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New Zealand Tablet, Volume XIX, Issue 34, 29 May 1891, Page 18

We understand that a grand concert which has been for some time contemplated aad in which a number of our principal musicians will take part, is to be given in Dunedin at an early date, in aid of the building fund of the Dominican Convent.

ON Sunday, the Feast of the Most Holy Trinity, Pontifical High Mass was celebrated in St. Joseph's Cathedral by the Bishop Bt 11 a.m. The Bey Father O'Neil acted as deacon, the Rev Father Murphy as sub-deacon, *nd the Rev Father Lynch, Adm., as master of ceremonies. His Lordship presched on the gospel of the day. The choir of the church under the conductoiship of Signor Squarise and with Miss D. Horan at the organ sang in capital s yltt the " Kyrie " and " Gloria " from Mozart No. 1,, and the " Credo " "Sanctus" and "Agnus Dei" from Gounod. At the offertory the ''Genitori Genitoque," airanged as a duet for soprano and baritone, was beautifully sung by Mrs Murphy and Mr Knoi. The effects of Bignor SquMiH'i training we already very perceptibly, and etrecully

in the Messe SoUnnelle, where bo much depends on the proper inter* pretation of the composer's ideas, the appreciative spirit of the trne artist is very apparent. The conductor has evidently thrown into bis training the deep feeling and genuine expression that characterise bis performance on the violin — his particular instrument. I* was announced that on to-morrow (Thursday), the Feast of Carpus Christi, exposition of the Blessed Sacrament would take place from the termination of the 11 a.m. Mass until after Vespers at 7 p.m.) when a procession would be held in the church. ,

The nnusual spectacle of a Tory Protestant delivering the speech of a Catholic Archbishop to a Protestant Synod (says the Nation of April 18) was presented l<*st week in Dublin by Judge Warren, who thought he could not do better than read one of Archbishop Walsh's unanswerable arguments for Denominational Education to the Dublin Synod in support of a motion in favour of the principle. The resolution in its original form referred to Archbinhop Walßh's proposals as representing the Bcope of their own ; but that was too much for one venerable canon, who did not like this commendatory talk about other Christians. The resolution was ultimately adopted in an amended form, however ; and the proceedings go to prove that on the question of Education Irish Protestants and Catholics are at one. They ar.j both in favour of liDerty for tbe religious teacher in the unmixed schools. Their united demand cannot long be resisted. Such resistance would be too insolent even for the Castle of Dublin.

Another granddaughter of her Majesty the Queen has also announced her intention to foreake Lutheranism and join the Greek Church. The lady in question is the Duchess of Sparta, daughter of the Empress Frederick of Germany. Whatever may be theattitnde of the Queen in this case, the Emperor William is said to be furious*

Truth, in referring to a floral /eft; recently held in Dublin, Bpeaks as follows :— " The show of orchids and flowers grown in the South of Ireland, especially in Limerick, was remarkable, as were the variety and beauty of the daffodils from all parts of the country. Flower iarming is, no doubt, an industry which haß a great future in Ireland* many parts of the country being just as well suited for growing flowers as the Scilly Isles."

Mr. Michael Davitt (says the Nation) was proposed by the majority of the Irish Parliamentary Party as a fit and proper person to represent Ireland on the Labour Commission. At first the Tories intimated their willingness, but for 83me reason, not so far revealed, their feeling has changed, and they have declined to nominate him. One explanation is tb.it ha istco extreme ; but it was declared at the beginning tbat the Commission was to be representative of all parties and sections of opinion ; and tbe leader of the dockers, Mr Tom Mann, is to be a representative of the English labourers. The Irish Party are determined to know the reason why. They will initiate a debate upDn the matter, and, if the true reason is laid bare, we venture to prophesy that it will be fcund that the Tories have refused to give Mr Davitt an opportunity of serving the cause for which he has already done so much, and thereby adding to the prestige of an opponent of that distinguished ally of the Tories— Mr Parnell. Tbe Tories have vetoed Mr Davitt because Mr Paroell objects.

Such a hotch-potch of mutually destructive principles as the Parnelhte policy on the Land Question has become ! (says the Nation) First, Mr. Parnell is in favour of Mr. Balfour's Land Purchase Bills j that is, of tee principle that the peasants shall pay for the land and become owners of it. Next, he is in favour of Lsnd Nationalisation 1 after Land Purchase ; tbat is, the purchasing tenants, not the expropriated landlords, are to be fleeced. Next, he declares himself in favour of remitting the taxes on arable land, and all the taxes are to be confined to grazing land. Finally— this was one of his off era at the Sligo Election— 2so,ooo small tenants in the West are to get their land free of all rent and taxes, and the rest of the country is to pay the landlords for releasing them. That is, Mr. Parnell, having accomplished the Nationalisation of the land by means of the tenants' money, will then hand over a million or more acres to a section of the people for nothing. Is there any other class to be had by tbe bribe of an impossible promise ?

