WELLINGTON.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume XXI, Issue XXI, 7 April 1893, Page 18

WELLINGTON.

(From our own Correspondent.)

_ April 1. WE all kcow wbat good truth has done from time to time in exposing all kinds of jobs and tyrannical proceedings by those in authority, and the wonaer has often been how it maoaged, considering the the number of irons it had in the fire-to steer, if not clear of libels, at least of perpetrating blunders through being misinformed. Excepttons only prove the rule, as is fnlly verified by a recent article which appeared in Mr Üboucbere's paper. In its issue of the 9th February it says-" The New Zealand Legislature has been discusaing with a good deal of asperity ao item of expense in connection with a hamper of game that was sent to her Majesty the Queen during Jubilee year, at a cost to the Colony of £22 odd." The paper then goes on to say-" Tint Sir Patrick Buckley was knighted lately, and he though, fit to acknowledge tne honour by sending a present of game to the Queen. It is a little too much, that the taxpayers of the Colony should be called upon to pay for a Minister's private gift to Her Majesty, as she conld no doubt have easily dispensed with it and would no doubt hate done so had she known that the cost of the present wonld form an item in the public accounts of the Colony whi'at the donor would get a proper dressing down from the Colonial Office for his stupidity and absurdity." This and a great deal more in a somewhat similar strain does Truth say, which shows that Mr Labouchere has got the wrong end of the story altogether, the facts being s* follows:- During Jubilee year, a number of Christcharch gentlemen, being full of loyalty and the varions other good things , that were to be got at banquets and suchlike functions, determined in the cheap and fussy way for which people who are eternally bragging abant their loyalty are remarkable, to express their devotion to the House of Guelph by sending the Queen a hamper of the game of the Colony in a frcsen state, as being illustrative of the resourcea of New Zealand. These worthy loyalists in the Southern capital, hke their prototypes in other parts of the world, composed of, amongst others, a well-known (auctioneer, a popular hotel-keeper, and wishing rather to advertise themselves, than to express their loyalty, asked permission from the Government that the presanta.ion be made through the Agent-General. This was not a very great privilege, had these fussy gentlemen happily thought of the very necessary precaution of paying the freight ; but like all those who are consumed with an inordinate admiration for royalty, their thoughts were above such vulgar things as the freights of railway or steamship companies. The hamper went direct from Christchurch to the Agent-General, and thence to the royal household, and then, I naturally opine, it was sent to the servant's quarters, where very likely the royal fluokiee turned np their aristocratic nasal organs at the idea of being expected to eat game from the Antipodes, which, however suitable it may be f .i fussy loyalists, was not the thing for members of the royal honsehold. Sir Patrick knew nothing of the contents of the hamper, nor even that it was sent, until long after its receipt had been long forgo ton by the royal recipieat, whea the Government, in order to present the bills being hawked about, and very likely presented for payment (o Her Majesty's steward, liquidated the amount, the cum being charged to the" Colonial Sectary's contmgenoies." This is the mare's neit waich Truth has discovered, and of which he accuses Bir Patrick Buckley of being the author. Tbose who know Sir Patrick, and there are few better known public men in the Colony, would not for a moment think him guilty of that contemptible meanness of which he is accused by Mr Labouchere. The ceremony of the blessing and distribution of the' palms took place at the various churches on Sunday morning last. The Bey Father Briand officiated at St Mary of the Angels, Boulcott street, and was assisted by the Very Rev Father D voy, and at the Buckle street church the Bey Father Lewis blessed the palms and was assisted by the Rev Fa' hers Clancy. Bower, and O'Sullivan. I see that Constable Quinn.of Mastertrn, has been promoted to the eecond -class rank of constables. The Railway Commissioners have recently shown a certain amount of backbone which must commend their action to the fair, minded of the population. A cool request was made to them that they would permit pupils holding Fcbolarsbips to travel free from the Hott to Wellington. Those children have been educated at the primary schools of the Colony free rf expense, and now their education is free also at the secondary echools, but that is not sufficient. They are only charged on the railways at the rate of 10a per quarter or about 2d per school day, and for this they can travel any distance up to about fifteen miles. Still they are not grateful to a generous country. Very likely if this r quest were granted the next application would be for foot- warmers io the carriages or a dining car, in fact I do not think that some of those people would think it too 4 absurd if they were to have a special train run for their benefit. Among the visiors here during the week was Mr J. C. Corr, solicitor, formerly of Christchurch, on his return from the United States, where he has been for some time. The devotions of H >ly Week wcr-i carried out with great solemnity at St Mary's Cathedral and St Joseph's, there being no ser

