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New Zealand Tablet, Volume XIX, Issue 38, 26 June 1891, Page 17

A very fine programme has been drawn np for the concert in aid of the building fund of the Dominican Convent Schools. All tastes have been well consulted for and classical music, as well as music to please the million, tns been judiciously selected. Mesdames W. Murphy and Angus, who have recently given such good proofs in their operatic success, of their cleverness in dealing with music requiring archness and a spirit of fun to render it properly,have each been assigned a humorous song. Herr Winskelman gives a mazurka on the 'cello, in which we may expect a display of the delicacy and brilliancy that characterise his playing. Mr. Barth gives a solo on the piano, Miss Busck one on the viola, Mr Corrigan one on th clarinet, and Mr Schacht, who also conducts, plays a Polonaise on the violin. Our popular amateurs, Messrs Jones and Mansin give each a pretty song or two. There are besides several other items, as may be seen, every one of which is in itself worth going to hear. iDdeed the care and good taste shown in selecting the programme i 8 a sufficient guarantee jf success. We need not allude to the excellence of the object to be promoted, which admits of no kini of doubt. Friends theiefore, to whom the sale of tickets has been eatrusted have every motive for exertion.

On Sunday, the Feast of St. Aloysius, at 3 p.m., the children of the Catholic schools were assembled in their fall force almost crowding the church, in St. Joseph's Cathedral, Dunedin, where special devotions in honour of the Saint took place. The Christian Brothers' boys, of whom 113 had received Holy Comtnnoion in the morning* were invested by the Bishop with the brown scapular and alio received int"> the Confraternity of the Sacred Heart. A reception of the girls of the Dominican nuns' schools into this Confraternity waa also held. Afterwards both boys and girls united in making the act o' consecration. The ceremonies terminated with Benediction of the Most Holy Sicrameat.

'ihe children of S 1 JosdphVschyp', DuDedin, are basy preparing for their winter holidays.* O'fl&Monday some twenty-five of the jounger pupils received in the schoolroom the badge of the Holy Childhood, a good proof of their having profited by the instructions given them daring the bulf-year, Xbo dJßtr.ibu.tion of p^Uaj wil)

take place on Friday the 26th inst., at 10.30 a.m., and the relatives and friends of the children are freely invited to attend.

The latest important deliverance reported on Iri-h affairs takes the shape of an »rticle in the National Press from tbe pea of tbe Archbishop of Dublin. His Grace declares that Home Rule is a forlorn hope for the present century. Borne relief, however, is afforded ns in the consideration that the century has reached its last decade. Still the postponement of the great mersure for even ten years must seem to us a grievous disappointment.

Mb Beeves's Labour Bills,— Factory Bill, Truck Bill, Bhop Hours Bill, appear to be very much to the point and to contain nothing that is not desirable. But what a comment do we not find in the Shop Hours Bill on the selfishness of some and the greed of others. Had the public been duly considerate and shop-keepers as a rule moderate in their desires no such Bill would have been necessary, And what is now made a matter for legislation would have been brought about by mutual consent. There is nothing extraordinary in the Bill, which provides for tbe closing of shops at 6 p.m. on four days of toe week, at 9 p.m. on one and at 2 p.m. on another, the particular days not being specified. Among the shops exempted we perceive that those of the tobacconists are included. But why should this be, tobacco being neither a necessary of life nor a perishable ware f The Bill, however, is deserving of support.

The Financial Debate was opened on Tuesday evening by the Hon. J. Bryce, who made an attack on tbe proposals of the Government, and pointed out several respects in which they must prove ruinous to the conncry. The Hon. Member's speech, however, savoured rather of clap-trap, and Mr Reeves, who replied to it, had not much difficulty in exposing its sophistries. Mr Macarthur followed with a speech which was characterised by the Hon. J. G. Wardas one of the bitterest and most fault finding which it bad ever been his lot to hear— but which, nevertherless, does not appear to be considered a very brilliant effort evsn by supporters of the party to whom the Hon. Member belongs. It is believed that the debate will be protracted.

The Bey. Michael Kelly, S.J., whose death has recently taken place in Sydney, paid a visit of a few weeks last summer to Dunedin, en route for the hot springs. Those of us who then had the happiness of making his acquaintance can fully understand the reputation for •anctity which we are told he enjoyed among people who were intimate with him. We regret to learn that his visit, in search of renewed health, to New Zealand proved so sadly unsuccessful. Still he had certainly benefited in a considerable degree by his short stay in this city. While here, he frequently celebrated Mass and preached once in St. Joseph's Cathedral.— R,l P.

" A Commission of Cardinals will henceforth administer Papal property, owing to irregularities in management during the past." If there is any truth at all in this it is that the Pope has taken some measures to try and protect the remnant of the Pap<il properly from the plundering Government,

The Labour party have had a success in the elections for New South Wales, returning several of their representatives. Sir George Grey has been equal to the situation and cabled his congratulations. But does not Sir George in turn deserve to be congratulated— on his astuteness ?

"The German Government is considering the question of for. bidding pilgrimages from Alsace and Lorraine to Mount Bouner, Loundes, and other places in France on a plea that superstition and Ignorance are fostered thereby. The real reason is a political one. The people of those provinces, af<er visiting France, are more irritable and uneasy under their German rulers." We do not know where " Mount Rouner " is, nor can we conjecture what place is meant by the name, but Loundes of course means Lourdes. If the German Government, however, again mase an attack on r^igion they Will again live to repent it. Religious pilgrimages can only encourage a spirit of submission to all that U just and right, and if the German Government fear the sentiment to be thus aroused, there is proof positive that their presence in Alsace and Lorraine is an outrage on justice.

" Of a total of 127,000 subscribed towards the Plan of Campaign, £3000 is unaccounted for, £20,000 was granted to tenants, £47,000 went in fees to lawyers and barristers, and £40,000 was Bpent on New Tipperary." This is probably a composition intended to affect the mission of Mr J. R. Cox, M.P,,. to the colonies. Were it otherwise, it would be rather an eye-ope|ij|^w the phrise ie, and that in more Benses than one. With all cr^Wppect to the Bar, none of us could wish to see its members gor^Bftfcy^r like that — hardly even if Sir George Grey's Bill had were all among them— every man Jack of us. Bn^Nf^^^^^BEt is to ba hoped, we would rcuftAbtx ttat honejty, aa tM^ry^Btne bt et policy.

The famous English contralto. Madame Patey, commence! a short concert season in the Garrison Hall, Dunedin, to-morrow (Thnrsda\) evening. Madame Patey enjoys the highest reputation in her profession in the Old Country, and it is to the credit of the musical taste of the Colonies that her singing here also has been highly appreciated. Everywhere she has delighted crowded audiences. The company by which she is supported are also highly spoken of.