GOOD WORK.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume XIX, Issue 1, 3 October 1890, Page 20

GOOD WORK.

Ok last Sunday in Geraldine tbe Bey. Father Treacy announced to his congregation that the debt on the church had now been completely paid off, and that they were absolutely free from debt. The debt on t/ue church, including interest, was £440 when Father Treacy took charge of the parish just 18 months ago, and in that short space of time be has collected, according to his own statement, £445. This ha 3 been collected principally by the rev, gentleman himsulf from amongst bis own congregation by means of a house-to-house canvass. Very little has beea contributed by anyone living out of the Geraldine parish. Father Treacy has received a few pounds in voluntary donations from Catholics outside bis own congregation, and also from Protestants, but he never asked a subscription from anyone other than his own parit-hiunnrs. To raise such a large cum in a poor parkh like Geraldine without extraneous aid, and in such a Bhort space of time, must be characterised as woik worthy of note. It indicates that the pritßt is very energetic and the people very generous. The result is extremely ere H able to both. One cannot help wishing, after having done so well, that both the priest and the people should be able to enjoy immunity from further effort, for a time, at least, but Father Treacy is uot a man to sit down idle. He has a splendid dwelling-house, it is among the best in Canterbury, but his church is altogether too small for the congregation, and it is, we believe, his intention to add to it at no distant date. There cannot be any question about the necessity of this work, us the church is so small that there is absolutely not sufficient room in it for the congregation, and this, of course, must be remedied. Tbe rev. gentleman therefore intends enlarging the church, and this will cost about £300. We daresay he will find no great difficulty in doing it, judging by what he has done in the past, and we trust that persons outside his own congregation will show their appreciation of his efforts by lending him a helping band in the work of enlarging bis church.

o (Geraldine Guardian, September 18.)

Messrs. Brown, Ewing and Co. call particular attention to their light weight tweeds and cheviots, as particularly suited to ladies' summer wear. Before providing themselves for the season, ladies should see the goods shown by tbe firm in question. The first t-how of spring and summar novelties is now taking place at the establishment of Messrs. A. and T. Inglis, George street, Dunedin. In order to obtain room for improvements being made in their premises, the firm are now selling off at great reductions. Messrs. Donald Beid and Co , Danedin, offer extremely liberal terms to all who are interested in tbe disposal of farm or station produce. Arrangements most convenient to producers are generally made by the firm. Messrs. Reid and Gray's agricultural machines and implement* continue to give tbe utmost satisfaction to all who make use of them. Particulars, deserving the close attention of all who are engaged in agricultural pursuits will be found in another column. Is hypnotism a desir ible and justifiable remedy for disease ? Such is the question which has been discussed at tbe Birmingham meeting of the British Medical Association, and the opinion of some of the ablest and most experienced medical men present was that the practice of hypnotising patients iB one attended with such risks that it should be jealously restricted. Dr. Norman Eerr, a gentleman of no mean authority, stated that there were many wrecked lives through hypnotism, that in tbe lethargic and cataleptic states criminal assaults bad been committed by medical men, who bad been convicted and punished, and that in the somnambulistic state subjects had been compelled by the operator's behests to commit crime. Dr. J. Luys, of the Charity Hospital, Paris, gives testimony to tbe same effect in an article in the current issue of the Nineteenth Century. So serious are tbe evils of hypnotism considered in France that French surgeons have been prohibited from practising it in the army and navy. We think the time has come when the British Parliament should put a stop to public hypnotic exhibitions,