CHRISTCHURCH.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume XX, Issue 45, 26 August 1892, Page 31

CHRISTCHURCH.

(From onr own Correspondent,) A SOLEMN Pontifical High Mass, which was largely attended, was celebrated on Monday last, the festival of the Bleesed Virgin. His Lordship Dr Grimes was celebrant. Father Aubrey was deacon and Father Mftrnane sub-deacon, and the Bey Fathers Cumtningi aud Goutenoire were assistant priests. Father Bell was master of ceremonies, and his Lordship, who took for a text the words " Mary hath chosen the better part," preached from the throne a most impressive discourse. The choir rendered Farmer's Mass, and Mies O.Pender Bang the " Benedictus" and an " Aye Maria." The solemnities at Vespers ware also very grand, and the Rev Father CummiDgs, V.G., preached on the occasion. Bro O'Hare, of the Christian Brothers, visited this city on Thursday last en route for Sydney. He was daring his brief stay here the pntst of the Bey Bro Joseph. The "Very Bey Father Gaillman, 8.M., who is, unfortunately, ■omewhat unwell, and to whose kindness I am indebted for most of the following few facts about New Caledonia, left Christchurch for Wellington on Wednesday last on his way to New Caledonia, where he has for six years resided. He came from thence to this country in the hope of renewing his health, and for this purpose visited the hot springs in the North Island. But as be comes from a warmer climate, and as the weather has been rather severe during his sojourn in this Colony, I am afraid that he will go back not much improved in health. The island New Caledonia, which it seems Cook disoovered in 1774 and the French made in 1853 into a convict settlement, is about 240 miles long and has an average width of 25 miles. The country is generally mountainous, and some of its mountains attain an altitude of more than four thousand feet. The island was formerly a volcanic region, but all subterranean fires have long been extinct, and earthquakes are now quite unknown. The famous nickel mines extend on the east coast for about sixty miles. There are also mines of copper and of cobalt, bat gold has only been found in small quantities. Tha landscape is rich and varied, and countless streams, which the natives utilise often for irrigation, break the coast line. Tbe narrowness of the island, the presence of the ssa and trade windF, render the climate even pleasant and healthful. Th« temperature is never below 55 degrees Fabr. in winter, and never above 90 in summer. There are in the island a great variety of timber trees, and such fruits as bananas and cocoanuts grow wild. Indeed all the products of tropical climates and many of those of European countries flourish

