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New Zealand Tablet, Volume XVII, Issue 1, 26 April 1889, Page 17

His Eminence Cardinal Moran the other day in Sydney, at the laying of the foundation stone of a Presbytery for the Marist Fathers, spoke as follows in illustration of the work accomplished by the Fathers in the South Sea Islands •— •• During the past few weeks the exciting and tragic events at Samoa had engaged the attention of the Australian colonies, and, he might say, the whole civilised world. With the gloomy records of the deplorable hurricane disaster they had the bright record of the gallantly Christian conduct of the Catholic chieftian Mataafa. That brave man, who had been selected for the position of king by almost the unanimous voice of the native people, as a newspaper correspondent had lold them, wore a cross upon his dusky skin— and he (the Cardinal) might add that beneath that cross, the emblem of his faith, beat the heart of the true soldier. Theehieftain had shown bis soldierly qualities by the way in which he thrashed the Germans who attacked him, but it was at the moment his higher and better nature was appealed to that he manifested the true heroism of the Christian chief. He and his paity had been trained in Christian virtues by the Marist Fathers. And what better proof of the noble character of the teaching and the training imparted by the Marists could be asked than the spirit of self-sacrifice, compassion and enlightened charity which the chief and his followers displayed in succouring and saving during those fearful scenes those whom they had been forced to regard as their enemies 1 The accounts of the occurrence told them how the chief and his 200 or 300 men risked their lives to save the drowning sailors, and told them too how the native leaders set their trusty men on guard so that there should be no violation of order, and so that not even the theft of one penDy'f worth should be added to the losses attendant on the terrible disaster. The example set by these men, whom it pleased some to speak of as savages, was an example that many so-called civilised countries might do well to follow. Such exhibitions of character on the part of Catholic natives of the South Seas made it evident that the blood of martyrs and the salf-denying labours of the Marist missionaries had already borne abundant and consoling fruit." We may add tha* Captain Kane, the commander of H.M.S. Calliope, who alsj nobly distinguished himself on the occasion is a Catholic as well and an Irishman.

The public of the We9tport district are still enjojiag those intellectual treats which Mr. J. L. Biuck aff jrds them by his highly eloquent lectures on the Home Rule cause. In fact so favourab'e is the impression which he has created that he hasbjen requested to return to aH the districts which he has jet visited, aud redeliver his lectures, and it is not surprising that such is the case, for. the more oLe hears of.

him, the better one likes him, and his success does not merely depend upon his ability as a lecturer, but by his Bober habits and his quiet and unassuming manners he has fairly won the hearts of everyone with whom he has been become acquainted. He is indeed the true stamp of a young New Zealander. We feel quite certain that this Colony will yet have reason to be proud of him. His visit to Addison' B Flat on Saturday last was a red letter day in the history of that small mining community and it is admitted by everyone who was present at the lecture that its equal had never been heard in the district. We sincerely hope that when Mr. Buick visits the southern centre 3of population, the nationalists will turn out in full force to receive him in the most handsome manner, for we can safely say that there is an 'ntellectual treat in store for th-jm, such as they have never yet had the pleasure of listening to nor are likely to have for a long time to come.

We record with much regret an accident attended by fatal results which occurred to Mrs. Taggart, wife of our esteemed townsman, Mr. W. H. Taggart, of Dunedin, on Monday evening. The deceased lady was driving alone in a dog-cart on her way to a place owned by her husband in the suburbs, whtn her horse took flight and by a sudden turn threw her out on the road, where she sustained injuries that in a little time caused her death. The deceased lady was highly respected by a large circle of friends and acquaintances* and a feeling of general regret at her sad fate is ex erienced in the •ity.

