Colonial Notes.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume XIX, Issue 38, 26 June 1891, Page 2

Colonial Notes.

The motion carried in the House of Representatives for the holding of a capital and labour congress at Chicago during the forthcoming Exhibition in that city, soema to have a good deal to recommend it. So far as New Zealand is concerned, at least, such contact with the outer world appears very desirable. Isolated as we are here, our teadmcy must be to become too much bjund up with our own ideas, aud inclined to esteem local leaders the wisest of mankiud. It cannot do us any harm, therefore, to give some attention to what men elßewhere have to Bay. In America beside 0 , though no doubt there is a good deal that is foolish and something that is extravagaut' there is Still a pohd substratum of good sound sense, that must pretent things from running to extremes. On the whole, we consider the congress at Chicago, if it can be arranged for, likely to prove very useful.

A significant clause in the Treasurer's Financial Statement was that in which he referred to the exodus from the Colony. "If we cannot retain our population," he said, " we should know the reason why in order that the remedy for such a state of affairs may, if possible, be applied." — There are none 60 blind, however, as those who will not see — and to a principal cause of the evil complained of oar legislators, like a good many others, are voluntarily blind. While the youth of the Cjloay, in short, are brojght up under a system thit encourages dependence and discourages every thought of hard work, they will wander about on leaving school expecting thit light employment shall be found for them, and resolved upon living by their wits. The loss of such a population should perhaps have little terrors for ua. Aad, notwiths anding the waßte of money on tbe education system, we might hi glad to see them go if thtre were any cbance of supplying their room by immigrants, Jess 'iahed, with a superficial fihiue, but more manly and more steady. ** v the craze lasts, nevertheless, and until eventually a rough awake*, comes, as come it must sooner or later, our Statesmen will not a«owledge the reason nor be bold enough to apply tbe remedy.

kin Considering (hS^blic debt of the C 'loiiy, as given in the Financial Statement, thafoj at tb e r <et bum of £37,359,157, our Noughts (urn naturally to wb^ oulJ be thl - position of the public if the proposals of (Cr socialist fnends were carried out. those circumstancef^ repudiation were avoided, payment

could be made in commodities only. How wonld the public debtor feel, for example, if it were proposed to him to take it out in frozen mutton 1 It is only by coming faca to face with such absurdities that we can perceive what is rea'ly involved in the proposals of our Socialist friends.

There is an awful expectation for our friends the abolitionists. Mr Bal lance also says in his Statement that he does not see why there should not be an increxse in the revenue for tha current year under the heals of customs and beer duty. The Premier, then, evidently does not expect that the closing of public-houses will lessen the drinking habits of the people, and, ia fact, as we saw last week from a leader iv the Scotsman, experience proves that it has no sucb effect, at least in Edinburgh. But surely topers ia Auld Beekie are not more perseveriag and active in the pursuit of their cups than they are elsewhere.

The statem nt of the Treasurer rspecting the lands of the Colony is especially impjrtan'. Sixteen million acres of the Crown lindg, we are told, are gone, and less ihao three million remain for settlement. What must the condition of tbe country b;, therefore* should the time-honoured plan of settlement be pursued to tbe end ? Population would necessarily already have reached its highest figures. But the nece sity is evident not only for a new departure with respect to the shabby remnant still remaining but also for the recovery of large areas held by the monopolism. This is simply inevitable, and the proposal made for it in the Statement appears a mere matter of course.

Tbe moderation of the proposals for a land and income tax appears to have come as a comparative relief tq the partisans of the time honoured state of affairs. They acknowledge that nothing of a bursting-up process seems to be provided for. Their professed fears are lest the proposed taxation may not yield a sufficient revenue. Burst-up or not, however, the time has come for the old monopolies to reach their end. We admit, nevertheless, that there is still a chance for them in the very means that some of their principal opponents boast of as effectively taken for their destruction. Unless there is at hand an active, stirring population to take their place* even should they lose their hold for a little, they must inevitably resume it. But, as we have said, the education system now in fores renders tbe existence of such a population impossible. Blatant secularists in a good many instances defeat their own object. And, by the way, monopolists, who, in tarn, are frequently secularists quite as blatant, in all probability peroeive how the land lies and aiake the best of their opportunity. For example, Mr Earnshaw, after all, may be merely the cat's-piw - f Mr Scobie Mackenzie.

It is characteristic '.f Sir George Grey t-o insist that every man shall have his own. Every man shall ba one voter. Even the convict shall be disfrachisei only for the time he is in prison. The moment he is released he shall, in the intervals perhaps of running up another score, exercise his privilege as a citizen. And may we not conclude that Sir Geoige will be equally generous towards the fair Bex ? We need not go into particulars, but we know the quarters, therefore, ia which fair electors will pretty numerously be found. Verily the voice of ccs demohselbs will be »s valuable as it is respectable in inlluencing the destinies of the country. But such must be the results of conferring the franchise as actually proposed, on every adult male or female.

