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New Zealand Tablet, Volume XVII, Issue 24, 4 October 1889, Page 18

It is arranged that the Most. Rev. Dr. Moran, accompanied by the priests whom hia Lordehip brings with him from Ireland, shall arrive in Dunedin by the train from Invercargill on Tuesday evening the Bth inßt. The Bishop on his arrival will be conducted to St. Joseph's cathedral, where the ceremonies proper to the occasion will be performed, and addresses of welcome will be presented. On Sunday the 13th inst., the Feast of the Maternity of the Blessed Virgin, a picture of our Lady of i'erpeiual Succour, recently received from Rome, and placed iv the cathedral, will be unveiled by the Bishop. Pontifical tiigh M-iss will b 3 celebrated on tbe occasion, beginning at II a.m.

The Victorian Convention of the National League, held in the Hibernian Hall, Melbourne, on Sept. 17, was a marked success, Xbe

number of delegates present, although the colony of Victoria only was represented, was 400 or nearly twice as many as were present at the convention held on a former occasion. Mr. Michael Mac Donald, the president of the League, occupied the chair. The principal speaker was Mr. Dillon, whose speech we publish in another place, but able speeches were also made by several other gentlemen, in prop )sing or seconding motions for the support and advocacy of the Home Rule cause, and the spreading of information concerning it in the colony. Among the resolutions was also one expressing gratitude for the services rendered to the cause by the Catholic prelates and clergy of the colony, and also by those ministers of other denominations, who had identified themselves with it. Tha proposer referred especially to the attitude towards Mr. Dillon and his colleagues of Archbishop Carr and his clergy, as returning a ■efficient answer to vile charges by which the Press of Victoria had stigmatised those gentlemen. The resolution was responded to on behalf of the secular clergy by I the Rev. J. L. Hegarty, and on behalf of the regular clergy by the Very Be*. Prior Butler, the Rev. W. Ourrie and the Rev. J. W. M'Cutcheon returning thanks on the part of those of other denominations. The convention terminated with a vote of thanks to the chairman, whose services as President of the League were warmly acknoV^ ledged. A banquet afterwards took place, which, in its particular way, proved equally successful.

At a meeting called by the Kaights of Labour, and held in Cathedral Square, Cbristchurch, on Saturday evening, resolutions of sympathy with the London strikers in their victory of labour over capital were passed. A resolution was also passed to the effect that it was desirable to form in Cbristchurch a federated union, for the purpose of securing to labour a fairer share of the wealth it creates. For our part, oui sympathies are thoroughly with the working* men, and we rejoice to see among them a disposition to unite in the protection and advocacy of their own interests. The sympathy, moreover, shown with their brethren across the seaa is a most whole* some sign of the times, and is particularly cheering, as giving the death-blow to that detestable, but oft-repeated, claim that this distant new world of ours was shut out from all sympathy with the old, and was devoted, with a leudable selfishness, to the pursuit of its own interests only. Under the influence of such a doctrine, the Australasian must have become so narrow-minded, so conceited, and so stunted in all the nobler aims and emotions of the race, as to have occupied in bis chosen isolation a place beneath the level of humanity. The doctrine in question has always seemed to us worthy only of having originated in the bad old convict days among, tome creatures hardened by the brutal employments of the times. It is well that the outburst of generosity now called forth, and by which Australasians have show a that Buch a doctrine had never been genuinely adopted by them, has put an end for ever to all pretence of its adoption.

From particulars of the c ise reported here by cable, in which a pistol was pointed at Mr. Dillon in the streets at Melbourne, we learn that Walshe, the man who made the attack, bad previously on several occasiocs threatened to take Mr. Dillou's life. It appears that some years ago he allowed his catile to be sold for non-payment of rent, and then claimed £2000 as compensation from the League. The application was dismissed, but Mr. Dillon gave the man £100. Walshe subsequently came to Australia, and since Mr. Dillon's ariival in the colonies has more than once threatened him. Mr. Dillon 6tdted in court that he believed the man to be a monomaniac believing he had a grievance, and from whom his life waa in dauger. Walshe was consequently bound over to keep the peace for two months.

