CHRISTCHURCH.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume XVII, Issue 12, 12 July 1889, Page 25

CHRISTCHURCH.

(Prom our own Correspondent.) The old adage that fools and their money are easily parted has just received an apt illustration in Dunedin and Christchurch. About a fortnight ago an advertisement appeared in a Christchurch paper stating that anyone who would send down a twopenny stamp to the address of H. E. Stirling, Mutual Providence Buildings, would receive information as to the manner in which they could earn large sums of money. Iv response to this invitation a number of Chrißtchurch persons sent the twopenny stamp demanded, and received back some further particulars in the shape of a circular, stating the manner in which, they could make their little fortune. The circular in substance stated that if the sum of eight shillings were forwarded to to H. B. Stirling, material would be tent to the remitter ty which he would be enabled to earn from two to five pounds a week. One of the recipients hesitated to part with his eight shillings and called on the editor of the Evening Telegraph, and it is needless to say that no one of journalistic experience would advise anyone to be so confiding as to part witb money on such a prospect. The circular was copied into the paper named and persons cautioned to not forward any money. The matter c f course came under the notice of the police and a well-known Dunedin Pressman had been intrusted to enquire into Stirling's bona fides. His rooms were called at, and he could not be drawn. However, things became too warm for this benefactor of the working men of New Zealand, and on Friday last he made a hasty exit from Dunedin. He was met at Lyttelton by Detective O'Connor, who arrested him for having obtained money under false pretences, a few unsuspecting individuals from Chiistchurch having remitted the sum of eight shillings asked for. He was travelling under the name of Wais, and on him were found £59 ana a letter from a lady enquiring what sort of work he was advertising about. In his possession, also, were a number of advertisements clipped frcra papers, stating that £1 to £± a day could be earned by persons of either sex and in their own localities by working on the material which he promised to send them. The prisoner was remanded for a number ot day?, in order to give the police an opportunity to enquire into tns antecedents and concerning the number of his dupes. It was fortunate that attention was so promptly drawn to the matter in Christchurch and th.s philanthropist's career cut short, or very probably bis dishonest harvest would have been a rich one, as, with all tbeir boasted superiority, tLe people of the nineteenth century are very easily gulled. I have not yet read a copy of the Charitable Aid Bill which is at present before the House, but from criticisms which I have heard passed upon it by persons acquainted with the old Act, and the manner in which it worked, 1 believe that tue new bill is an improvement. It would be a very 111-coocerne I measure indeed if it were not, for there is but little doubt indeed that the present system is sadly in need of ammendment. Under it many and grave abuses were growing up. The poor were rapidly becoming pauperised. If the Act now in force had been especially designed for the purpose of demoralising and degrading those upon whom poverty had laid its grasp, it could not have been better framed. Tnere is just a danger, however, that in their enthusiasm to reform the'present system, the Government ni'iy adopt the sweeping method just a little too freely. To now entirely stop out-door relief, is a little to much like making the thiistytippler drop all at once the use of the beverage which has \ ecome almost essential to his existence. However, perhaps stringent measures after all are the best to make people give up bad habits, but this sudden weaning of tramps and imposters from the Charitable Aid charity, which had become as sweet as profuse, will be regarded by some of the lazy hangers on about Mr. Norris's office as a very great hardship indeed. Mr. Robert Neill, of the detective force, who recently gave up his bachelor liberty and lan his head into the matrimonial noose, was made the recipient by his comrades ot a handsome black marble cl' ck. The presentation was made by Mr. Maurice O'Connor, who, in felicitous terms congratulated the newly-made Benedict upon bis marriage, and conveyed to him the good wishes of all his brother officers in the force in Chnstchurch. The meeting was a very pleasant one. Mr. Neill i 3 exceedingly popular, his wife, nee Misa Harris, is amiable and beautiful, so if he is not happy, he ought to be, and must expect an unconscionably large shea of luck from the gods. The Rev. F. W. Isitt, of Invercargill, gave a very good lecture, indeed, upon "The Wrongs " of Ireland, on Friday evening, in the Oddfellows' Hall. The rev. lc -turer took his facts mainly from Macaulay, Froude, and C en. He gave a very graphic picture of the sufferings of p^or Erin, ier the iron rule of Cromwell, and compared the Btate in which j.relaad is to that to which mis-government

had reduced parts of Russia. There was not very much that was new, perhaps, in Mr. Isitt'a lecture, but his manner of delivering it was very good indeed. And there was no uncertain sound about the view v:bicb he takes of Irish politico He is more Irish than the Irish J#nselveß, in his condemnation of tbe injustice to which Ireland has been subjected. He his his brother's fine style of speaking, and ready command of language. The lecture was well worth hearing, and I was sorry that it waa not more largely patronised by our owa people. When a friend of Ireland publicly lectureß upon Ireland's woes, where there are Irishmen, he should not lack hearers.

