CHRISTCHURCH.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume XVII, Issue 5, 24 May 1889, Page 5

CHRISTCHURCH.

(From our owu Correspondent.)

Wjs have been having a spell of real cold weather here lately. The mornings especially have been particularly Icelandic. Last week the city had a decidedly wintry appearance, rain and sleet fell in alternate showers, and when rain and sleet take turn and turn about for a day or two in Christchurch everything assumes a very dismal look indeed. The trees, which in summer add so much to the beauty of Christchuich, in winter increase its sjmbrecess. Their branches and sodden dead leaves ars not things of beauty. On these wet days, when public parks and private lawns are soaked with the lain, and dampness prevails eveiywhere, Christchurch lawn tennis players aie in despair. In this city this " favourite pastime " is quite the rage. Nobody who is anybory, especially no young man who hopes to be considered " in society," would dare to be without a tennis suit, a set of balls and a racket. It is very funny sometimes to see enthusiasts setting off with a "w.; are the people " kind of air for sjme favouiite tennis grouu t. In every tram ann in knots abjut the by-roals parties are to be met with, e.irrying ih>3 implements of tennis warfare. Ido not know why it is that tennis players gird themselves much moic airs toan cricketers or any other order of athletes ; possibly it is that th* charge bo often made against lawn tennis for gentlemen, that it is effeminate, has sometr ing in it. It is quite certain that the tennis racket is not as mmly a weapon a3 the bat. I see by the cablegrams that Cronin, who was supposed to hare fallen a victim to Irish blooiihirstine-s, has turned up again as fresh as paint. He is not lying stiff an 1 ataik with a Land Leaguer's bullet in him, after all. A newspaper headed tiie cablep;rAm announcing Cionin's disappearance, "Irish Vengeance," I think "Journalistic Mendacity" would bave been an appr>priite cross line over the intelligence regarding his return. But then newspapers nowadays have not sufficient conscience, I am afraid, to ever admit that they were in the wrong. The cablegram stating that Le Caroa's friend was still in the flesh, was not singled out for especial distinction, like the other one. It was modestly hidden away among the other items and simply headed, "Dr. v.ronin." In this way, by colouring messages, it direct lies are uot told, Sir Geoig 1 Grey's tactics ure adopted and " impressions are created,' which it is eomitimes difficult to remove. Laet week a letter was published in the daily papers thanking his Worship the Mayor for the stand which he took in not presiding at the Parncll meeting and thereby saving the l.ooour of the city from being compromised in the eyes of Europe and of the world genenlly. The letter is dated nearly two montns back. Where can it have lain all the time since it was wntten ? Not in the Mayor's office surely. The little man would have sent s 'eh a glorious document aloog for publication ages ago if it cad been in his possfSsion. The writer, or writers', after penning it did not keep it stowed away all this time without forwarding it to the hero whose courage it was to commemorate. The obvious conclusion is that it must have boen sent home lo receive Her Majesty's signature and perhaps that of Mr. Balfour. I have not the slightest doubt but that the names of the august lady whose realm the Mayor saved from destruction and that of him of the alliterative U's were among the five hundred oamea which are said to huvt: been attached to this valuable memento of an historic event. These rive hundred persons must have hid some reason for withholding their names from publication. The