exceedingly well. Therefore living is cheap, and there are, in the strict sense of the word, no poor people. The Marist Fathers have planted many vineyards, and produce all the wines used for the altar. December and March are the hottest and wettest months, and July and August are the main winter months. The mines are the great source of wealth. Bat some farming is done, and wheat and other cereals are grown on a small scale. As to animals, with tbe exception of rats and bats, there are probably no animals, but there is a great variety of birds and insects. The native population numbers 52,000, and they are very dark, and of two distinct tribes. There are the Papuans with black frizzly hair, and others more of the Malay race, but the two types mingle everywhere together. The French have more than once found the natives powerful antagonists as they are brave in war. One third of the native population are Catholics, the rest are pagans. The native Catholics are extremely attached to their religion, and whole families are distinguished for their piety. Morning an-i evening prayers are never omitted, and many Catholic natives attend Mass even every day. All the natives are settled on small sections of land, and are unacquainted with tbe habits of a nomade people. The white population amounts to 70,000, and with the exception of about 115 English, and a few white people of other nationalities, they are all Catholics and French, and speak the French tongue. The Bight Rev Monsignor Fraysee, 8.M., Vicar Apostolic of New Caledonia, resides at Noumea, the capital city, where there is a Catholic cathedral, which, like all the churches in tbe island, is built of stone. The Cathedral, which is 200 feet long, is a must beautiful structure, but not yet quits finished. There are in the colony 52 priests, one hundred nuns (Sistere of St Joseph of Cluny) 8 convents, and 80 parishes, or stations, as they are locally termed. There are also many day and boarding-schools, and tbe Marist Brothers have eight schools and one orphanage. Besides these establishments, which are intended mainly for white people, there is in each parish a special Catholic school for Native children, and upwards of 1500 Native children attend now these schools. There are, likewise, Government Becular cr nentral schools, as they are called, but most of the children frequent the Catholic schools. The Government hospital at Noumea is a splendid establishment, and there is located in the island a garrison of 800 soldiprs. The number of convicts at present is about 8000' and the prison accommodation is very great and perfect. People naturally suppose that it is most unpleasant to reside where there are so many criminals Bat persons generally in the island hardly know of tbe existence of the convicts, as they are so well guarded while under sentence, and tbe main trouble that colonists have is with an occasional balmly specimen of the emancipated. The chaplains who attend the State prisons and hospitals receive a Government allowance. A meeting of the Addington Catholic School Committee took place on Bunday afternoon last in the Addington School-chapel. Mr J. Bennell (chairman), Messrs Milner (secretary), Sellers, Pope, Delaney, and O'Callaghan were present. The object of the meeting was to arrange for a concert which is to take place on Tuesday evening next in St Patrick's Hall, Barbadoes street, in aid of the school. It was proposed and at once agreed upon that the services of Mr John Driscoll Foley should be secured, and therefore this celebrated entertainer, who has provided a most attractive comic programme, will appear on tbe occasion. Mr Pope and Mr Sellers addressed the meeting, and a variety of matters incidental to the coming concert and to the school were discussed and agreed upon, and, among others, it was arranged that the committee should assemble once a month in order to more effectually advance the interests of the school. Tbe average attendance at the school during the past week has been 32 children. The sable reaper has again, after a short illness of three weeks, removed another mosti honoured member of the Catholic community of this parish in the person of Mrs Margaret,Garty, wife of Mr James Gary, railway hand. The deceased lady, whose demise, I regret to record, happened in the 58th year of her age, on Thursday last, at her late residence in Queen street, Sydenhatu, was an o'd dweiler in the borough, and leaves a husband and family of sons and daughters to mourn her loss. Her funeral, which was largely attended, taok place on Sunday last. — R I.P. The presentation of diplomas to the students of Canterbury College took place on Friday afternoon last in the College hall, which was as usual densely crowded. A large number of ladies were among the visitors, and the students of both sexes were located in the front seats. The male students marched iv, headed by their football banner and singing in chorus " Long live Canterbury College," and when seated they sang, to the strains of a piano, " Gaudeamus Igitur. " The door at the back opened at 3 p.m. and Professor Cook, Bishop Julius, and many more distingucs appeared on the platform. This superb party the maie students saluted by singing the grand lyric " The animals come in two by two." They sang also to the air of " The Vicar of Bray " another song descriptive of varions undergraduate troubles, and referring, in terms of ..he utmost frankness, to the peculiarities of their instructors. Professor Cook now read an address, and when this was concluded Mr A. C. Wilson, the Registrar, read a summary of the University's proceedings for the past year. Both papers, especially the first, were terribly long and replete with figures and collegiate matters and as dry as tbe sands in Sahara. But the students enlivened again the proceedings by singing a song to the air " Drink, puppy, drink," and another to the tune of " Killaloe." Professor Cook then handed the diplomas to the recipients, who were presented by Professor Haslam. The M.A. degree was conferred on two male students and the B.A: degree on eight ladies and on eleven gentlemen. Tbe successful candidates were greatly applauded and songs were again sung, Mr W. C. Waluer made a speech, at the conclusion of which, among other selections which the students sang, was one with a chorus in Maori. The chorus, which was set to the air " Tramp, tramp, the boys are marching," was fust sung, and the refrain is said to have been well sung, by the author, Mr Ngata, a native student from Te Auto», Hawke's B*y. Mr V. E. ;Bevan Brown made a neat epeech, and when, some more very unique music and lyric composition had certainly been both tastefully executed aud well rendered, tbe piocetdings closed.