vi«ei at St Mary of the Angels in conseqnence of the clergy being engaged at tbe Bnckle street church. On Thursday morning Mass was celebrated at St Joseph's Church by the Very Rev Dr Watters Bey Fathers Clac-cy and Bowden beiog deacon and sab-deacon respectively, and Bey Father Bower, master of ceremonies, and in tbe evening the Rector of 8t Patrick's preached a very eh qaent sermon on the Blessed Sacrament. Oa Fiiday morning the Mass of tbe Pre■anctified was said, and there was also the devotion of tbe Adoration of the Cross. On Friday evening tbe Office of Tenebrae was eung , as also on Wednesday and Thursday, by the college choir, coder tbe directorship of the Rev Father Braxmeier, M.A , the Lamentations being chanted by the Very Rev Dr Watters and the Rev Fathers Braxmeier and Clancy, A most impressive disc >urae on the Passion was delivered by the Rev Father Djvoy. On to-morrow morning at eleven o'clock tbere will be Solemn High Mass at St Mary of the Angel?, when the choir will sing Gounod's Messe Solennelle. There were large congregations at the cathedral at the evening devotions during the week. On Saturday morning there was Pontifical Higb Mass, at which His Grace the Archbishop officiated, the Rev Father Dawson being assistant priest, the Rev Fathers Briand and Clancy being deacon and sub-deacan respectively, and the Rev Father Power being master of ceremonies. The extraordinary activity of the Temperance Party in the furtherance of their propaganda for tbe adoption of tbe direct veto and oq behalf of the total suppression of the liquor traffic, anl the Boberising of the people by Act of Parliament, is causing some alarm to the opposite party. It is claimed now that the circulation of the Prohibitionist reaches the enviable total of about 20,000 weekly. Of course all of these are not sold, but even if given away, cannot fail to influence people in the direction of the opinions advocated by the temperance folks. There might be said to be three camps into which the public are divided on this matter ; the prohibitionist, the hotel keeper and his clients, and the neutral public. Whichever of the extreme parties will make the most converts from the central section is the one that will win. Tbe prohibitionists havd had the matter all their own way during the past, as they have recognieed the power of the Press and have been utilising it for the dissemination of facts and figures favourable to their cause. The drink party had wealth and influence on their side, and had to a certain extent the influence of the secular Press, which very often is ruled in its policy from a business point of view. The prohibitionists have used their opportunities to the best of tbeir advantage — so much so, that their opponents ate becoming alarmed and have determined to meet the enemy with his own weapons, that is organisation and the power of the Press. Accordingly thay have started a brewera' association with its head quarters in Wellington, and have secured the services of Mr Tbomas Bracken, as organising secretary, to travel through New Zealand, and very likely to do some literary work on behalf of biß clients. There are very few who know " Paddy Murphy," but will be highly pleased tbat be has fallen into a permanent billet, although many would perhaps prefer to see our laureate's pen engaged in a better and a more congenial cause. However, I must congratulate him on finding employment so soon after his arrival from the other si ie, whilst it is no less gratifying to us that so talented a man has not been lost to a country, whose praises he has so lovingly depicted in verges racy of the soil. Once again " on the best," authority an Opposition paper has it that the Hon Mr Ballance ia about to resign the Premiership, in consequence of continued ill-health. Those who move in " well-informed circles" do not placa tbe slightest credence in the report, as they say that Mr Ballaoco was not so well for a long time The rumour is father to the thought, as I have no doubt that the Opposition would only be too glad to see him out ot the way, a 9 be is no doubt a tower of strength to the Ministry, and hs retirement would certainly materially affjct their position in the North Island. The Freeman's Journal of February 13 contains a communication, from the Wellington branch of the Irish National Federation, covering a draft for £14 10s. the result of the proceeds of an entertainment held in this city about tbe end of last November. Tbe secretaries, Messrs M'Allster and ODea", apologise to a certain extent for the smaliness of the amount, and they attribute this result, amongst other causes, to the fact that the Tablet threw cold water on the idea at that time if sending money out of the Colony when there were so many calls being made upon the Catholics of New Zealand. It is well, however, that a copy of your paper was sent also, otherwise a wrong impression might have been created as to the import of your remaiks, which per ainly were not diree'ed towards the raising of money by means of entertainments or socials. Some of the committee do not approve of tLe manner in which the Tablet waß drawn into tbe mater, since it bad nothing to do one way or another with the monetary result of the entertainment. [We have been unfairly charged with an attempt to throw cold water on any collection in aid of the Irish movement, if such a charge has been made. We merely referred to a state of things which we knew to exist. Our intention was not to discourage collection in New Zealand, but to give information in Ireland as to an unfortunate result of division,— Ed, N.Z. Tablet.]