AUCKLAND.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume XXI, Issue 8, 23 June 1893, Page 29

AUCKLAND.

(From our own Correspondent,)

June 15, 1893. Corpus Christi was celebrated in St Patrick's Cathedral on last Sunday week. I have never seen so many approach Holy Communion as I did at the first Mass on that morning. Sis times were the rails around the altar filled by the communicants, to accomplish which required no small number. The Guard of Honour, in large numbers, and Children of Mary in regalia, also approached Holy Communion. The Guard of Honour choir sang splendidly ; too much praise cannot be given to the soloists, the Misses A. and C. Lorrigau. At the second Mass the H.A.C.B. Society and the Auckland Catholic Literary Societies attended in great force and received Holy Communion. To see so many young men performing their religiora duties is a real good sign. In the afternoon at three o'clock an exposition of the Blessed Sacrament took place, the altar waa most tastefully and sumptuously decorated. The B' eased Sacrament remained exposed throughout the afternoon till Vespers, the faithful in the interim attending in large nu-nbers and piyinsj their homage. At Vespers the church was packed, numbers of people having to go away nnable to gain admission. Father Djyle preached a telling sermon clearly tracing the origin, source, infallibility and authority of the Catholic Church. A proccession afterwards took place through the aisles, after which the boys and girls who took part therein ranged themselves around the altar, each holding a lighted candle and singing a hymn to the Sacred Heart of Jesus, the panderoua orgtn, accompanying the fresh young voices. Tne effact on a cougregaion of sucn ceremonies is, I feel certain, of a most beneficial nature.

His Lordship the Bishop returned last week from his episcopal Tisit to Gisborne, being accompanied by Father Kehoe, who pays a short visit to the hot spriDgs.

Dr Egan, who is in charge of St Benedict's recognising the the powerful auxiliary to religion of a good choir, has established a society Cilled the " Oeciliin," wherein mnsic on the Sol Fa sys em is to be taught under Mr Cranwell. Father Egan is to be highly commended for his endeavours in this direction, and I hopo success will crown them.

After Mass on the first Sunday of tht month at Devon port a meeting of the parishioners, presided over by Father Hackett, Adm., was held to discuss the ejection of the new church. Most satisfactory progress was made, and a committee was appointed to wait upon Dr Egan with an offer for the old church of St Francis da Sales. If a bargain can ba struck with the Benedictines tha church mention? i will be taken across the water and re-erected, if not, then a new building will be started.

Last Sunday the feast of the Sacred Heart was celebrate! at the Church of the Sacred Ueart, Poneonby. High Mass wae celebrated at 10 a,m. by Father Doyle, deacon and subdeacon Fathers Gregory and Gillan. His Lordship the Bishop was present. The choir under Mr W. E. Baxter, performed in grand style " Kalliwcda's Mass " and the " Ecce Sacerdos." Soprano solos were taken by Misses Rita Tole, O'Sullivan, and Kearney ; altos Miss Darby and Mrs Balph ; tenors, Hon J. A. Tole and Mr Balph ; basses, Messrs Parish, Ratcliffe, and Darby. At 3 p.m. an exposition of the Blessed Sasrament took place-

At Vespers His Lordship again attended and preached. Giorza't Vesper service was performed for the fi '•st time in Auckland. Owing to the crowded state of the Church the intended procession had to be abandoned. Catholicity generally ia th : s parish is in a most flourishing condition.

Some busy-body in petticoats bad the presumption to place Monsignor McDonald on the committee of the Ladies' Franchise League. When apprised of it the genial Monsignor sent, in hot haste a disclaimer.

TbeoEophy still holds the boards in this city. A letter in dtfenoe of this latest craze has appeared signed by a " A clergyman of the Cbnrch of England." This drew a letter from the Anglican Bishop, " who had reason to believe the writer was not a " clergyman of the Church of England." In a footnote the editor assured His Lordship that the writer in question was one of his own clergyman. You ought not to be surprised at one of " your own " taking flight. At the last annual meeting of the local branch of the British aod Foreign Bible Society you told us that frte interpretation of the Bible was responsible for a number of the sects around us. That's it ( " your own " with the aid of midnight oil has been delving into his Bible.