Never was there a more appropriate adjournment than that of the debate on the female franchise, which occurred at Wellington, the other night. Ladies crowded their gallery, and the moßt intense interest prevailed, when the hour arrived for the Governor's ball, and the House was immediately adjourned. Was there not something of bathos in the transition from the discussion ct woman's rights to the dancing of the polka ? But gravity aud frippery never came more happily into contact.

As an instance of the musical progress 8t Patrick's College Rand is making under the instruction of Mr S. Cimino (says the Wellington Post of the 16th inst.) it may be mentioned that the young musicians will, at the concert at the College on Thursday next, play the selection, " Linda di Chamoanix," which was made the test piece at the recent adult band contest at Fielding.

In reference to the mysterious undertaking reported by the Wellington correspondent of the Otago Daily Times, and to which we ourselves referred in our last issue, the Napier Evening News explains that the Govi rnment are charged with dismissing Protestant Inspectors nnd keeping on Catholic 3. " Soma ignorant bigot," says our contemporary, •' started the yarn, because there happened to be one or two Catholics in the present Ministry, As a matter of fact, two of the Inspsctors retreoched were Catholics, and the majority of those who remain, are, we believe, members of tbe Church of. England

Bot even if It were not so, should the fact of a man's being a Catholic prevent his ability and value of his services being considered ? Out upon such bigotry and ignorance I "

A very enjoyable social or " surprise party » was given in the Panmare Hall on Friday evening last (says the Auckland Herald of the 11th inst.). Monsignor McDonald, ai usual, presided, and endjaronred to make everybody perfectly at borne. The weather waj anything bot propitious ; still a good number attended and thoroughly enjoyed themselves. Messrs Hogan and A. Loomb, who were in splendid voice, did justice to their well-selected songs, whilst Masters Fleming and Sykes delighted the audience by their admirable rendering of the pretty song, " The Dear Little Shamrock." Mrs J. Hogan played the accompaniments with taste and effectiveness, and deservedly reoeiveda large measure of praise. The spacious and pretty ball was tastefully decorated by Mißs Honan and other kind friends, and it was generally remarked that it never looked better, Mrs Fleming, with a few willing assistants, looked after the refreshment department, the quantity and quality of which could not fail to please even the most fastidious. The after music was supplied by Mrs Hogan and Mr Loomb to the intense delight of the pleasure seekers, the onerous duties of M.C. fortunately falling to the lot of Mr Howard. Father Walter, at the close, thanked the kind friends who had beenjinstrumental in getting up the " surprise party," and expressed the very great pleasure he felt in being present at their innocent amusement, such as the « surprise," which he hoped would be at no distant day repeated.

Oar suspicions respecting Sir George Grey seem to be justified. Sir George appsars to have returned from Australia inclining still more to the character of Philippe Egalite than before. It is reported that he is dissatisfied with the proposals of the Government, and looks upon them as altogether too Conservative. Sir George, we are told, means to carry a land tax that will be completely bursting-np in its effects. Hie hopes seem to be based upon becoming the leader of the labour party. It will, nevertheless, be a matter for regret if this party allows itself to be misled. They would show themselves more independent and give a better promise of Buccess by choosing a leader of their own class, and on whose sincerity they might rely.

The Sydney Freeman's Journal, in referring to the death of the Bey Michael Kelly, S.J., which has recently taken place in Sydney, speaks as follows :— •• We are told that there are sa'nts moving about in our daily life unknown to the world, and Father Kelly's old parish ioners were guilty of no irreverence in claiming their pastor as among ihe number of these holy souls and ministers of grace. He himself thought the noblest occupation of man was to do God's work on earth ; and in th« straight and oftimes thorny path of duty he went on til! death, ' without one side look,' to use celebrated words, ' without one yielding thought, without a motive in his heart that he might not have laid open to the view of God and man.' He had been ailing for many lone months, but no murmur escaped him." The immediate cause of death, adds our contemporary, was inflammation of the lungs and weakness of the heart. Deceased was in the 63rd year of his age.

In acknowledging a pamphlet on the pcrseculion of the Jews in Eussia, which had been cent by the Honorary Secretary of the Sydney branch of the ADglo-Jewish Association, s letter baa been received from Cardinal Moraa. His Eminence writes : " I beg to assure you that my entire sympathy is with your co-religionists in the suffering to which they are at present subjected in the Rusßian dominions. Furthermore, Ido not hesitate to affirm that not only the Catholic community, but the whole public sentiment of Australia, is associated with me in this heartfelt sympathy. Were Russia a minor State the other Powers of Europe would have intervened long ago to prevent those deeds of persecution of which we read every day in the public press. But because it is a military Empire all Europe remains silent and permits it to pursue unchecked its career of cruelty and outrage. Believe me to remain, your devoted servant, Patrick P. Cardinal Moran, Archbishop of Sydney."

