AUCKLAND.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume XXI, Issue 24, 31 March 1893, Page 31

AUCKLAND.

(From our own Correspondent.) March 23. His Lordship Bisbop Luck is still continuing his annual round of Episcopal visitations in the diocese. After visiting Tanracga he journeyed overland to Rotorua, thence through the Waikato, whence he returned to Auckland to be present at S' Patrick's Day celebrations in the city. He has since begun his journeys goiDg hence to Coromandel. Rev Father Anderson has arrived here on a tour in the coloniesi collecting funds for the erection of a church in Rome to be dedicated to St Patrick. He leaves for 'Frieco by the Mariposa on Saturday next. St Patrick's Cathedral was thronged on iaet Sunday evening to listen to the Rev Father Hacketfa panegyric on St Patrick. I forward a synopsis of it, therefore I refrain from describing it. It was a magnificent oratorical effort. The large number of Irishmen and women who formed the congregation will, I feei certain, be the better of it — better Catholics and better Irishmen, and coming as it did from one who felt as they felt it went straight home to their hearts and consciences. On Monday morning last the Rev Dr Egan, assisted by Fathers Gillan and Gregory performed the ceremony of bleßsing the new school now compleel on the church grounds, Ponsonby, Father Lenihsn P.P., Parnell, assisted the choir on the occasion. On the night of last Tuesday week at the meeting of the Auckland Catholic Literary Society Mr J. O'Coanorread a paper on "Tom Moore." The reader was anything but complimentary to Moore, whom he branded as a place-hunter, and toady, whose patriotism was in no way to be compared to Tom Davis. Mr William Tola with great fire and energy defended More, and concluded by reciting the last verse of the song of O'Ruark. Mr Hickson and the president •poke against, while Father Hackett and Mr Stead supported Mr Tole in his defence of Moore, The opponents of Moore could easily have made out a stronger case. For instance, what more sycophantic production is there than " The Prince's Day, ' and his noted hankeiing after royalty and the aristocracy, etc. The Tery Rev Monsignore Paul has gone on a trip to the Kaipora where he is to spend a few weeks at the Makiri. The Rev Father Duffy, S.J., has very kindly consented to take up the duties of the Moniignore at Onehunga during his absenc*. Father Duffy has benefitted greatly by his stay at the Rotorua baths. One of the State schools not many mile 9 south of Auckland, and situated in the prominent district of that name, has, for the last month been closed in consequence of a loathsome disease having manifested itself in both sexes attending thereat. The facts of this alarmiDg case are well known to a prominent southern politician who lately travelled in the vicinity of this youthful den of iniquity, and who ever and anon holds up for admiration the State school "from which," he recently said, " in the future we may expect to turn out perfect men and perfect women." Like the ancient feast we have here the handwuting on the wall. Callous and stupid as the Bourbons, the warning is thrown away upon us until, like tbat dynasty, we will too late arouse ourßelvts when the whole fabric is tumbling about our ears. In my letter io the Tabtet of March 3rd, an error eccurs. ■' Ireland's wealth is one-fifteenth less than that of England " It should have read " one-fiftieth less." The enormous crowd of people who assembled at the Irish National concert n St James' Hall on St Patrick's night afforded the pick-pockets cow in our midst a Bplendid opportunity for plying their nefarious calling, and they were not slow to take full advantage of it. Purses and money were stolen early in the evening. The committee at once telephontd for the police, who promptly put in an appearance, bnt the '■ spielers " had flown. I referred in my last letter to an attempt, or more correctly attempts, to stifle the St Patrick's Day celebrations being made ia certain quarters. Ia one parish open hostility was shown up to within four days of the National Festival. This was sufficient to arouse the Irishmen and women to a sense of their duty, with the result that St Patrick's Day of 1893 eclipsed its predecessors in every way. I fervently hope that every attempt made like the one under notice will be met as promptly and effectually. On Tuesday night last the United Friendly Societies presented an address of farewell to Mr J. D. Connolly, U.S. consul. Tniß afternoon in the Chamber of Commerce His Worship the Mayor is to present to the same gentleman a purse of sovereigns oa behalf of the citiiens. Tbe Irish men and women present an address to him in St James' Hall, to-m irrow, Friday, evening. The address will be one of the best ever turned out from this city, costing £30. Next week, 1 will forward a description of it. The Irish ladies are sendiog to Mrs Connolly a beautiful inlaid table costing £10. Mr Connolly leaves by Mariposa on Saturday next.

We h-ive had a plethora of addresses from Southern politicians witnin the last few weeks. First we had Mr Rolleeton, pompously

dubbed by the local Tory Association m « Leader of ber Majesty 1 ! Opposition in the New Zealand Parliament." The member for Halswell may be a good Parliamentary tactician and debater, bnt as a platform orator he is at freezing point, possessing all the attributes of the poker except its warmth. This essay did not, certainly, improve the prospects of the Opposition in this centre. Next in order we had Sir Robert Stout, who modestly described himself as "only one of the rank and file of the Liberal party." The speech was able, instructive, and elevating. The definition of the New Liberals was effective. The distinction between the old and the new was that the former, in a great measure, looked upon the State as a foreign power, whereas the latter invoked, «nd would continue to invoke, its aid in the adjustment of social reforms in almost countless directions of which we, at present, little dreamed. He defended his administration for their part in connection with the land grant to the Midland Railway Company, alleging that the sncceeding Ministry abolished his safeguard of the "alternate block system " along the entire frontage. As usual with Sir Robert, he bestowed fulsome praises upon his alma mater, the edncational system. In short, the reigning party hare reason for congratulations in putting up Bir Robert to accomplish such an easy task as " confounding the politics " of the •' Leader of her Majesty's Opposition in the New Zealand Parliament." Not to be outdone, the Opposition returned to the fray with wh»t they fondly imagined was a trump card— a real workingman, who had been before the mast, who bad actually transferred himself from the Aventine to the Palatine, and was different from bis leader in that he could talk. Mr Brace, M.H.R. for Eangatikei, was the man from whom so much was expected. John Stewart Mill, Cobden, and Bright, and " when I sailed out of America," interpolated throughout with bitter innuendos against the Socialists now reigning in New Zealand towards whom, in all the land, there was no more formidable opponent than " I," the memoer for R*ngatikei. Such wasithe text of the speech intended to reeuscitate the hopes of the residue of the continuous party. Of the pernicious results on tne colony by means of this continuous Ministry, Ancklandsrs know much through long and bitter experiences when perhaps Mr Bruce was standing by his titter. That some one else should have a show, Mr Brace half admits, because he informed us that he would shortly retire from politics. Is it that he possesses sufficient prescience to judge that the present " outs " are destined for some time to remain out 1