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New Zealand Tablet, Volume XX, Issue 37, 1 July 1892, Page 17

The many friends of the Rev Father Laverty will be glad to learn that he ia progressing favourably, and had bo far recovered as to be able to celebrate Mass at the Bracks ibridge Catholic Chtnreh on Sunday last. A meeting of the Brackenbridge Catholic Churcb Committee was held the same day, when the following resolution was passed : — Proposed by Mr William McManus and seconded by Mr David McNamara — "That the committee, on behalf of the Catholics of this district, beg to return their most sincere thanks to Mr and Mra Neßtor for their kindness and hospitality to the Bey Father Laverty daring the time he was under their care after the accident." Froposed by Mr Owen McEntie and seconded by John O'Connor—" That a copy of the above resolution be sent to Mr and Mrs Nestor, and to the N.Z. Tablkt, the Cliristchurch Press and JJt/ttelton limes." We are requested to announce that the Saturday classes at th« Dominican Convent, Dunedin, will not ba held this week, the nuns being in retreat. The excitement with which the general eleotions are anticipated in the United Kingdom appears to have already reached fever heat, and what we have not still to expect it is difficult to say. An especially ugly incident has been the action of a woman at Chester, who struck Mr Gladstone in the eye with a piece of bread, throwing it, we are told, in a particularly vicious manner, and inflicting a nasty and possibly a very serious hurt. We may, perhaps, gather from thia event that Primroße dames do not always maintain the '' repose " of their caste. Sometimes, as it would appear, they can even adopt methods that are more Irißh aod less nice. The famous attack on the eyes of the late Mr Parnell with lime or flour, for txample, was hardly worse. Mr Gladstone has since been confined to his house, inflammation of the eyes being feared. A. strange case is reported in the Auckland Herald of June 18, in which the head-master of a Government school has been dismissed, for attempting, as he explains and as many reliable people seem to believe, to preserve morality in his school by somewhat questionable means. If this school-master were sincere, as there are grounds to beliere he was, the means adopted by him, and wbicb must have been offensive to any man of decency, would seem to prove his zeal and devotion. What we may certainly admit is that the position in which a man, with a desire for the good of his pupils, and aware, as also one of the Auckland doctors testifies in a letter to the newspaper we referrel to, that a destructive and abominable habit was growing amongst them, was placed in a very trying position. No moral influences w^re permitted to him by which he might successfully combat the evil— religion especially, the sole effectual check for anything of the kind, was forbidden. What, then, could he do ? There seems to be some excuse for the means to which he felt himself obliged to resort. We are rather inclined to think this unfortunate gentleman

has been harshly- ueed. Removal to another place, with a caution against peculiar methods of enforcing morality, would probably have been sufficient to meet his case. We should say, meantime, that State schools in Auckland are hardly institutions to which careful psrents would be anxious to send their boys — so much we can gather, more particularly from tbe doctor's letttr of which we have spoken. The mortal remains of the late Mrs Driscoll, who breathed her laßt on Monday, June 20, were interred at Karori, and were followed to the grave by a number of people to whom she bad endeared herBelt during her long residence in Wellington. The body was taken into St Mary's Cathedral, and a solemn Requiem Mass was celebrated by the Rev Father Dawson, assisted by the Rev Father Pewer. The service at the grave was also of an impressive character, the Rev Fathers Power, Holly, and Claocy officiating. Tbe deceased, who came out to Wellington about 25 years ago, was a woman of many virtues, and was highly respected by all who knew her. As a patriotic Irish woman she will be missed from the gatherings, social and otherwise, for the cause of dear old Ireland. She was a constant attendant, and, as a daughter of Erin, gave her contributions with a large heart. Though not a^relative of Mrs W. J. Healy's, they were inseparable friends, and Mrs Healy stood by her bedside to the last. About a fortnight ago she was seized with apoplexy, and died on Monday. She leaves five children — three girls and two boys — to mourn the loss of an affectionate mother.— RJ. P. Lobd Salisbury has issued a manifesto which repeats and emphasises Mr Balfour's appeal to the selfish interests of the labour party. "No party, he considers, can refuse to listen to tbe unanimous wißh of the working classes, and the present election will decide whether Parliament shall grapple immediately with these questions or devote its whole time to discussing Irish affairs."— There the Prime Minister plainly pits one body of his foes against the other — and why he considers the working-man less formidable, and selects them as the lesser of two evils it is not hard to see. O'Connell, nevertheless, refußtd to sacrifice the cause of the negroes even to that of Catholic Emancipation, and fought in the Non-conformist cause. Let us see if the leaders of labonr will emulate his nobility :—": — " The election," adds Lord Salisbury, " is one of terrible import to the loyal minority in Ireland, as the victory of the Home Rulers would band them over to their patient, undying enemies." — This we are quite unable to perceive. Even were tbe Catholics of Ireland the patient, undying enemies of tbe Protestants — or even of the Orangemen only— of the country, would they not still be under the power of the empire 1 What is more, have they not given hostages to Protestantism in the Irish Catholics of Great Britain, America, and these colonies ? Why, we should go home ourselves to thrash them, if, under tbe circumstances, they misbehaved themselves, Lord Salisbury must know that there is not a word of trnth in this appeal. But altogether the manifesto is fall of deceit and disturbing falsehood. Woe to the kingdom that commits itself into such rash and dishonest hands. The Melbourne Age publishes the following important cablegram under date London, 13th June :— The council of the Nonconformist churches of England, after having received and considered the strong protest of the Irish dissenters against Mr Gladstone's Home Rule proposals, has decided to issue an appeal to the Nonconformists of England to vote for Liberal candidates in the forthcoming general elections. Wa record with great regret, the death of Sir Harry Atkioson, Bpeaker of the Legislative Council, which occurred suddenly in tha Parliament House at Wellington, on Tuesday afternoon. The coloDy has thus lost a settler who both as man and statesman was of high distinction, and who honestly and in some respects successfully bad devoted himself for many years to its service. The following particnlais of the sad event we take from the Wellington correspondence of tbe Otago Daily Tiwes :— lt appears that Sir Harry Atkinson died in his room, adjoining the Legislative Council Chambers, Bhortly beifore 3 o'clock. On the Council meeting at half-past two he took his place in the chair, and announced that during the recess three members of the Council had died— namely, Sir F. Whitaker, Mr Fulton, and Mr Martin. The Colonial Secretary moved that the Council adjourn out of respect to the memory of the deceased members. After a few words from the Hon. Mr Oliver, the motion was agreed to, and the Coancil adjourned. Sir Harry Atkinson then retired to his room and sat down io an armchair in front of the fire without divesting himself of his Speaker's robes. He was presently joined by Mr Oliver, who was followed in a few minutes by Captain Morris. Mr Oliver rose to g3, but Sir Harry asked him to remain, and all three chatted for a few minuter. Captain Morris congratulated Sir Htrry on his improved looks compared with bis appearance last sessiun, bat the reply that bo received was pathetically prophetic : ' I have got my marching orders,' said Sir Harry ; • I may go at any moment.' Almost as he spoke he put his hand to his heart, and complained of feeling ill. He rose and proceeded into a small bedroom, asking Mr

Oliver to remain for a moment. That gentleman did so, and then left, Bat Captain Morris remained behind, and almost immediately came out, saying that Sir H. Atkinson was ill, and wanted medical assistance. Mr Oliver at once went in search of Dr Grace, and returned with him, only in time to see Sir H. Atkinson, who was lying on his bed dressed in his official robes, expire. The cause of death was heart disease, from which he had suffered for a long time."