WELLINGTON.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume XXI, Issue 3, 19 May 1893, Page 18

WELLINGTON.

(From our own Correspondent.)

May 12th, 1893 WB are advancing here in the hub of New Zealand. On all sides are to be seen evidences of increasing wealth, prosperity, ani hat, but not least, population. To provide accommodation for the ever-growing cambers of Catholic children, a new school was blessed by his Grace Archbishop Redwood, on Sunday, April 30: h, in ike presence cf a numerous body of Catholics Only one wing of the building h«s been completed, which is sufficient to relieve the immediate pressure for school space which the Newtown district requires. After the ceremony bis Grace delivered a characteristic and stirring address, denouncing the law which compels Catholics to support a godless system of education. The school opened on Mon. day, May Ist, with attendance 150, which increased by the end of tbe week to 175. The Archbishop passed a Ligb eulogium on the Tery Rev Father Devoy, V.G., tbe popular P.P. of Te Aro and Newtown, for bis untiring seal and energy in this good work. Bis Grace has tince left Wellington for Nelson.

On Sunday last at the church of St Mary of the Angelp, Boulcott itreet, High Mass was celebrated by the Very Rev Father Devoy t after which the Blessed Sacrameat was exposed until Vespers. The choir aaog Gounod's Metse SolennelU, and at t c offertory Mis 9 Bobs sang Cherubini'e "Are Maria," with violin obbligato by Mr Hingott. Sevtral members of the London Gaiety Company's orchestra assisted the local choir. At the end of Macs tte orchestra played a brilliant march.

The numerous fiiends of the Rev Father Briand, S.M., will be interested to learn that, after having been stationed here as curate at 8t Mary of the Angels', he has been removed to Christchurcb. The Te Aro people will feel his loss very much, as he was a most zealous and kind priest .

The reference in the leading columnß of your excellent journal to the sad death of the Premier, Hon John BalUnce, was a graceful aDd well deserved tribute. Only a few among the many who mourn the great man's demise can realise what a loss the country has Euffered, for he had a giant intellect and a most kind and loving na'ure. His colleagues, old ond grizzled politicians some of them, whose feelings one would think steeled against the ordinary weaknesses of our nature, were so overcome as to shed tears over bis grave at the burial ;

of th : s lam assured by a bystander. In any country under the son possessing free institutions, Mr Ballaoce would have risen to eminence for Ms talents were combined with unflagging energy and a temper that nothing could ruffle. May his memory iemain ever green In New Zealand ! and may the movement which haa been started in Wellington to erect a national memorial to the deceased statesman meet with tbe highest success ! By generonsly responding to it tbe people of New Zealand will show the world that they are not ungrate* ful for tbe great talents devoted to their service and the noble life laid down in their cause. This tribute from the people will be some conaoUtion to Mrs Ballaoce in her terrible bereavement.

Tha Very Rev Dr Waiters, S.M., rector of 8t Patrick's College must have felt very happy on the eve of bis departure for France to attend the general chapter of the Marist Order. He was the recipient of two a idr asses, one from the students, and one from a com* mtttee of gentlemen representing the Catholics of Wellington. Irishmen all over New Zealand can see by reading tbe address of tbe students bow faithfully and well the rev rector has endeavoured to inculcate a love and respect for Ireland, and will join in wishing him God speed and a safe return, I append an account of the proceedings taken from tbe Putt I.—1 .—

The first address presented to the rector was from the scholars, an) was read by Mas'er Bernard McCarthy as follows : —

