WELLINGTON.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume XX, Issue 42, 5 August 1892, Page 29

WELLINGTON.

(From our own Correspondent.)

July 23. I HAVE been expecting from time to time to be able to chronicle the resuscitation and reorganisation of the St Aloyslns Guild, which was the only Literary Society in connection with the Catholic body in Wellington, but I have not been able to do so. This is much to be regretted, for young fellows will be inclined to drift into other societies or clubs, and perhaps imbibe some of the indifferentism and latitudinarianism which so largely prevails now-a-days amongst young men. In the other large towns they have literary societies of one kind or another. They have a long-established one in Auckland and also in Dunedin and Chiistchurch.

The Institute of Journalists held a social here last Saturday night, which was fairly well attended. Among the contributors to the evening's programme was Mr E. D. Hoben, a member of the staff of an evening paper, who recited an original composition of his own, entitled " Football at Kilalloe," which was evidently a parody on the song of that title. The recitation was an exceedingly humorous one and reflects much credit on the writer, who ia well known in Napier and Auckland as one of the rising pressmen of the present day. He is an enthusiastic footballer and is secretary to the Auckland Rugby Union, and has been in communication with the promoters of the World's Fair at Chicago in order to induce them to get up a suitable football tournament that would be worth while for a New Zealand team to compete at. Mr Hoben is a musician cf no mean ability, a practical journalist — of which he has all the qualities which lead to success, an athlete, and a very good Catholic. Now that Mr Hoben is in the Preß3 gallery of the House, where his abilities will have full scope for displaying their power, I have no doubt that he will occupy very soon a distinguished place amongst the pressmen of the Colony.

One of the Members for a southern constituency addressed the local debating society here during the week, on wnat he called the " Peoples' Bank." His proposition was that this proposed financial institution should have a paid-up capital of two millions in pound share=, «nd that it could be very easily rloa'ed if every adult in the Colony — of whom he said there were 400,000— were to take five. The whole population would be deeply interested in its 6ucces3 and its business would be strictly confined to this Colony, and its funds engaged in assisting the acquiring of land and the starting of new industries. He instanced the case of Germany, where peoples' banks are numerous and where small deposits are encouraged. Every German who can afford it is a shareholder in some bank, and these institutions place every facility in the wiy and give every information to these shareholders in the direction of acquiring land. He also named the French as being another people who studied banking as a fine art, and where the shareholders were not, like here, large capitalists, but peasants an i small traiesmen. The ?ery fact of spending so much money in the country which now goes to the foreign shareholders, would contribute much to our prosperity. There was good reason and sjund sense in what the lecturer said, which might be applied to a country not a thousand miles away from the English capital. I have refrained from giving the M.H.d.'s name up to the present as lam somewhat in a fog about it. The three daily papers struck out an original and independent line iv spelling it. One caLed him Mr Mackintosh, another Mclnto3h, and a ttird Macintosh. Whac a row there would ba if ihey took such liberties with Mr De Vere t^myth or Mr P.antagent Brown !

We are all highly pleased with Lord and Laiy Glasgow arjd their party. They have held receptions and levees, to which only those wno kept a card case and c:uld affjrd to own or hire a drees snit were eligible to be p r esent. This bit of exclusiveness helped to make these functions mon aele^r than the ones given by Lord Onslow, who did njt care whether his callers were dressed in fustian or broad-c'.oth, an arrjngem-:ni" wbico. cause! a gojd deal of heartburnings amongst the parvnm of our population, The Governor £ftsis not complained about our climate or even hinted that he thirsts after the sight of other parts of New Zealand, hence his p ipulanty. Hi 3 suie are extremely pjpular. especially his two aide de camps who are the essence of politeness. Colonel Pat Boyle, who takes especial care that you don't write his name P.ttnck, has, by his genialtv and urbanry mal'j frien-is with all kinds and elates of men. 1 had a little experience of his civility some time ago and I found

him the very ideal of a gentleman. " I have had a good deal of experience of pressmen," said he to me. " I was in Ireland during the five years succeeding the establishment of the Land League and I had a good deal to do with the Irish Press," Considering that they have had little or no experience of living in a democratic country, where tha hereditary distinctions which divide society are unknown, in a fgreat measure, I think they hav6 adapted themselves very well to the ideas and customs of the community in so short a time.

