CHRISTCHURCH.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume XIX, Issue 49, 11 September 1891, Page 18

CHRISTCHURCH.

(From our own Correspondent.) September 7. The Minister for Education is a good deal more conspicuous for wit and sarcasm than for logic and sound reasoning. In the course of his speech on the Private Schools' Bill, he said, almost with the air of one who had made an important discovery, that the passing of such a measure would undoubtedly add to the expenses of the educational vote. The merest tyro in mathematical knowledge could have foietold such a result with a certainty that would put a weather prophet's predictions to shame. But let us suppose that the Catholics, even of this diocese alone, actid in concert and sent their children in a body to the nearest State school, would not the hon the Minister of Education be under the necessity of providing a tidy sum not alone for capitation but even to provide sufficient accommodation 7 There were nearly 3,000 children educated in the Catholic schools of this diocese during the past year, who would cost the country £12,000 for teaching alone in the State schools. In consequence of the economical manner in which the Catholic schools are carried on, it has not cost more than a third of tbat sum to keep our schools, and that amount capitalised for the time during which the secular system has been established, demonstrates to any reasonable man the strength of our convictions. During that time, also, the Catholics of Canterbury have expended over £35,000 on school buildings, whilst the value of the sites on which these are erected is estimated at £20,000 # There are over 700 pupils attending the Convent and Marist Brothersschools in this city, an-lif thev.ivica of some persons wera taken and those children sent one fine morning to the State schools in their neighbourhood, would there not be a pretty " How do ye do ? ferhaps when the Education Board would apply for funds in order to provide the extra accommodation, the Minister would much prefer he had taken more heed of the moderate demands of his Catholic constituents. . . , , .i_ « Very great regret has been expressed at the untimely death of Miss Margaret Howard, third daughter of Mr P, Howard, The

deceased was in perfect health on Thursday week last, when she went into town to her usual avocation. She felt slightly unwell on the following day, and died on Saturday at the early age of seventeen years. Before the interment on Monday the remains were taken to St. Mary's, Manchester street, where the Rev Father Le Menant des Chesnais officiated and spoke at some length on tbe pure and virtuous life of the deceased and on her edifying death. He contrasted her short, but well-spent life, with that of the person who had lived to the age of seventy or more in enmity with God. The funeral y<jOT-%ewasalongone, there being a very representative gathering of the Hibernians present, out ot respect to the sorrowing father, who baa been for years a member of that body. It is evident that the question of religious education is engaging the serious attention of the Anglican body as the aubject occupies a prominent positior in the Church News for the current month. It says :— " Our Roman Catholic brethren are to be commended for tbe very earnest stand which they have taken with regard to religious education, and their letter of thanks to Mr Perceval for his services on behalf of Mr Hutchison's Private Schools Bill is a further manifesto of the determined attitude of the Roman Oitholic Courch in respect to the education question. In this letter they defend the grounds upon which they base their claims, not for the Government subsidy of their religious schools, but for a share of the taxes which they contribute to the State and which the State spends upon a system of education, which they conscientiously baliive haa the effect of deChristianising the rising generation. This is to us undoubtedly reasonable ground. . . A more one-a led system than the present secular system could not well be conceivel. As we have before remarked, religious conviction disqualify a certain portion cf the ratepayers for certain privileges waich other members of the community enjoy. Those who admire the secular system may have it ; to those we would not deny their cherished desire. But it is plainly unjust of them to compel those, who hold religious teaching to be essential, to support a sybtem which they complain to be inimical to the well-being of society. It would be equally unreasonable for the State to establish secularismjas a national creed. We are convinced that the opinion of tbe great majority of the people is in favour of religious education and that a poll of the constituents on this important question would show plainly enough that in the minds of these the educitional system is not so solid and satisfactory a thing as many of their representatives declare it to be."— lt is satisfactory to note that not alone is the action of the Catholic body watched with the keenest interest by the general public, but that they have tbe support and sympathy of the moat respectable as well as the most intelligent section of the Protjetant community. Non-success, even under such circumstances, is n>t without its e ns Nation, an iwe can only say, Spcramus meliora. It is intended to hold tbe usual Yeoman Cavalry encampment in the Agricultural and Pastoral Association grounds early next month. The Governor is expected to be in Christchurch during the training, and it is rumourod that be will go into camp with the trcops. Should he do so, it will give considerable eclat to the proceedings and greatly enhance the popularity of our equites, for the seeds of flunkeyism are latent in our colonial society, aud require only the germinating influence of a real live lord to burst fortb in all their Old World glory. The catering has been entrusted by the officer commanding the company to Mr Burke, of Burke'a Family Hotel. It has beea a custom in the past to call for tenders for this, but a few years ago Mr Burke, having received tbe appointment, gave such satisfaction to the officers and men, that not alone has he received the position since then without public competition, but he has received more taan one flattering letter from the officers foi- thj excellent manner in which he looked after their comfort. The lithographed portrait of his Lordship Dr Grimes, which accompanied the Tablet last weec as a supplement, was very much admired here, both a 9 a correct likeness and as a work of art. Many persons with whom I came in contact were very much pleased with it, and expressed themselves in very laudatory terms concerning the artistic skill displayed, and I am sure it only require* to be more fully known bj that every other Catholic household may at least possess a copy. A local religious paper has the following concerning the religious training of the youth of this Colony :— " No unbiassed mind can look complacently on the rising generation, without confessing that something iB b idly wanting iv their demeanour and training, and their wilful opposition to parental authority aod wholesome discipline, which subsequently developts iuto repulsive lamkinism, and we have no hesitation i:i charging this state of things to the preseut purely secular system of education." A ttraw best shows how the wind blows. So stys the proverb maker, and time invariably demonstrates the truth of the assertion A friend of mine, accompanied by a young lady of the mature age of nine yeais, whose religious training was received in a Dissenting Church, was passing a building one Sunday lately, which has been utilised as a freethought hall. " What church is that ? " enquired the inquisitive young lady. "That's not a church," he replied, "it