A very interesting exhibition of hmalight views was given in St. Joaeph'B schoolroom, Dunedin, on Wednesday evening by Mr. G. H. Marsden, assisted by Mr. Scott, Mr, F. W. Petre filling the part of lecturer with ability. The young ladies of the Dominican convent schools gave some charming performances during the evening on the violin and pianoforte, and some vocal selections were sung. Chief among them were " Ora pro nobis," sung in a particularly sweet and finished manner by Mies Christie ; " Kate O'Shane," in which Mrs. Angus delighted the audience, and " Terence's Farewell," given with his accustomed taste and expression by Mr. Umbers. Among the pictures shown, a portrait of the Bishop, introduced by Mr. Petre as the chairman of the evening, gained tbe loudest applause. On the whole, a most enjoyable evening was spent.

WHAr is the reason that in relation to that most vexatious of all taxes, the property tax, people are required to act of their own accord, and furnish details without being reminded, as in all other cases, by due notice ? It is bad enough to have to rack your brains in an attempt to value all your belongings, even to the mild domestic cat ani your ultimate pocket handkerchief, ao as, on the pledge of your sokmn declaration, to return an honest answer to the extremely in* qoieitorial inquiry made. If, besides Uub, you have your nervef upset

sod your temper rafted by the information that yon are liable to penalties for neglect, the case becomes much worse. Surely the department should not expect a man to act spontaneously and to anticipate their inquiries about a great deal that they should have no business to know, for the law pokes its nose into holes and corners where its intrusion is wholly unjustifiable. We would venture to suggest, then, that forms of inquiry be sent out in the manner of serving notice usual in collecting taxes. There can be no reason why people, if duly reminded, should not scad in the returns in time, but "fco expect them— even those not liable to pay the tax— to have property tax on the bran, and to keep an eye of terror constantly on the department, is to expect too much. To be threatened with or subjected to penalties for forgetting what no one can reasonably be expected to remember, reversing an old saying to suit the occasion, is to have inßult added to injury.

Coercion still remains true to itself and does due honour to its chiefs, Lord Salisbury and Mr. Balfour. The latest report is that a boy has been shot at a sale on a farm in Tipperary. A verdict of wilful murder has been returned against a police inspector and one of his men. But that, of course, is only a pleasantry on the part of the coroner's jury. The Government will not permit their faithful officers to come to grief in the matter. And what is a boy more or less among the ranks of the Irish people ? Are there not plenty of boys to be spared from that over-abundant population ?

The Rev. Mr. Barfield, Liberal-Unionist lecturer, suddenly disappears. The Unionist party easily nods the solution of the mystery and Primrose dames especially are confirmed in their horror of everything Irish. Of course the lecturer has been enticed to Ireland and murdered there, in order to pat an end to his powerful opposition in the regular liish manner. The rev. lecturer was, however, bent on something more romantic, and the solution of the mystery is the more difficult one to Unionists that he has re-appeared in Canada accompanied by a young lady. What will be the degree of scandal with which Primrose dames will replace their horror ? If fashionable DCwßpapers represent the manners of Belgravia aright it may not after all be very excessive. — But such is the nature of a good many anti -Irish rumours.

Mb. Gladstone still allows himself no rest, ani gives little hope to his adversaries, that the chills of old age are Bpelily cjming to their kid — that ideation worthy of coetcioniats. He is still sp ;aking away with fire and energy. Two speecnes nude by him have been reported during the course of the week, in one of which he denounced a withdrawal of the Tories from their promise to forward and endow a Catholic UnivernMy in Dublin, as the shabbiest of all their shabby proceedings. We are asye" ignorant of the facts of the case, bnt we shall certainly find that its details bear Mr. Gladstone's denunciation fully out. In another speech Mr. Gladstone his again derided the coercive measures of the Governme it, as only resulting in the continuance and confirmation of the agitation for Homo Rule. The mind of the Grand Old Man continues youthful and vigorous, and we are happy to ccc that his bodily strength still enables him to biing it into servicable bearing. Luug may this remain the case.

Wk have received from Greyraouth fjr tranamiason to Dublin, the sum of £19 3s, concerning which particulars will be founl in our correspondence column. Thh remittance briaga the amount subscribed in the district, in aid of the Farnell Defence Fund, up to the handsome figure of £105 33.

It is announced that Captain Russell. M.H.R, for Hawke's Bay, joinß the Ministry. As Captain Russell is sound on tbe Education question his appointment is to be regarded with satisfaction, more especially if he takes the portfolio of Education as reported. He is, however, a member of the colonial Tory party, which in some degree modifies our feelings with respect to nis accession to office.