A case of some interest to persons who make a livelihood by washing came before the Magistrate's Conrt here the other day. The question to be decided was whether a washhouse, where more than three persons were emoloyed was a factory under tne meaning of the Act. Counsel for both sides taxed their inganuity to prove their case. A discussion took pltca as to whether washing was a " handicraft." No doubt it can be scarcely called sd when parties bring their dirty linen into court to be washed. But snrely the artist who can torn a soiled and limp piece of calico into a pare white garment, with an immaculate glossy front, has certainly a legitimate claim to ba called a craftsman. The further elucidation of this knotty point was referred to the results of several lexicographers' labours, and half a dozen bulky volumes, by Webster and that ilk, were appealed to for the guidance of the Bench. His Worship decided in the affix, mative, and now our laundresses are rejoicing becanse they have a legal and social status, which was hitherto denied them. The Bench would have dismissed the case on the gronnd of want of evidence aa to whether those who were working in the laundry were doing iofor hire, but the defendant's counsel waived his objection on condition his client was fined Is and given leave to appeal against the definition of a laundry being a factory. At first sight the game seems hardly worth the candle, but the owner of the laundry in question says that she does not wish to be brought under the sarveillance of a factory inspector, as such inspection would be extremely vexatious towards the end of, say a wet week, when she had a large quantity of clothes on hand, and when it would be necessary to work long hours in order that good people may properly sanctify the Bunday. The remark of Mr Fish at the Municipal Conference held here lately was certainly very mnch to the point. He said that the tendency of modern legislation was to continually harass the individual and interfere with his private actions, as he was not able very oftea to move half a dozen steps without being confronted with an Act of Parliaor a by-law of some sort. We are not much ahead of the times when a man's going to bed and getting up was a matter of State direction.

JuJy 30 Amongst the petitions presented during the week waa one from Mr E. George of Chrisichurch, praying that the Legislature may see fit to reimburse the amount he was mulcted in by the judges on account of the late elecion petition. The petition was generously and kindly presented and supported by Mr Sandford, the sitting msmber, who defeated Mr George. It is to be hoped that the Government will act equitably in this affair, and rise beyond party feeling" The petitioner was put to a good deal of expense and inconvenience through the bungling of an official, who, because of his age, had right to be superseded years ago, and although there was never the slightest chance of his being electee' member, still the amount of support which he received at the timp, as well as the highest legal advice which supported him in his legal content on afterwards, were sufficient justification for his bringing an action for the upsetting of tha election.

Mr R. M. Taylor deserves the thanks not alone of the Catholic community but alsj of the Liberal citizens of all denominations for calling attention to the shabby treatment accorded to Mr B. P. Clarkson by the clodhoppsrs who compote the Ladbrooke School Committee. Mr Taylor asked the Minister of Education whether his attention had been called to the rejection of Mr Clarkson because ha was a Catholic, and if he could not do something to remedy the injury inflicted on the rejected candidate. Of course no one expected that any good result, save bringing the matter before the public would come of the question, as the Minister is powerless to interfere in these mafers, the choice of teachers resting with the Board of Education and the school committee. Why the latter should have a say in the matter I cannot, for the life of me, ccc. A position on a school commute is not one very eagerly sought after, except by the local baker and draper, who wish to have the unfortunate padogogue under their thumb ; or by the non-Conforoists in the locality who are anxious that they may get a .schoolmaster who would be competent to thump the pulpit or play the harmonium in the local Zion on the Sabbath. There are several of these committee men »bo could not sign their name except by a hieroglyphic, which might be taken for anything from an inscription on an Egyptian tomb to the desperate efforts of some amateur phonographers in following a fast speaker, anri yet they are entrusted with a power which is as much out of place in their hands as would be an electric apparatus in the hands of a fool or a child. It was one of the boasts of the upholders of the present national system of education that it wis perfectly non-sectarian, and that Catholic teachers had as good a chance of getting employment as those professing any other religion This assertion might seem on the face of it very true, but the Catholic

teacher with a pronounced Celtic name wondered exceedingly if it were correct, aa he found his applications, for positions under the Board of Education in and out of his district, were invariably refused. Of course the committees, in most cases, followed the advice of that wise and learned jurist, never to give a reason fjr one's decision ; bat the committee in the present case were not of the world worldly, for they had not that all-condemning Mac or O to guide them, and hence they had to fish out the applicant's religious belief. Tbe Minister promised Mr Taylor that he would bring tbe matter under the notice of the Canterbury Education Board, but this is of no eirthly use, for tbe composition of the North Canterbury Board is of such a character that any suggestions of justice to Catholics would, especially coming from the present Government, be treated as so much waste paper. I believe I am within tha mark in saying that the majority of the Board are active opponents of tbe present Liberal party, and that the only supporters of the Government on the Board are, with one or two exceptions, the nominees of Orange lodges, and are active or honorary members of the same. As I said before, no direct results come from the ventilation of the subject, but it will certainly take away one of the pet arguments which have been made use of, when Catholics object to the present system of Education, and as this is not the first time this session in which Mr R. M. Taylor has brought the subject of Catholic grievances before the House, it is to be hoped his constituents who belong to that Faith will not forget it at the next election .