document has a very bobtiiled appearance without a tingle si K n*ture attached to it. I feel assured that the reason for this is that Victoria B s name is among the fi*c hundred, and the other four hundred and ninety-nine were too modest to let the world see in what illustrious company they had signed. Well, modesty is all very well, but I should have liked to fee the names of these five hundred people, all the same. They onght to have backed up their opinions by letting us know who they were—that is, if they had any existence, which I do not believe they had. My own opinion is that the valiant littl Jew has been practising a little sum in multiplication in regard to signatures, aDd that when his sum was set the lower line of figures was about a hundred times greater in value than the upper'one. Never mind, little Louisson's reward will come yet. When Her Majesty's next jubilee year comes round, as sure as you are thsre, the heroic gent who snuffed Home Rule out of existence, will be knighted. I beheve the letter is to be framed and hung in the Mayoral office, as an encouragement to all future Mayors of Christchurch to flinch not at their duty, but to sterniy set their faces against powder ke«s and shot guns. In one of the local papers an account of a yery interesting interview with Mr John Gale, the late Governor of Peotridge, was published the other day. Mr. Gale takes a very pessimistic view of the utility of gaols as reformatories for prisoners He emphatically states that during his 38 years experience of prisoners and prison life henev^r knew a reformed prisoner. This statement should make official gaol chaplains feel a little down-hearted. Mr. Gale, in response to some questions as to the effect which mixing criminal children with others in Industrial Schools in this Colony would produce, gave it as his opinion that such institutions were state nurseries of crime. "As well," said he, " mix thistles with corn as mix children in the manner in which they ire mixed in your Colony." He further stated that from his experience in Pentridge, children educated in reformatories were the worst criminals now in that penal establishment. I certainly never thought very highly of the moral tone of Industrial Schools in general, and of our own Industrial Schools in particular, and after Mr. Gale's emphatic utterances, I think less of them than ever. Mr. Gale also thinks that the excessive tenderness with which children are treated in thos State schools in this Colony is likely to prodace very bad results. He is a firm believer in the old motto, " spare the rod and spoil the child." He regards the larrikins in Australia as worse than the old prisoners. A vigorous application of the birch to youthlul criminals, and to make gaol lif i hard for those of maturcr years, Mr. Gale holds to be the only possible means of reform. Of late in Christchurch the question of how to deal with defaulting husbands in order to make them support Their families instead of spending their time in gaol has come prominently before the public. Mako their punishment 6hort and sharp, and create in them a distaste for gaol, is the panacea prescribed by Mr. Gale. In the article there was much that was interesting and instructive, both to politicians and thoso interested in sociological questiona. Mr. T. Lonargan took his departure by 'Frisco for Home on Friday last. Several gentlemen went to port to give him a friendly shove off. There is no more popu.ar man in the Catholic congregation than &Jr. T. Lonargan. His geniality and his courteousnesa have made him a favourite every where. His friends in Christchuich, and they are many, will look anxiously for his return, which will be about the middle of October. All the formalities in connection with the lease of the new premises, in wr ich Messrs. Lonargan will carry on business shortly, aie completed. The matter is finally settled now that the Lonargans are to be the lucky leaseholders. There was pretty close competition for the corner, but I am glai to say our esteemed compatriots and co-religionists have beaten all comLrs. St. Mary s parish seems to be getting on very well. Father Le Mcnant and Father Marnane have made many improvements since I was tnere last. The little ch-pel looks very neat and pretty. J am beginning to thiuk much better of this site than 1 did formerly. The locality is undoubtedly gojd, which the south-east one, in which the Barb idoes street church, is situated is not. The grounds, too, are capable of being made very fine. Father Marnane is very sanguine about the future of St. Mary's. He is quite convinced that it w"ll bo the chief city parish one day, and tha v it is there that the grand cathedral of the future will stand. I Bhould not be surpnsed if he is right. The Baibadoes street site is a holr. It ought never 10 have Weea chosen for a church ;it has nothing to recommend it. Tho average attendance at St. Mary's is about two hundred at thi; Sunday services. Father Marnane says there are two thousand in the parish, but that, of course ; includes Papanui, St. Albans, and other places. Already a start has been made for i he erection of the new church. A regular canvass has not been yet made, but Father Lc Menant has got about fou- hundred pounds in money and promises towauls the fund. Tne church will cost about two thousand pounds. It is to ha substantially built, so that in the dim future when a magnificent cathedral has bten raised upon the green lawns ot S.. Mary's, this church will be capable of being turned into a scnool. By the way, the bouniariesof the parish have been accurately defined now, so if th-i St. Mary's paneboLuis are found etlll going down to Barbadoes street, they nee I not bo surprised to rind Father Marnane putting in au appearance there &ouip Sunday in search of his stray shiep. On, Hit that Mrs. Harper and Mrs. Loughoan arc collect mg funds wherewith to purchase for Father La Meuant a better means of locomotiou about his paiish than the steed known as Shank's pon>. I went over the Cbristchurch llobpital the other day. The grounds are beautiful — the smooth lawns, the winding river, the trees, and the flowers make up a picture which is absolutely lovely. Tne patients are well fed, well nursed, and well doctored. Lady visitors seem to be a peifeet pest to the institution. They march in and out whenevu' they phase with peifect impunity, and Beem to forget that there is such a thing as a bye-law regulaiiiiy the visiting daj s and hours. Father Aubrey haa been giving the instructions during the week, and has been winniug golden opinions ror bis lucidity and fluency as ft s\ cikcr. Two Sisters of the Third Ordei of Maiy ai lived from the West Coast on Thursday, and l;fl next day for Wellington, where they

intend collecting funds with which to rebuild the church of the Maori mission at Jerusalem, near Wanganui. The church, it will be Temembered, was destroyed some time ago by an incendiary. This destruction was a hcaw loss to the mission. It is to be hoped that the Sisters will meet with all the success which so good an undertaking deserves. Mr. A. J. White, bis wife and daughter, left by the Rimutaka on a vint to the Home country. Mr. White is a very prominent figure in Catholic society, and his absence will create a conspicuous vacancy. At eleven o'clock Mass on Sundiy. Father Cummings preached a very eloquent sermon upon the vnlut> of th« human soul, and the recklessness with which people dr-stroy in it the image of God. The coldest Catholic would shrink aghnstwiih horror it a crucifix "vere placed before him and he were told to beat in.o a shapeless ma9^ the figuie upon it, yet nothing was thought by many persons of defacing in the soul the Divine imape divinely implanted there. Graphically he sketchel the three types of Catholics, tbe nominal Catholic, tbe careless Catholic, and the bad Catholic. I always thought myself that the latter generic term included tbe other two, on the principle that tbe greater includes the lesp ; but Father Cummings very conclusively pointed out that there is a distinct difference. Ido not think that I ever heard Father Cummings speak better. There is no doubt that when he likes he can give a good sermon. His language is always elegant and eloquent. At the Literary Society oq Tuesday night, Mr. Norton Taylor gave a very interesting and instructive lecture upon the Chinese. Mr. Taylor is an ex-navai officer, and 9pent some time among the Chinese. He was, therefore, in a position to speak upon tbe subject. His lecture was listened to with great attention, and a hearty vote of thanks was accorded to him. Mr. Taylor is a valuable acquisition to tbe Society. Father Marnace tells me that when he is officially appointed chaplain to the Society h« will do his best to cause the members to promote their literaiy studies. 1 was somewhat pleased to find that the rev. gentleman is not a believer in the excellence of philosophy as a study for young men. 1 agree with him that there are safer subjects.