Since writing my last letter I am pleased lo say several replies hate come to hand trom the country districts in response to the circular re the reception of the delegates, which was seat out by the secretary, Mr O'Connor, a week or two ago. South Canteibury district? appear inclined to endeavour to get Mr. Dillon to visit Timaru, and to then join with the seaport town in welcoming the national representatives. From the North Canterbury districts most favourable replies have been received. The priuciple of co-operation which I advocated a couple of weeks ago Beenißtobe taken up cordially. Father ChervierandFather O'Donnell make the suggestion that a couple of gentlemen should be appointed from each district to act upon the committee as representatives. This suggestion is a sensible and practical one, and will, I hope, be taken up. Father O'Connor, of Rangiora, I believe has also taken the matter up warmly, and intends to do his best to make his parish do itß duty. Fathers Browne, Doyle, and Loughnan are similarly enthusiastic. When such unanimity exißts to make the reception a brilliant one, success is sure to result. I hope it will, and that, as one gentleman, writing upon this subject puts it, " the reception accorded to the delegates will be such as to entirely remove from Cbristchurch the reproach so long fastened upon it, viz , that of being apathetic in matters Irish and national," For the sake of our reputation as children of the old land, for which the noblest have bled and died, let us hop 1 ? so. A letter has already been pent to Mr. Winter of the Advocate, asking him to have Christchurch placed upon the delegates programme when the? visit New Zealand. The first general meeting in connection with making definite arrangements in iegard to the reception will be held on the 17th of July, at the Queen's Hotel. I think it will be very desirable that there should be a large and representative attendance at that meeting, and that now the matter has beeu fairly started it will not be allowed to flag. A good commencement will put heart into tke whole affair, and I hope that the country clergy who have given in their promises to assist will round up their forces before that date, as their rev. confreres have ever done on similar occasions in the old country, and, telling them that everything depends upon a tair start, send in the representatives of their districts to the meeting upon the seventeenth. If this be done I am quite convinced that Mr. Dillon will have no need to complain of any deficiency or coldness on the part ef Christchurch in his reception. Irishmen must not forget that they are not called upon merely to welcome Mr. Dillon, great Irishman as he is, but that he represents the whole liish cause ju9t as much as Mr. Parnell himself would do. If the member for Cork stood upon a platform in Christchurch, surely there is not an Irishman in the province, with the heart of an Irishman in him, who would not travel to the city to see him and to do him honour, for the sake of the right wb'ch he has made for the freedom of our land. Just as much are we bound to honour Mr. Dillon, and 1 hope that in the length and breadth of Canterbury there is not an Irishman who will not rise to the occasion aud endeavour to make the Irish envoy's visit to Canterbury a triumphal and a memorable one, Lei us remember that every cheer that is given to him on his way will help to wear thin Der the bonds of our country, and surely with that thought in their hearts Irishmen in Canterbury will not wisb to remain silent wheu the Irish delegate passes by. Ihe wet weather still continues. We shall soon begin to forget what sunshine aud dry pavements look like at all. At present it is pouring as if all the floodgates of heaven were opened. Messrs. Lonargau'd new shop is progressing slowly. It is being built upon a most massive scale. Its walls aie strong enough for a gaol, and should bo able to defy a double barrelle I earthquake. Tenders have Leen accepted f<>r the internal fixtures of the shop. These will cost ovei a thousand pounds, so •• Hobday's Corner," when the building is finished, bh'iuld be, internally and externally, an ornament to the city. Mr. Tom Lonargan leaves London at the end of this month upon his return journey. Father Cummings is still a°vay in South Canterbury. Ihereaie meny inquiries as to the date of his leturn. Dr. Wa,tteis left by the Maruoa on Friday. Father Aubrey has been p-esid ing at the meetiDgs of the Apostleship of Prayer during Father Cummings absence.