NOTICE.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume XVII, Issue 8, 14 June 1889, Page 6

NOTICE.

All communications connected with the Commercial Department of the N.Z. Tablet Newspaper are to be addressed to John Murray, Secretary, to whom also Po.st Ofice Orders and Cheques are in all instmas to he made payable. To insure publication in any particular issue of the paper communications must reach this office not later than Tuesday morning.

Tbe Rev. Father Chastagnon is, I believe, making a good recovery from bis recent buggy accident. It will be some time, however, bef >re the rev. gentleman will be quite "fit" again, as a fracture of the collar bone is a rather nasty one. During his indisposition, it may be some consolation to him to know that the deeppsr sympathy of bis friends are with him, and that the news of the accident has caused very general regret.

The Payue family made their bow to the Chmtchurch public in tbe Oddfellows Hal], Lich field street, on Thursday night. They have taken our city by storm. Before twenty minutes to eight on the opening night the doors had to be closed. Every available inch of space in tbe hall whs occupied. Many pers< n<» were accommodated wiih seats in the wings. The second night there was almost as great a rush, so, as the business .s so good, there are to be two extra nights. I cannot rm self see where the reason for tbe great enthusiasm displayed comes in. The eldest daughter is certainly a most charming girl, and sings with delightful expression and abandon. Her voice is very clear and sweet, and is truly " sympathetic." To hear her Bing " The Old Folks at Home " is a treat. While she sings she makes you feel that the old home by the Swanee River is really in her mind's eye. Mr. Steele is a capital comedian, and supplements Miss Payne's pathos with very genuine humour.

At the Royal the Vivians and melodrama still hold tbe boards. Last Thursday night " East Lynne " was produced, and, as u-ual] drew a large audience of ladies, who, I am told, became becomingly lachrymose over the frail Lady Isabel's maudlin repentance. In the whole range of dramatic characters, I think there are no two which I detest more than Lady Isabel Carlyle and Mrs Haller. How women can go and cry over the woes of these two very ill-behaved dames passes my comprehension. The sentimental stuff about washing out with their tears such perverse wickedness as that of which they were guilty, seems to me to be the most sickening trash imaginable. If I were some official with power to veto plays, I should certainly draw a big black mark through the name of " East Lynne " and its alter eg* " The Stranger," and expunge them for ever from the list of actiDg plays. When the Vivians depart the opera company take their place, so, as far as amusemeuts are concerned, we are having what the Yankees term a •• very good time."

I visited the Lyttelton Orphanage the other day. The youngsters appear to have the three great wants of humanity— food, clothing, and shelter— very well supplied to them by tbe State. The master and matron seem to be kind, and to treat the little ones well. A year or bo ago there was a big fuss about the master and matron not being quite kind to the little ones. 1 think the charge was groundless. They both appear to be well suited for their positions. There are sixty -three children in the Orphanage. Their dormitariespre cold and bare. There is a pathetic look abont the little red-covered beds, over which no mother's face ever bends to kis9 the lonely little occupants good-night.

At the meeting of the LiscensiDg Bench last week, Mr. MacNamara was complimented by the chairman upon being the lessee of the City Hotel, or rather the hotel was complimented upon its new lessee.

During the past few days one of the biggest manufactuiing establishments in our province, I mean Messrs. Lightband, Allen and Co., the well-known proprietors of fellmongery and bootmaking factoiies, have put the shutters up, with tbe result that three hundred operatives have been thrown out of work. It is to be feared ihat a great deal of distress will ensue among this large number of people in consequence of their being so suddenly deprived of employment as it is very improbable that they will be readily absorbed. ' The difficulty of tbe men engaged in the bootmaking trade appears to be the master's opportunity. For some time past the best relations have not existed between the Opeiative Bootmaker's Society and the masteis. Like all Unions, this Society became somewhat dictatorial. This dictation was resented by the masters, but they were were powerless to give their resentment practical form. Now, however, with three hundred hands thrown out of work, one at least of the boot factories has determined to put the pressure upon the Society and has given notice to their employes that their services will no longer be required unless they choose to remain as uonsociety men . This is taking advantage of the misfortune of the operatives with a vengeance. A better understanding between master and men of bow inseparably the interests of capital and labour are bound up would surely avert these quarrels, which infallibly result in loss and inconvenience to both sides.

A meeting of Irishmen is to be held next week, I believe, to take into consideration the subject of inviting the Irißh delegates to Christchurch. "Vext week 1 shall be able to give fuller intelligence in reference to the matter. I may say, however, tbat several of the leading Irishmen whom I have spoken to apon the subject are in favour cf givinsr the League representatives a warm welcome to Cnristcburch. Just at present the business in connection with the collection for the Defence Fund is in hand, and several of our best men are in favour of getting that wr.und up before taking steps iv regard to the delegates coming here. I think they are right in this. It is well not to have too many things under weigh at once. Father Marnane urged the parishioners of St. Mary's, on Sunday la3t, to take sittines in the little church, as the seat rents would be of great service in helping them to carry on the parish work. Father Marnane said tbat he and Father Le Menant were doing their utmost tj collect funds for the new building. The rev. gentleman appears to have had some unpleasant expeiiences during his colJectine mißSi. n. borne people, he said, showed a disposition to give him the broomstick instead of a subscription. He does not look as it the broomstick experience had a depressing effect upon him, aud seems quite ready to encounter more of it in the cause. He concluded his sermon of tbe day, a discourse upon the divine spirit infused into the Church by the Holy Ghost, by saying that Macauley's artist might >-ketch the rums of St. Paul's, but that he would never have the opportunity of sketching the ruins of tbe Catholic Church St Mary's was crowded on Sunday morning, though the day was very

At the Pro-Cathedral on Sunday there was Pontifical High Slaw io honour of the Feast of Pentecost. His Lordship the Bishop w<t» celebrant. Father Cummin?a assistant priest, Fathers Aubrv and Halbwachs, deacon and sub-deacoD, Fathers Le Menant and Goutenoire, deacon and sub-deacon at tbe throne, and Brother Joseph and Mr. MacAuliffe, masters of ceremonies. Hi 9 Lordship preached an appropriate sermon on the Festival of tbe day. At tbe conclusion of the Mass, Father Cummings announced that in the evening the Bishop would continue his course of sermons upon the Church. At the half- past nine o'clock Mass Father Camming! raid that at a well attended meeting of the church committee on the preceding Monday ever.ing it w^s resolved that as the present mode of paying off tbe parochial debt had prored so satisfactory tbat tae monthly collections would.be continued. He hoped to be shortly able to acquaint the people with the result of the labours of tbe committee.

At the early Mass on Sunday morning about thirty members of the Literary Society received Holy Communion. During the past week special devotions in honour of the Sacred Heart have been held in the Pro-Cathedral. Ihe instruction after tbe devotions were given by Father Oummings. Friday being the first Friday of June, the usual meeting of the Apostleship of Prayer wasjheld. Several new members were enrolled, and the intentions for tbe month were read out. Father Camming! explained what " Consecration to the Sacred Heart " really meant. He urged upon the members to spend the month in a manner worthy of the Bacred Heart to which it was dedicated, and asked parents to consecrate their little children to the loving Heart of our Saviour. The meeting closed with Benediction of the Blessed Sacrament. Hi« Lordship the Bishop was present. On Sunday evening there was Pontifical Vespers, after which his Lordship preached.

On Sunday Father Cummings made an appeal on behalf of the St. Vincent De Paul Society, and thanked the donor of a large parcel of clothes which bad been distributed to tbe needy. He hopdd others would follow this example.