" Very Rev and Drar Father, — A few days ago it was our privilege and joy to tender you our heartfelt congratulations on your festival day ; now it is with feelings of regret that on this occasion of your departure we gather foodlj round you to present this address as a token of our affection. We shall feel your loss tbe more keenly as it was from you that we have ever received advice in cur difficulties, sympathy in our anxieties. Ton have always bad the seasonable word to counsel, check, or reprove us when erring, to cheer and animate our seal when flagging, either in tbe study hall or npon the athletic field, We will ever cheriih those principles of rectitude which by your word and example have been impressed upon us— to love our books as we love our neighbours, to love our neighbours as ourselves, fidelity to our cause, constancy of purpose, unremitting application, respect for our masterr, all based upon the vivifying virtue of faith— the faith of our fathers. Another feeling we treasure, one that has waxed strong beneath your rule ; we mean our love for Ireland. 'We look to a land both old and young. Old in its Christianity, young in the promise of the future ; a nation which received grace before the Saxon came to Britain, and which has never quenched it ; a Church which comprehends in its history the rise and fall of Canterbury and York.' At present the eyes of the world are upon her. 'The whole faculty of the naion,' as Q rattan siid, lis braced to tbt act of her own deliverance.' May it be your happy lot to salute her a nation once again. In conclusion, dear Rev Father, accept our feelings of sincere regret at your departure, temporary though it be, our prayers for a prosperous voyage and a Bpeedy return and this Bmall memento as a sjuvenir of the students of St Patrick's " Signed on behalf of the Btudents by Eugene K. X mbell, John A* O'Conuell, Patrick Fay, Jamea Taylor, MeWille Crombie, George Mahorey, Hugh McDonnell, W. Tallon, Bernard McCarthy, F.Grace, Martin J. Ryan, J. Butler. P. J. Garvey, J. McArdle, F. K. Kennedy L. J. Ryan, May 9;b, 1893. ' Tbe Rector was also presented by Master R. Loughman with a beautiful bouquet of flowers, and by Master John Brady with a black silk wa'cn chain, bearing three gold bands. Oa the centre band was on one side the inscription : ' From the students of St Patrick's College " and on the other the Rector's monogram, "F. J.W." On the band at one end was engraved on ona side the date " 1885 " (the year in which the college was established), and on tbe other the welcome " Aye," while the band at the other end of the chaii bore on one side " 1893 " and on tbe other tbe farewell ' Vale." Sir Patrick Buckley than presented an address to tbe Rector by the request of the members of the committee who had prepared it. The &ddre9s was as follows :—

" Dear Dr Wattere,— On the eve of your departure for the old country we desire to express to you the respect and gratitude which we owe to you. We should indeed be wanting in our duty if we did not cordially recognise tbe qualities and the ability of which, in your residence among u9 for eight years, you have given ample evidence. You have been not only the guide and the teacheT, but for many of us the companion and the friend. Zealous and energetic to the utmost in the cause of Catholic education in the Colony, yon have devoted yourself heart and pool to its advancement ; and it is to your ceaseless and unwearied tfforts that St Patricks College owes its wonderful success. When in 1884 we saw its foundation laid and its walls raised up we c r uld not help feeling a legitimate pride in the thought that the difficul'iea under which Catholics labour here had not prevented us from making co great an «ff jrt. But now we can approach you with greater pride and thankfulness ; pride, because the institution established by our people has prospered beyond our hopes ; thankfulness, because by your erjerey and abili'y it has been raised to a level where it holds its own even wiih the highly endowed secondary schools of New Zealand. We recognise also thoroughly that you have not confined yourself to imparting to our boys the mere dry, ordinary scholastic tuition ; you have followed the highest

traditions of Catholic education in morality aid religion, and you have also taken care that in physical and inte lectual accomplishments the boys of St Patrick's should be well fitted for the lives of good citiz >ns and thorough gentlemen. Bnt, as we have already eaid, we are bidding good-bye to-day, not only to the restor of th« college, but also to a friend. There are many in this Colony (and we may speak now for non-Catholics as well as for Catholics) wbo will miss yon greatly during yonr absence ; and when, after your holiday, yon return once more amongst us, we will gladly welcome back the bead of our college to toil for ourselves and the children of Wellington, tbe friend and fellow-citizen whem we have learned in these past years to love and to revere." The address was signed on behalf of the subscribers by Sir P. A. Buckley, Hon Dr Grace, M.L.0., Dr Cahill, and Messrs J. Cumin, C. M. Crombie, B. J. Collins, Martin Kennedy, B. P. Collins, B. O'Connor, H. McCardell, W. C. Gascoigne, T. J. Davis, W. M. Maskell. B. A. Loughnan and P. S. Garvey (hon secretary and treasurer). Sir Patr ck Buckley, in making the presentation, said be hoped the cheque would enable Dr Watter* to enjoy tbe holiday he bad so richly farced. He had never been called upon to perform a duty whiefa bad afforded him such sincere gratification as to be present on that occasion to do honour to a gentleman who had been instrumental in placing their boys in tbe highest possible position in which they could be placed. Tbe college would now b~>ar favourable comparison with any other similar institution in tbe Colony, and he hoped that the prediction of the collegians would be verified, and that Dr Wattcrs would Bee before long io College Green their hopes and aspirations verified. He (Sir Patrick) sincerely hop id to be there alto to have the pleasure of shaking Dr Watters by the band on that classic spot (applause). Dr Watters bad been singularly fortunate during his occupancy of the post of rector, and there had been nothing but a series of successes from beginning to end, not only in matters scholastic, but also in the cricket field and in other places where they bad competed. He felt he was parting with a friend, but in the name of those present he wished Dr Watters a prosperous and happy journey and a speedy return to his old college, where he might rely on a hearty welcome (applause}.