Dr O'Doherty, the veteran of '48 (writes a Brisbane correspondent to a contemporary), who in his time has been member of both Houses of Parliament in Queensland, as well as member for Meath in the House of Commons, will bo urged to re-enter political life. No man connects the old and the young ideas of progress more than he does. Although the great old patriot has grown grey, still his elastic step denotes that his physical strength is unimpaired, whilst his ideas and spirit have all the glow, freehnees and vigour of youth. If ever there existed an unselfish patriot the genial doctor is one, and his experience would prove invaluable in directing the destinies of our colony, especially when we look round and see so many aspirants for legislative honours.

Father Michael Kelly, 8.J., whose death is announced this week (says tie Sydney Freeman's Journal of June 13), was a very saintly man, Borne few years ago the witty and brilliant Father William Kelly, resting from College work, was Btaying with his namesake and brother Jesuit at North Shore. Father Michael, who was in charge of the district, happened to be ont one day when a parishioner called at the presbytery. Father William opened the door, and in respinße to the question "Is Father Kelly in ? " startled the questioner with " L» it Kelly the saint you want or Kelly the ilnner, for if it's the saint you're looking for I'm sorry to say he's out."

The meeting at which Mr J. R. Cox, M.P., was to have pleaded the cause of the evicted tenants in Sydney, on June 8, was postponed until after the general elections for the colony had terminated. It is understood that his Eminence Cardinal Moran, as well as the Archbishop of Melbourne, is opposed to the holding of any public meeting relative to Irish affairs, so long as the present unhappy division in National party continues. His Eminence is said to be apprehensive lest political strife should also be stirred up amongst Irish colonists.

A diamond mine lately discovered at Wesjelton, South Africa, i B said to be the richest discovery of the kind yet made. Diggers are rnsbing into the district from every part of the country.

The effects of Masonic secularism are apparent in every part of the world. Our contemporary the Annale* of Mauritius, of May 2 quotes the testimony of a journalist of Ihe colony and a partisan of the system, as to the condition of things obtaining there in the Royal College. "It is an ascertained fact," writes this gentleman, "that ill-bred children are more numerous than is believed in what is called the leading class, in the bosom of families which pretend that they are paragons of good taste and good education. . . . One of my young friends, a pupil of the Royal College, has declared to me that the most ordinary discipline does not exist in what is sometimes called our ' first house of education.' " The Annales adds that thepe is nothing to be astonished at in this. One has only to read the programmes of Freemasonry, Bays our contemporary, of which the present rector of the College is a fervent adept, to be convinced that the system in force baa no raison d'etre but that of being destructive of religion and morality, and consequently of reverence and good education,

The Annalcs quote* from the Journal de Maurice the following anecdote illustrative of the spiritual equality existing outside the Catholic Church :— Quite recently something rather queer occurred in the Anglican chapel of the Plaioes Wilhelms district. It was communion day. Two young girls of the coloured population, who were about to communicate for the first time, had come early and taken their places on the first bench close to the foot of the pulpit. Half an hour after an English family arrived, who also were to communicate. Sombody — a cross between a sacristan and a beadle — went and begged the young girls of colour to give up their places to the whites who were coming in. — And this was done.

Que diablcfaites vousdans cette galere? There is our contemporary, the Wellington Post, a newspaper we were inclined to accredit with some degree of common sense, also going in for gallantry and that kind of thing. Our contemporary strongly advocates the female franchise. He goes further, and predicts as sure to follow, the female Member of Parliament — no doubt unconsciously conscious that misfortunes never come alone. " The presence of a few women in the Houße," he says, " might, and probably would, have a refining effect upon members, and lead to the observance of greater propriety in the discussion of public affairs." Doa't you believe it, honest friend. " Evil communications corrupt good manners." When they get there they will be as bad as any of the rest, if they are not worse than them. As a matter of fact the way in which women have begun to go about competing with men in America has had a bad effeot there. In the public conveyances, for example, we are told men no longer risa to make room for a lady who enters. Let them abide among the home life which you say they are so calculated ta adorn Parliament, Heaven knows, has adornments enough without them.