Among the passengers per the s.s. Doric to Port Chalmers were the Hon Walter Johnston and family, who have been in England for some time. They are expected here to-morrow.— His Grace the Archbishop left for Dunedin to attend the meeting of Catholic bishops of New Zealand there.— The Ray Dr Egan, of Auckland, passed through here during the week to attend the conference as the representative of the Auckland diocese, Bishop Lack being absent from the Colony, andjhia Vicar-General being too ill to undertake a long sea journey .

The Catholics of this city are to be congratulated for their action even at the last moment in utilising the nucleus of the very fine library which has been stored away since the death of the once flourishing Literary Society. This activity in matters social among the Catholics here is due to the energy of a few. The Catholic Library and Reading Room is now a fait accompli, the formal opening having taken place last Monday evening in the rooms, St Patrick's Hall, Boulcott street. There was a large and representative attendance, and during the evening musical and literary selections were contributed by several ladies and gentlemen. Tbe chair was occupied by his Grace the Archbishop, who, in declaring the rooms open, congratulated the committee on the success which had attended their efforts. He pointed out that a good library and reading room, where people might meet and exchange ideas on current topics, and at the same time obtain good and healthy literature, was a necessity in those days, when so much pernicious reading was scattered broadcast. He hoped the institution would grow and flourish so quickly that it would be necessary for the Committee to procure greater accommodation for books and subscribers. The Hon Dr Grace briefly addressed the meeting, and Baid he considered it to be a duty incumbent on all to encourage those institutions which helped to educate and enlighten the industrial classes. Songs and recitations were given by Misses Ross and L. McDonald and Messrs W. Ross, A. Morgan and W. Naughton. During the interval refreshments were handed around to the visitors, and at the close of the meeting votes of thanks were passed to hia Grace for presiding and to those who had assisted in entertaining the audience. It was announced that donations of books had been received from Messrs J. J. Devine, McAlister, B. C. Holroft, J. Hylaoa, J. Brennan, and Mr and Mrs D. D. Hyde. As usual in all such good works, Mr M. Kennedy was to the fore with a subscription of £.5 5s as a life member. There is still plenty of room on the shelves for more books and magaiines, and any person having a surplus of such goods cannot utilise them in a better way than in placing others in the way of gaining knowledge. Persons wishing to contribute books, newspapers or magazines, should communicate with the energetic hon secretary, Mr M. Hodgias, who will be only too happy to receive donations.

There has been a nice « how d'je do " over the action of the Premier in telegraphing his congratulations to Mr Gladstone on bis Bucoesa at the polls. The very sleepy and slow-going old Gentlemen who manage to pass their time dosing on the benches of the Legislative Council Chamber, woke up on Thursday afternoon in as bad a humour as a boy who had come into collision with the stern part of a wasp, or had sat down on the business end of a tack, and began abusing the Hon Mr Ballance, the G.0.M., Home Rale, and anything and everything which they considered should be anathema. " That deteptable policy of Home Bale," said the Hon Walker, with the emphasis born of a man who wishes not to be mistaken for a lowborn pleb. He, in terms of virtuous indignation, wished to refute the erroneous assertion that the people of Canterbury were anything but Conservative— yea, Conservative of the purest brand—regular devotees of the grand old Tory institutions under which they and

their fathers Blaved, and groaned and hungered, the grand old regime which kept their forefathers under the iron heel of class distinction. The hon gentleman expressed a fervent wish that the people of the Colony would express their sympathy with Lord Salisbury in his tribulation.— Of course these were not the words made uae of within the aacred pricencts of the Council Chamber, as the conscript fathers convey their ideas in English, the most stately and classical. The Hon the Colonial Secretary was surprised at the tone of tbe Hon Mr Walker in his allusion to Home Rule. " Sir," said Sir P. A. Buckley, pulling himself up to his full height and speaking with tbe calm deliberateness of a man who is about to make a statement which he has carefully weighed and is proud of, " Lord Salisbury knowß I am a Home Ruler to the backbone." That doughty little soldier, Sir George Whitmore, considered it would be a dangerous practice to send Home cablegrams without concurrence of both sides of the House. Bless you I for an innocent little man. Why, we may wait for the time when the lamb would lie down with the wolf — not inside, mind you — before such a consummation, or that the two political parties would agree to work on a common basis. The Hon Mr Stewart draws, I presume, an honorarium for his services to a gratefol country, and displays his intelligent appreciation of current events by asking for a definition of Home Rule. Tbe Hon Dr Grace, in his usual genial style, wanted to smooth down the ruffled hairs— that is where they were not very bald-headed—of the indignant Legislators, and then we are told the matter dropped, and the general public were quite aa surprised as the hon Members were next morning when they read the account of how the Lordj worked themselves into getting rid of their superfluous bile.