Mr Patrick Nolan of the Herald staff has been promoted to the responsible position of chief reporter to the N. Z. Times Wellington, In him the local paper loses an indefatigable, conscientious, nonet t and upright young man, whom to know is to respect. Pat, as he is familiarly know, is an example to our young men. Born in Auckland of good Irish parents, he received bis primary education in the Catholic schools in this city. At the early age of eleven he left the care of the pedagogue, and started work at the Herald to learn the composition, next becoming reader. At the same time thin young plodder devoted his spare moments to study and the acquisition of shorthand, aod seven years ago he was rewarded by promotion to the literary staff of the Herald. For the last two sessions he has been Parliamentary reporter, and on several occasions performed sub-editorial work. At the social re-union of the Auckland Journalist's Institute last Saturday evening Mr Berry, the editor of the Herald, paid high compliments to Mr Noiao. "The qualities," he said, "which had first attracted his attention to Mr Nolan were his quiet methodical way of goiDg about his work, his carefulness, accuracy, and patience. In all his actions Mr Nolan was actuated by high moral principles. The Hon Mr SeddoD, Premier, fully endorsed the remarks of the chairman respecting Mr Nolan. 3e had been acquainted with Mr Nolan for some time, and he believed in the future as in the past Mr Nolan would make a good record. High testimony this, but in every way richly earned and deserved. Added to the foregoing qualities Mr Nolan is an exemplary Catholic, and his mundane advancement does not, as in some cases, lessen his love and veneration for his faith. Though never having seen the land of his fathers, yet his knowledge and love of Ireland are deep and heartfelt. L^st evening the Auckland Catholic Literary Society gave a farewell social to Mr Nolan Ther« were present the R«v Fathers Hackett, Lenihan, and Gill&n the president, Mr E. Mabony, Hons W. Jennings, M.L.O ; J. A. Tole Inspector Hickson, Mr W. J. Speight, and a large n.mber of ladies and gentlemen. Father Hackett, the president and the vice-piesi-dents, Messrs W. E. Hackett, and D. Flynn, and the Hons Tole and Jennings spoke in high terms of Mr Nolan. Father Hackett, oa behalf of the Society, presented Mr Nolan with a handsome work, " Teachings of the Catholic Church." Mr Nolan left for Wellington to-day, and if good esteem and wishes count for anything be ought, aod I am sure will prosper by leaps and bounds.

A Mr Bullen recently wrote to the Press here deploring the shocking English spoken by the colonials, and attributed the fact to the presence in the public schools of Irish and Scotch childreo, from whom the " Hinglish " contracted idioms, etc. In this case I am certain the kettle is blacker than the pot. Go among the " tykes " in Yorkshire, the " Geordies " in Lancashire, the "cockneja" im London, and finally "doan to Z>omerzet " (Somerset), and you will imagine yourself to have been in four distinct nationalities, •peaking divers tongues, and every one of them in the most execrable pigeooEnglish. In the correspondence which ensued, the sons of the Emerald Isle and the country north of the Tweed certainly bested John Bull, A " cockney " wrote to say that dropping the "a " And

using it when unnecessary did not show ignorance any more than the Frenchman did when he dropped the " t " at the end of a word, but tbe editor covered bim with confusion by tacking to bis (cockney's) letter the following :—": — " Two Englishmen landed at Castle Garden, and saw the 'Bird of Freedom ' over the enrmce to a public building. Said tbe first, pointing to it, ' Is that a howl V ' No,' said the second, ' it's an 'awk.' A cockney new chum who overheard their remark chipped in with • Yer bout of it ; it's a heagle ; the hemblem of this bloomin' country." Bill Sykes and Giles " hindignant " at the " Hir sh " brogue is not a bad one.