As a piece of reverential gußb this is about as neat a thing as yon will often see. Its subject is Sir George Grey and its author is the Wellington correspondent of the Globe. It is to be hoped it will not escape Sir George's own eye, for he is known to have a keen seasa of hnmour and could thoroughly enjoy the joke:— "l doubt whether that bent figure will be seea slowly walking up the Parliamentary garden path when the day of complete freedom has dawned upon New Zealand. Whether he will live to b« the guest of an elective Governor, the elder brother of an elective Council, or the mentor of an elective House, I know not ; but Ido know that the memory of his wonderful ana fascinating personality, of his self- renunciation and apoatolic seal will live for ever green. It may not be his ' to

natter plenty o'er a smiling land, and read hia history in a nation's eyes/ bat it will be bis to be embalmed in the grateful remembrance of the agea, and enshrined in their veneration and regard."

The bi-annual entertainment given by the students of St. Patlick'a College took place l«»t evening in the large hall of the institution, (saye the Wellington Post of the 19th inst) which was tastefully decorated with ferns and floral mottoes. His Grace the Archbishop wm present, attended by the Very Rev. the Vicar-General (Father M'Namara) and a number of the clergy of the arch-diocese. The UKlience, which was an exceedingly large and thoroughly representative one, included the Hon. Postmaster-General, the Hon. Dr, Graoe, M.L.C., his Honour Mr Justice Edwards, ahd several members of the General Assembly. The entertainers had prepared a really excellent programme, consisting of vocal and instrumautal music and recitations, every item being rendered in an efficient manner. The vocal soloist* comprised Masters S. Hickson, N. Moloney, and C. Cimino, and the reciteri .Masters C. O'Galligan. P. J. Garvey, P. Keane, and W. Crombie. The College Brass Band, under the conductonhip cf Mr 8. Cimino, and the College String Band, conducted by Mr T. L. Trowell, played a number of selections admirably, nor should the skill and taste displayed by Messrs W. Raymond, and J. Kearsley, who officiated as accompanists, be overlooked. The Rev. Father Braxmeier is to be complimented upon the perfection to which be had trained his youthful choristers. At the conclusion of the concert the rev. the rector (Dr. Watters") thanked the Archbishop and tbe remainder of the audience for the manner in which they had received the entertainment, and facetiously expressed the hope that a beneficent Government would furnish the College with funds to enable the accommodation of the establishment to be increased. The Archbishop briefly replied, and exhorted the boys to a \ here through life to the College motto and follow after faith, which would sustain them through all the trials of this world and ensure them life eternal. The singing of tbe National Anthem brought the proceedings to a conclusion. In dismissing the boys for their midwinter holidays, the Rector expressed the hope that the pnpils would re-assemble punctually, if not joyfully, on the 13th July. The instrument used at the concert was kindly lent by the Dresden Piano Company.

We bare already referred to the ugly piece of Bpite shown by Mr. Fiaberj in his question to the Government with regard to denominational education. Verily, the constituency is to be congratulated, which has returned to Parliament a representative, representing only bis own conceit, andcapable of avenging it in euch a manner. But what hope can be entertained for a country in which a body of elector! is to be found capable of such mischievous folly ?

The following is the full programme of the mid-winter entertainment at St Patrick's College, Wellington. Part I.— Grand Selection, 11 Maritana " (Wallace), College Bass Band ; Overture, " The Golden Lyre " (Herman), College Orchestra ; Recitation, " Harmosan " (Dr. Trench), Master Charles O'Galligan ; Solo and Chorus, " Roees Underneath the Scow " (Christy), Solo, Master Stanley Hickson ; Chorus, College Choir ; Duet (Piano) " Grand Valse," in A flat (Tito Mattei), Masters Eagene Kimbell and Nicholas Moloney ; Recitation, ' Tbe Fall of D'Assas " (Mrs Hemans), Master P. J. Garvey ; Solo, •• The Dear Little Shamrock " (Jackson), Master Nicholas Moloney ; Selection, " The Harp that Once " (Farmer), College Orchestra. Part II. — Faßtasia, " Linda di Chamonni " (Donizetti), (This pieca waa the test submitted at the late Brass Band Contest held at Feilding the final award being made in favour of Gray's Band, Wellington.) Valses, " Immortellen " (Gung'l), College Orchestra ; Recitation, " The Bell of Atri " (Longfellow), Master P. Keane ; Solo and Choras, " The Fisherman and His Child " (White), Solo, Master Charles Cimino j Chorus, College Choir ; Recitation, " Clerical Wit " (Anon), Matter Walter Crombie ; Solo and Chorus, " Children's Voices " (Glaribel), Solo, Master Nicholas Moloney ; Chorus, College Choir ; Characteristic Piece, " Marche Indienne " (Le Thi6re), (An Indian Band is faintly heard in the distance ; with its wild weird music it gradually approaches, and finally recedes), College Orcbes'ra ; Finale, " Liliputian " (Round), College Brass Band ;National Anthem.