The celebration of the Queen's Birth-day on Monday was carried on under the most favourable circumstances in and around Dunedin* Nothing could surpass the fineness of the weather — with a clear blu* sky and brilliant sunshine. The chief event of the day was the sham fight in which our volunteers were engaged in either attempting to make a hostile descent on the city from an imaginary cruiser off the mouth of the Kaikorai stream— or repelling the enemy. The foe made a good fight for it, and it was only with some difficulty he was finally repulsed. But, by the way, would it not exercise ua more generally in the art of war if some time or another tbe foe was allowed to overcome the gallant defenders and reach the city. A Bhow might be given to the citizens to prove their mettle when the sacking of their houses was commenced. Race* ajiw (99k. place

on the For bury course, and private picnica and excursions helped to make up tbe sum of the day's amusements.

Fanaticism in China appears especially active just now. It is further reported that the Catholic mission at Nankin has been pillaged.

It looks as if the reproach frequently levelled at England of thrashing only smaller foes bad told home. Something of the kind, at least, seems necessary to account for the rein given to Portngal. A fight between the Portuguese and the Chartered Company's expedition is now reported from Mashonaland, in which several fatalities occurred. There is some doubt, however, as to tee parly who commenced the attack.

The following cablegram plainly proves the animus of the cable agency :— " His Holiness the Pcpe has instructed the Roman Catholic priests in Corfu not to assist in tbe persecution which is being carried on in the islands against Jews." As if any such instructions could have been necessary. The Pope, as a matter of course, exhorted tbe priests to spare no exertion for the protection of tbe Jews — and that more to show his own good will than from any necessity for such a proceeding.

Mb PAbnell has been speaking in Belfast to a highly appreciative audience, to whom he explained that Lord Salisbury's Home Rule scheme was preferable to Mr Gladstone's. The following paragraph, published by the Nation on April 11, seems in course of being fully justified :: — •' The alliance with the Tories is coming to be openly avowed. In the PLcenix Park on Sunday Mr Parnell went out of bis way to pay a compliment to the party that holds Mr William O'Brien and Mr John Dillon in prison, the party that slew John Manaeville and Peter Larkin, the party that leaves the blocd of Shinnick, Casey, Lonergan, Kinsella, Hanlon, and Abern unavenged. The condoners of murder of innocent Irishmen are described as having for their function the releasing of the victims of Liberal vindicUvene&s, as tempering with their sunshine the hailstorm of Liberal tyranny. Thus is the pact with the jailers of Mr William O'Brien shamelessly avowed by the man who bestowed such fulsome adulation on that brave Irishman while he was free. The blood of patriotic Irishmen is oq the hands of the present Government. It does not prevent Mr Parnell clasping it."

The Hon. B. J. Seddon arrived in Dunedin on Monday afternoon — and wasaccorded a glowing reception by our National Liberals. The Minister in reply pledged himselfjto do bis best for their association. Are we, then, for example, to conJole with our mining friends over the ios* ct their clums — nationalisation being in the ascendant? 'ihe t-econdary scholar, of course, bids fair to go hand in hand with Sir George Uiey's singie voter — not to speak of our Grand Old Man's übiquitous lawyer — for whom he must prepare the way. Mr. Seddon'a po iteness to tne Indies who metLim necessarily pledges him to support the female elector.

Madame Sarah Beunhabdt, who arrived in Auckland, en, route for Sydi ey. on Tuesday evening, seems to bave acted in a characteristically cut i .us manner. Part of her time on shore, at least, she spent in the shouting gallery — where she gave proofs of expert markmanship. It is to be feared we shall not have a visit in Dunedin from the lady, as her intention is announced to return to San Francisco via Auckland, af'er a short stay in the principal Australian cities — and in them alone. But if her object be, as assumed, that principally of seeing the colonies, she will leave it but imperfectly fulfilled if she misies New Zealand.

General Booth, we are told, has been revealed to the public as a speculator who bas lost £2.000 by the bankruptcy of a stockbroker. The complete disinterestedness of the General had, however, already been called in question. Truth, for example, published tbe following paragraph on April 9th:— "A Nice paper informs its readers that ' La Mau'chale Booth ' being ill, the General, her father, bas rented for her accommodation ' the villa Br. Frarrjjis, situated on the Rome d'Antibes, amongst the fashionable residences facing full south, in a picturpfque quarter of aristocratic Cannes.' Here it is said that La Maicci.ale is 'attended by a suite of five persons' — Hallelujah uurscs, I suppose, or something of that kind. I shall not be surprised to hear that this story is far from accurate, and I should rather hope that it is so, thorgh, ot course, every one would wish that the lady shruld not w^nt for anything which wou.d facilitate her recoveiy. If, however, there be any foundation for the statements, it would appear that ' the way o"t ' of ' Darkest England ' has been satisfactorily found so far as General Booth's family are concerned."

The Russian Jews are reported to be themselves desirous of forming a colony in Palestine. We are told, meantime, that Baron

Hirsch is arranging (or their settlement in South America— which seems an undertaking of a less considerate nature. The unfortunate people can hardly be fitted to enter upon the life of pioneer settlers in a new country.