The Gumfield'a Commission is now taking evidence in this city, and some of it, too, is remarkable. Two objects tha commission seemingly keep in view, viz, "Sbon'd a tax be placed on gum-diggers ; and is tbe Austrian inn x to the gelds for tbe good, or otherwise, of the Colony ?" In tbe first instance the consensus of opinion so far is against imposing a tax, and in the second all hands are down oa the poor Croatians. Theevilencj against the Austrians is most contradictory. All agree that they are honest, industrious, pay the storekeepers, and avoid the "pub." Hou B. Mitchelson, than whom no one knows more of the gumfleldp, testified to all this ; but when asked by the chairman whether he thought them desirable colonists, the bon gentleman answered " No ; because they did not bring with them wives." Are not tbe thinkers in the Colony deploring the low rate of marriage ? Why, then, object to honest and industrious bachelors settling here. The fact is these men are the foots ools of politicians, to be used for party purposes. Mr Seegner, the acting Austrian Consul, gave evidence, but from bim, like Brutus, was received the •' unkindest cut of all." " They are honest, hard working, and thrifty ;" and then this representative of Austria said of tbe Austrians, "I do not think they are very desirable importations.'" It is to be hoped that the " acting " of this acting Consul will be noted in Vienna. Further developments in connection with this commission will be eagerly watched.

Our local Liberal Association keeps not abreast of the times, but miles ahead of them. They issued last week a programme, which was " unanimously adopted," of seventeen clauses. I will select five of the " most advauced "of them. No 2. Constitutional reform by providing for an elective Governor, and the abolition of the Lpgislative Council. 4. State bank of issue. 7. State ownership ot mines and gumfialds. 8. Coaßtal steam 9eivice to be ownei by the State. 11. Noabsentees to own lands in the Colony after five years from the passing of the Act. The vast majority of Liberals, I think, would much prefer to be hurried along at locomotive speed upon the track of reform, but would strongly object to tha speed of the electric spark by which the Auckland Liberal Association means to jouroey.

Since writing the foregoing tbe Prenier has attended a meeting of the Auckland Liberal Association. With the Prime Minister it was a case of s*ve me from my friends, but bo took time by the forelock and "saved" himself. "Their programme was a nice little one," said he, " but I tell you at once it is one that I cannot swallow." Father on he said :—": — " The programme of your Association was, no donbt, submitted very much in the same way as a programme was submitted to a debating society." "Io an academic sense," to use a Balfourism, which means that the Association can practice and improve themselves as mock legislator, but must not endanger the Government which they seek to strengthen, and Mr Seddon said : — " I am going to lead, and not be led." It is absurd to imagine the •' tail wagging the dog "

A highly successful concert and dramatic performance in aid of the Sacred Heart parochial gchool, was held in tbe Catholic Institute on Tuesday evening last. The hall was well filled, as it deserved to be.

" I know men and women — and I am sorry that they bhould be in this country — who took exception to the Magdala vote." So spoke the Premier in his public address in the City Hall on last Tuesday evening, Arguments to such people, hon sir, are thrown away, you might as well try to make the mighty Niagara roll back to its ■onrce.

Replying to a deputation of tbe Mayor and city councillors, the Premier promised to facilitate the handing over of the domain to the Corporation. When it is effected this body will need watcbing that this vast reserve will not be encroached upon with pilatial residences, under the plea of providing revenue for maintenance, as in the case of the Albert bark, which, by this sbort-S'.gbted policy, was made about the size of a cabbage garden.

Deputations representing all matters poured in upon the Premier while in the city, but I doubt if among the whole of them one came up to the gum-digger, who protested against the Austrian influx because they were " slaves, kith and kin, to the savage hordes on the North-western frontier of India. The men on the gumfields thus, by sending their money home to their friends, were oreating a great danger to the Indian Empire." No '< little Englander" about this digger. The pity is that he should waste his time and vast research upon so lowly ao occupation as the spear and Bcraper ; and he should at once be brought under the notice of Mr Cecil Rhodes.

" Whether is the pen mightier than the voice 1 " This formed the subject of a dehate last week at a meeting of the Auckland Catholic Literary Society. A decision in favour of the former wu given,