AUCKLAND.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume XX, Issue 18, 19 February 1892, Page 25

AUCKLAND.

(From Our Own Correspondent.)

February 8, 1892. Bt the s.s. Waiotahi, which arrived on Saturday from Westport, the Bey Father Walsh of that parish was a passenger. He is on a visit to Auckland, en route for Thames, at which he intends to visit the Bey Father O'Reilly, who was ordained with him about 26 years ago in St Patrick's Cathedral.

I bear that his Lordship the Bishop has purchared in Italy a fine marble altar for St Patrick's Cathedral.

Tbe members of St Patrick's League of tbe Cross Temperance Society held their annnal picnic at Bay View Gardens, Nortbcote, on Saturday. About three hnodred members were present, including tbe president (Rev Father Hackett), Very Bey Monsignor McDonald, and Bey Fathers Lenihan and Amandolini. There was also present Bro Augustine, of the Marist Order. Baces and sports took place during the day, and the outing, which was condnoted by an indefatigable committee of ladies and gentlemen, was enjoyed immensely by everyone present.

Mrs John Martin, widow of the late Irish patriot, John Martin, and sister of that famous Irish patriot and historian, John Mitchell, of '48 fame, passed through, en route to Australia, this week by the 'Frisco mail boat, Monowai.

What a noble lesson is contained in the cablegram telling us that Cardinal Manning's will has been proved at under a hundred pourds. A man of giant attainment s, he would have won wealth in abundance if he bad chosen to become a statesman instead of a churchman, or if he bad elected to follow any other walk in life he would certainly have gained great riches ; or even if he had remained a member of the Protestant community he would have received ample emoluments and the most nattering tributes. But he chose to do none of these things. He chose, on the contrary, that which in too eyes of the world was mean and to be despised, and with tbe courage of a martyr of old, he severed old ties, he trampled under foot old associations ; be gave up brilliant worldly prospects to profess the truth. If any man thinks that it easy to do this, easy to turn one's back upon home and kindred and friends, that man koowß nothiog. It is so bard that many whose courage is great have quailed at tbe prospect, and even those who have taken the step have Buffered agony from the thought of what they were giving up before they came to realise the great peace of soul which is bestowed upon those who fearlessly wrench themselves asunder from all that will keep them from the truth. " He that will not leave father and mother and home and friends for M« is not worthy of Me," says our Ble&sed Lord. And tbe last will of Cardinal Manning, the last will of the nun who threw aside worldly honours and prospects of wealth and ease because of the true faith, that will ia less in value than one hundred ponnds. He chose indeed the better part.

The 52nd anniversary of the foundation of the Colony was celebrated on Friday under favourable circumstances. For the regatta there was barely enough wind, but for the picnicker or the excursionist a more favourable day could not be desired, the various excursion steamers being veritably packed. The regatta attracted the largest number of spectators, there being about one thousand people on board the flagship (s.s. Ovalau). The most interesting event on the programme was the Champion Whaleboat Race for a £40 prize and silver medal, for steersmen, in which four boats started — Hanraki, St George's, Waitemata, and North Shore. The race was a very fast one, and would have been very interesting had it not been for one of those occurrences which, I am sorry to say, are not foreign to rowing in Auckland. It appears that the Waitemata crew, who were leading, after rounding a buoy, took the North Shore boat's water, putting them out of the race, the Waitemata crew winning by two lengths from North Shore, who were second, Hauraki third. The St George's crew did not finish, having dropped out of the race shortly after tbe start. After the race the umpire, Mr Stephenson, rec ived a formal protest from the North Shore crew, but be reserved his decision till tbe following day, when he granted the race to the North Shore crew, they wiooiog on a foul. It waß evident that some of the various rowing clubs must have been asleep on Friday, for ont of seven active cluba there were only three competing iv the regatta. All the sailing races passed off very successfully, those of the cutters and large yachts being very interesting.

The Auckland branch of the Irish National Federation met on Thursday evening at Bt Patrick's Hall, Chapel Square, Mr J. A. Tole, president, io the chair. In reply to their resolutions n gretting the division of the Irish party, the branch received a letter from Mr J. E. Red mend, M.P., who stated that the alarm expressed io the resolutions at the prospect of the indefinite postponement of Home Rule through this division was entirely unfounded. He believed that one result of the present most uohappy conflict in Ireland must be that the Home Bale Bill which Mr Gladstone would probably be in a position to introduce after the next election would be more thoroughgoing than would otherwise have to be the case. It was decided to send a courteous reply to Mr Redmond, repeating the views of the branch as to the deplorable results of the division of the party. A

motion was proposed condemning the use of intemperate language by both sections of the Irish party in the political contest now going on, but the debate was adjourned. This branch of the Federation is doing very well. It ought, however to make itself known. A few people gather and discuss these important questions. Bat every Irishman ought to display the greatest interest in its working. There are some people who are so weak and cowardly that they are ashamed to be thought Irish because it is unfashionable, and they would orosh soch an institution as this if they could. Bat they shall not. There are others who think that the straggles of the Irish party should not receive attention from the people of the colonies. We have, they say, enough to do to look after our own business without taking any notice of the bnsiness of people sixteen thousand miles away. If this argument were carried to its logical conclusion there would be no news* papers in the world. How have newspapers arisen if not through the desire of every man to know his neighbour's business f And ii there any man so destitute of feeling that he would say that the Irish people of the colonies have no right to watch what is going on at Home 1 Why , how can yon crush patriotism and love of fatherland out of the hearts of the people ? And if you could, would it not be a terrible thing for the human race if it were done. The people who want nothing said aboat Ireland are the people who hate Ireland and everything that hails from that country ; and those who quail before their opinion are the men who bide behind barrels, or whatever if convenient, when principles have to be professed.

An unfortunate and fatal acoident occurred at Eptomon Monday night, when a man named Patrick Dunn was killed by being ran over by a tram car. It appears that as the 8.16 car was coming into town, while on the Epsom road, the horses started pluDging, then the car suddenly stopped with a jolt. The driver got down, and to his horror found a man under the wheels. The unfortunate man was at once extricated and removed to the hospital, where, notwithstanding the administrations of the hospital staff, he died at 11 o'clock, from a compound fracture of the skull. An inquest was held at the hospital on Tuesday .