ELLESMERE NOTES.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume XXI, Issue 13, 13 January 1893, Page 31

ELLESMERE NOTES.

(From an occasional Correspondent,) The festival day of Christmas was commemorated in a fitting manner at both Catholic churches in tbia district. The Rev Father Chervier celebrated two Masses in the Leeston Church in tbe morciDg, and one in the Southbridge Church at eleven o'clock. Both churches were beautifully decorated for the occasion, particularly the Southbridge one, which was very tastefully decorated with crosses and festoons of evergreens and flowers, giving that pretty little church a very pleasant appearance. At 4 o'clock in the afternoon devotions were held in the Southbridge church, and at half-past six Vespers and Benediction were given by the Rev Father Chervier of Leeston. The Baptist Union appears to be much annoyed at tha ac:ion of the Government in granting £500 to the Magdala Asylum, for at a conference representing the Baptists Churches of Canterbury and Westland, a resolution was carried strongly protesting against such grant. It is really amusing to see how far some people will allow ted-hot b gotry and religious animosity to carry them. Of course they clothe their objectioa with the excuse that this institution being nnder Catholic control, it is exclusively for Catholics, and anyone else entering it is likely to be proselytised. But it is a well-known fact that its doors are opened to all, aud that ihe religion of thoae entering it is in no way interferad with. Had the Government given a grant to Dr Bunardo'd Hion, which is nothing but a machine for proselytising young children, I am sura the Baptist Uaion would be the first to applaud its action. But because tbis grant has been given to a useful institution, erected and managed by Catholics, Messrs Olney, Birch, and the rest, must strongly protest against if. II Messrs Olney and Co , of the Baptist Conference, would only follow the noble example set them by the founder of the Magdala Asylum, I am sure the Government would equally recognise their action, for it was not any desire to benefit one denomination more than another that induced the Government to grant this sum, but because it recognised tbis institution as a benefit to the whole community, aud a noble example of charity and self-sacrifice.

Your correspondent, Mr W. J. Holly, has tiken me seriously to task for referring in my last letter to the registration of Caiholic voters in this dtstrict, in which be says I have misrepresented tbe Catholics of the district and written what was not tru°. How I can assure your correspondent that in writing as I did on the subject there was nothing farther from my heart ihan the desire to mierepreser^ anyone, and that what I stated was written with the very best intentions. I might poiat out to your correspondent that at the meeting held to consider Lis Lordship Dr Grimes' circular, amongst other resolutions ona was carried approving of the appointment of a committee. The committte, however, was not appointed at that

meeting, but it was understood by myself and others present that another meeting wonld be called to elect a representative committee of gentlemen from different parts of the district. This, however, has not been done here. The Rev Dr Kennedy passed through this district last week. On Sunday he celebrated Mass in the Leeston church, and in the evening he also officiated at Vespers and Benediction. — The Rev Father flolley has also been in the district for the past few weeks, on a visit to his friends. The annual concert and social in aid of the school takes place next Tuesday, the 10th inst., and, given fine weather, promises to be as great a success as usual. The committee have prepared an excellent programme and made every arrangement for a good evening's entertainment. Till within the past week the weather here baa been very dry and windy— the nor'-westers, which have not been very prevalent for the last few years, having returned, and on Boxing Day gave us an exhibition of their usual strength. During the past week, however, we have received welcomed showers of rain, which will greatly assist the filling out of the crops and also benefit the turnips and grass, A little harvesting is being done in some parts of the dietaict, but it will be a week or more before it is general.