is afreethought hall." "Ob !" ebe exclaimed, and then suddenly looking up after being apparently lost in thought for half a minute, she asked, " What do they believe in ? Do they differ much from us V ' "They differ very much^ndeed," replied he, anxious to display his knowledge as a theologian, " they don't believe in God." " How wicked. Are they as bad as the Catholics?" He hummed and hawed, and in a fit of desperation suggested a diecuesioa on the Women's Franchise Bill. The friends and admirers of Mr J. Barrett, formerly of the Borough Hotel, took occasion, prior to his departure by the Rimutaka last week, to entertain him at a banquet on Thursday night at Burkes Family Hotel. Upwards of fifty guests sat down to an excellent repast, which fully unstained Mr Burkes reputation as a caterer. Mr Shand presided, the vice-chair being filled by Mr Hoban. After the good things had been done justice to, the usual loyal and patriotic toast list was gone through. The chairman proposed " The Queen " and " The Governor," which were suitably honoured. Mr Barrett, in a very able speech, proposed the " Parliament of New Zealand." In the course of his remarks he said that he considered the present Government a very able one, although he could uot help disagreeing with them on the attitude which they had taken with regard to the claims of his co-religionists on the queaticn of education. He considered we should never have a truly representative Parliament whilst so great an injustice was done to the Catholic body. Mr R. P. Lonargan, in responding, expressed his surprise at being asked to do so, as he had never aspired to ppeak on tbis subject, but hoped Mr Hoban would be lawfully entitled to do so in tbe near future. He fully agreed with tha previous speaker's remarks regarding education. Mr Bergh, in speaking to the " Industrial, Agricultural, and Pastoral Interests," paid a warm tribute to the excellence of our staple products. Messrs G. O'Malley and J. Gill briefly replied. They hoped the people of the Colony would pull shoulder to shoulder in advancing the interests of such a glonons country. The chairman proposed >' Oar Guest," and dwelt at some length on his many good qualities and success as a colonist. He took occasion, also, to present him with a silver-mountsd pipe and walking-stick of New Zealand wood, which he hoped Mr Barrett would accept, not for their intrinsic value, but as an expression of friendship. Mr Barrett suitably responded, and thanked those kind friends who had given him those gifts. He then referred to the condition of the Colony 30 years ago, and contrasted it with its progress of to- lay, aid the many difficulties under which tbe pioneers had to labour, ana the hardships they hid to endure. Messrs Hoban and C. A. Fisher, on behalf of the young Ne* Z jalantfera, then presented Mr Barrett with '■ Picturesqie Ireland " and other volumes. Tlia rauipient was very gratified at this testimony of friendship, and said that the young people of the colony were the finest in the world. Mr M'Nimara in the course of a very happy and humorous spaech, paid many well deserved compliments to '• the Udie3 " to which Mr Gaffney responded in very appropriate terms. Mr O'Connor in proposing the " Press " paid a high tribute to the hon-Bs yof purpose and superior literary character of tha Cjloaul new^p\pers. "Our Ho«t " and "Tha Chairman" were proposed respectively by Messrs Francis ani Barrett. During the evening sjngs were contributed by Messrs Hayward, Morris, Hoban and M'Namara. The Key. Father Le Menant des Chesnais delivered another of his series of discourses on •conomical and social questions at St Mary's on Sunday evening. He said that in the previous one he pointed out that progress was not agnosticism, for if there is a God we are obliged to adore Him; if Jesuj (Jhr ist is the Son of God »c are obliged to serve Him, and if Ha established a Church, we should become members of it, and obey its holy Uws, and unless Socialists arefprepared to show us that the Christian belief is wrong, it would be madness to follow their teachings. The rev. preacher then dealt with society, which he divided into three classes : the domestic, the civil and the religious. The father was the head of the domestic Bociety, and as euch was obliged to bring up his children good and useful members of the State, by seeing that they are properly educated, and as a husband he is bound to love, guide, and defend his wife. The second kind of society is the civil, being a collection of families settled in one particular place and who appoint some of their number to look after their interests and protect life and property. The State is supreme only in temporal matters, and s atesmen are answerable to God for their actions, All forms of government are lawful and should be obeyed so long as they are in harmony with divine law. Civil iuleis should give good example to those under them, and if they make laws contrary to morality we have a right not to oppose them by violence, but to protest against them by every legitimate means. Ihe third division is the religious society or the Church, the duty of which is to preserve and spread divine knowledge and to interpret the divine law, for if every man is permitted to do this ha will only obey those commands which are agreeable to his opinions. The laws of the Church are above those of the State, and when the former are obeyed, and God is honoured and loved, than we shall have true progress in the home, the State and the Church.