NdW that transactions before the Tunes- Parnell Commission have made a due impression and brought a just view of affairs befor c the English public, we find that the national leaders are determioed to maintain their rights. Mr. Parnell, therefore, as we learn, has commenced a libel action in England against the Times, damages being laid at £100,000. Mr. William O'Brien also will proceed against Lord Salisbury, who in a recent speech accused him of advocating murder and pillage in Ireland. While prejudice was too strong in England to admit of any hope that justice would b^ obtained there the Irish leaders were obliged to submit to libel and calumny. The Commission, however, by enlightening the public has changed this reprehensible state of affairs and given the gentlemen attacked a chance of obtaining redress. Everyone must admit they are quite right in availing themselves of it, and that in this respect the Commission has already been productive of good.

United Ireland warns Scotch Ulster tenant* that they will probably be massacred if they take possession of faims frcm which tenants have been evicted.'' This is a c»blegram published here on Wednesday morniog. As to the contents of the cib'^ram. however, some consideration isnecessiuy. In its raw form, if what is manifestly cooked can be said to be raw, it is evidently not to be rt'ce ved as quite genuine. Unifid Inland most probably alluded to the treatment " Scotch Ukter tenants " might expect from " Scotch Ulster tenants" if the former took the farms from which the Litter hqd been evicted, for e\en in Scotc'i Ulster eviction has of late made its appearance. United Ireland would be quite jus ifio.l in making such a prediction fiom its general knowledge ol the Orange mind. What the cablegram is meant to convey to the coloi.ie^. on the contrary, is the fee-faw-fum notion that Irish Catholic tenants are thiiating for the blood of the Scotch individual, whatever may be his shape or form.

Wk learn from a private le ter wiitten by Sir Thomas Esmonde from Adelaide, that Mr. John Dillon will precede by some weeks the other delegates on the roturn journey to Ireland thiough the United States. Mr. Dillon, thciefore, may be expected to vieit New Zealand e/t rout i during the couisi 1 oi the next two or thiee montlib.

Wr, bball publish in u»r next issue the list of pmes m the lUngiora art-union, as well as tho remaining names of peisons who disposed of tickets for it.

The Win ton art-un on will bo drawn without fail on the date fixed. Persons holding books of tickets are i«-quested to ieturn them in due time— whether in the sb.ipe of blocks of tickets sold, or in the less satisfactoiy lorra of tickets left on then hands.

lliE Dominican Nuns have leccived blocks of tickets and arrraittance from Mrs. Scanlon, Milton. We may add that several additional and ixtremely handsome pnzes have been added to the list of the art-union. The pnze litf is now quite an exceptionally line one, and should in itself prove, a euilicien*; attraction. But when besides this, the object for whi<£i tho irt-union is intended is taken into consideration, as wtll as tTio &enice& already rendered to religion and education by the nun-^whoee spume- oC usefulness it is intended to promote, no luithcr incentive to a generous aid in the undertaking should ba nec^suy. WS^ubiuit these considerations to those who are interested m tLo welfar- cr religion and education among us,

with the hope that they will kindly exert themselves to secure the success of the art-union in question.

We conclude in our present issue the interesting and rather strange story we have borrowed from the Pall Mall Budget, We have published this story , not only because of the able manner in which it is written, but also as dealing with the superstitions and pretences put forward by the new sect of the Theosophists-although in rather an exaggerated manner, as necessitated by the requirements of fiction. Some passages referring more or less profanely to Christianity o Holy Scripture we excised. — As to the scientific pretences made, we hold them in complete derision, and take it as a certain proof of their nullity that they relate to countries where scientific advancement is in general very backward, and where no fruits are to be traced of such powers as thote claimed. The story, therefore, is to be taken for what it is worth,— a sensational and well written tale based on a BuperstitionB uperstition that has made its way in among some of the circles that to-day pretend to a superior enlightenment, and which is useful so far as it makes us acquainted with the vain pretences that those who reject the Christian faith occasionally fall back upon. If, meantime, the shooting of an albatross justly entailed the sufferings recorded in Coleridge's " Ancient Mariner." General Heatherstone's savage ferocity towards the hill men well deserved for him his doom.