Tbe Very Bey Dr Waiters, who seemed deeply aff jc ed, ia returning thanks, remarked that from tbe beginning of the college be had bad the support and stout sympathy of many not now present, and after a while of parents from tbe North Cape to the Bluff, and from Hokitika to the extreme Bast Coast. But he did not claim this tribute for himself, he was not weak or vain enough to accept it as a perronal tribute, but be accepted it as a recogniiion, in the face of many hostile forces about them, of bonest work done, and of gcod material turned out (applause). He wished tc say that he had certainly fallen on fortunate times in that college. He bad there— and those who bad known their services would recognise them— tbe support and the constant sympathy of a staff of men whose equal he had not seen for devoedness, energy and ability, and for unflagging perseverance (cheers). Many of them who bad been with him tn the anxious, daikeome moments of the founding of the college were present to-night in the presence of their distinguished Vicar-General the Very Hey Father Devoy. If the college had attained in the athletic field some success ard some moral accomplishments, they were attributable entirely to the unremitting t Sorts of the dstinguisbrd professors, both lay and ecclesiastical. He also wished to pay a tribute of thankfulness and giatitude to the honest labours of the attendauts of tbe college, who had presented him with a substantial cheque on their own behalf, and he also wished to acknowledge tbe great sympathy and assistance given to tbe college by tbe enterprising and intelligent Press of Wellington. After pacing a high tribute to tbe conduct of the boys of the college, he concluded by laying ti-at he hoped soon to come before them once more and again place bis services at their disposal (loud and long-continued applause) — Hearty cheers were then given for Sir Patrick and Lady Buckley, tbe Hon W. P. Beeves, and last, but by no means least, f^r the departing rector.

Oaf sign of prosperity in this city is to be notice.! in the number of buildings erected, or ia course of erection. Our merchant princes have traabformed the reclamation lately completed by the City Council into " a thing of beauty." New Bireets are formed in which are palatial structures finished in all the most modern and approved styles. To add to the general appearance of commercial prosperity, the Government opened, during the Eas'er holidays, a line of railway called the Te Aro Extension, which traverses tbe foreshore of tbe harbour from Tborndon to Clyde Quay. A magnificent new railway station has bjen opened at Te Aro, and the individual who for tbe first time lakes his seat iv a train leaving Te Aio will see a fine sight .s the train rolls on, tbe benutilul harbour with its busy wharves crowded with shipping from tbe ends of the earth on the one band, and the fine, rapidly-growing city with its numerous attractive buildings on tbe other. " A southerly wind and a clowdy sky Proclaim a hunting morn.' Who does not love tha " 6ouud of the horn " and the " cry of the pack" if he hails from tbe land of "rollicking Caarles Lever"? And ao I am pleased to say that tbe noble sport of hunting without

its afendant drawbacks, in tbe shape of damage to growing crops or the poor farmer, or of cruelty (for it is, as a rule, a drag hunt), finds enthmiastic supporters in Wellington, foremost among whom are the popular Dr Cabill and Mr Skerrett, a leading Catholic lawyer in town, and his sister. I notice that his Excellency Lord Glasgow and Mta Hallowes rode out and witnessed the hunt last Wednesday, while a party from Government House viewed the sport from a special train running in the same direction.

The c mgregation of the faithful who attended nine o'clock Mast at tbe cathedral on Ascension Day, were impressed and edified by the beautiful appearance of the sacred edifioe, which had been decorated by taring hands for this occasion, it being, as well as a great festival of tbe Church, the most important day ia the lives of forty children boys and girls, who rec aired Holy Oommunion for the first time. Father Power officiated at the alter and the Tery Be? Father Dawaon, Adm, preaohed a magnificent and impressive sermon. The decorations were skilfully and beautifully arranged, the candles on each side of the tabernacle were so arranged as to represent a chalice, and the altar was laden with flowers. :

11 L$ roi ett mort, vite le roi 1 " Parliament, under ita new leader, is called together for the 22nd of Jane. The Hun Mr Seddon is to be congratulated on his accession to the Premiership. The Hon Mr Ward is said on all sides to be the right man in the right place m Colonial Treasurer, althoogh his position is an onerous one ; and following; each a magician in fijures as the late Premier, will sot make hit great task easier. Tbe last time I heard Mr Beddon was on the occasion of the banquet tendered to Sir Patrick Buckley by the citizens, when he (Mr Seddon) sang " The wearing of the Green " for which ha was vociferously applauded. He has many admirers in New Zsaland who will heartily wish him success in bis more exalted sphere.