gentleness," said he, " is a tender regard for thote who are weaker than yoarselvei which I have shown in hundreds and thousands of instances, as those who know me best know ; a compassionate consideration for those who are suffering, and* combination of these qualities with a sense of public justice." It would, irdeed, seed an intimate acquaintance with Sir Henry Parkes to know anything of the kind. In fact a minute examination of him with a powerful microscope could only reveal the very rudiments of such a disposition in him — if even such exist. If self-knowledge'be necessary to repentance, Eir Henry'i case is plainly hopeless. Two miners, named respectively Pearce and Mclvoy, who were working an old claim at Jonns'a Creek, near Danolly, came the other day on a compact solid nugget of 990z 2dwt. The find was made in a small corner of a dividing wall in the middle of ground that had been well worked. It came as a welcome suprise, as the men were on the point of leaving off in despair, and turning their hande to something else.