AUCKLAND.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume XXI, Issue 12, 21 July 1893, Page 18

AU CKLA N D.

(From our own Correspondent.) July 13tb, 1893. A splendid pic'ure of the crucifixion, valued at £100, the work of Mr a renowned artist, has been presented by that gentleman to Bi Egau, wLu couleuiplalea aL au eaily dalts lmugiug il t»t Si Benedict's. This fine picture will add farther to the beauty of the church in Ne.vtoa. Father Buckley, M.A., is expected any moment from Sydney, and is to tike up his duties in this diocese. He was educated in Carluw College, and should be a wurtby acquisition to our diocesan clergy. At 8L Patrick's on last Sunday night week there took place a most highly edifying and devotional ceremony— the children of the parish offering an act of consecration to the Sacred Heart of Jesus. The girls all dressed in white with veils ; the boyß wearing cardinal sashes, the whole be iring lighted candles. Before the ceremony was a procession composed of the Children of Mary, Guard of Honour, in their respective regalias, the boys and the girls referred to above, and the altar boys. Father Gregory of St Benedict's, bore the Sacred Host under the canopy, borne by four of the Marist Brothers, followed by his Lordship the Bishop. The boys then assembled inaide the altar rails, the girls outside, when the Bishop read the Act of Consecration, the chil hen repeating it. The whole subsequently singing, accompanied by the organ, "To Jesus' Heart all burning." The sight was a grand one, and could not but arouse a religious feivour in those who took part in and witnessed it. The girls were under the harge of Miss Kate Sheeban, the boys under Brother Cuthbert. A large number of men-of-warsmen attend the second Mass every Sunday at Bt Patrick's, from the ships Orlando, Kitoomba, and Ringdove. The Katoomba'e are always to the fore, a fact to be attributed, no doubt, to her good Catholic commander, Captain Bickford, C.M.G. A musical and dramatic entertainment is take place next Mon. day evening in St George's Hall, Newton, m aid of St Benedict's Church Fnod. It is not the first time that I have referred to the indefatigable labours of His Lordahip the Bishop. On last Saturday evening he heard confessions at St Patrick's. On the following morning he celebrated first Mags there, and then celebrated episcopal High Mass at 11 a.m. at St Benedict's and also preached. In the evening he attended Vespers at St Benedict's. Our good Bishop does not spare himself in the execution of bis dntiea. Sunday last being the Feast of the pationage of St Benedict, Pontifical high Mass was celebrated at 11 o'clock by his Lordship the Bishop, Father Gregory, 0 8 8., deacon ; Father Gillan, sub-deacon ; Rev Father Downey, 0.8 B , assistant-celebrant. His Lordship delivered a splendid discourse on the life and times of St Benedict and his order, the powerful influence exercised by the latter on religion, science, and society. Refereace was also made to a Conncil of Benedictine abbots, about 500, heid recently in Rome, and the format'on of a grand college under the patronage of S: Anselm of Canterbury, a learned Doctor of the C'mrch and of t v ,e Order. The choir under the able baton of Dr Egan, 0.5.8., rendered Haydn's No. 1 in B Hit. M.sa Annie Lorngiu in her well-knowa etyle took the soprano solos, Miss Brannigan, alto; Dr E^an, tenor. A small but efficient orchestra was lead by Herr Zimmerman, Miss A. Mcllhone prePiding at the organ. During tbe Offertory an " Aye Pater," composed by the Rev Dr Turner, O S.B. was beiutifully sung. When che congregation waa dispersing the orchestra played the " War March of the tJneßtßt J neßtß " from Athalie. In the evening after Vespers Father Gillan preached a pnncgync on St Benedic'. The spacious Church was filled both morning an>l evening. Tbe annual social in aid of St Patrick's presbyttry building fund took place in St George's Hill on last Tueslay night week, and was a pronounced success in every way. Too much praise cannot be given to the good ladies of the committee who discarded all pleasure in order to contribute to the pleasure of other?. The committee comprised tbe following : — Mesdames Leonardo and Guscott, the Misses I Sheehan, Gougb, Hickson, Harkins, Martin and Ryan. Colonel Fox's report on the local volunteer forces has been honest, outspoken, and to the point. Like the Duke of York's famous warriors, they are formidable to everyone but tbe enemy. It is really time this tOD expensive game of playing at soldiers came to an end. Colonel Fox's leport sta es that up to the present time we have spent £300,000 in defences (?) and continue to spend "a considerable amount annually." " The vote has averaged £83,435 during tbe past eight years." Over h *lf a mill ioq in eight years and what have we to show for it? Absolntely nothing. Far better to have spent it in regaining the public estate. One would imagine that we bad an Alsace-Lorrctine to wrest from a greedy neighbour, or an ambitious young man at our head eager for military renown. It is about time this costly farco was ended ; coma along the Iconoclast. At a meeting of the Board of Eiucation held on July 4, a letter from hie Lordship Dr Luck was read as fallows :— " In pursuance of the powers invested in you by section 97 of ths Education Act, I

woold respectfully request you would be pleased to authorise the inspection of the Catholic sen ols in this district by your inspectors, these schools being private schools in the meaning of the Act, and are under my general management. May I trust that as the cause of education and the promotion of secular knowledge is the ruling aim and object of your Bjard. you will kindly extend to the private schools in question the undoubted benefit of professional inspection which these schools are entitled to look for at your hands. My only object in making this request is to ensure the efficiency of my schools in secular knowledge, for the benefit of the children and the satisfaction of (he parents." The chairman suggested that the matter should be adjourned until next meeting, when more members might be present. Mr Luke said he would oppose such an application. Mr Grant said the Boaid had no power to refuse. The chairman eaid it would be as well to cjDslder the whole Ac^and the Bjard decided to defer consideration. Exactly. Iq the interim ample time will be devoted not ouly to "consider the whole Act," but to "consider " the religious bogey and work it up. It always turns up trumps, and serves ever so many requirements. Will it fail this time 1 The local police authorities are at present making strenuous efforts to eradicate the dene of iniquity in the city. They have a tough job on hands. Speaking of the brutal marder of Pert by the " Miller's Point push " in Sydney, the local Herald says : -" And yet the city (Sydney) iB full of churches, and missionß are sent to the henthen in the South Sea Islands."— The efficacy cf these the Herald ignores, and pins its faith to " an Act auhorising the use of the lash to larrikins convicted of raiding small shops or maltreating defenceless men." The lash would but drive it beneath the surface, to break forth with renewed vigour — crime, meanwhile, having a long start. To make myself clear— years before the application of the cat the schoolroom should be tried —not the one now used— it has failed, hut the Christian school. It is impossible to erect a three-story edifice by commencing at the second. You must establish a foundation, In the case of the youth, to begin with the lash is like commencing at the second story, inevitably ending in destruction. In the advertisement calling the Grand Orange Lodge together for the eveniDg of the Tweltb appears the following :— " Wanted — One thousand loyal voices to sing ' Rousd Ye, Ulster ' on the occasion '. When their compatriots ia the other hemisphere were last " roused '■ the unfortunate Catholics paid out of it— to wit, Harland's yards, the factories, and last, but not least, Connolly's " pub." What effect the war-song will have on the local "preservers of the Empire" is a matter for conjecture ; but I think their militant strength begios and ends in talk. The London correspondpnt of the Herald sends the following :— " Miss Lottie Collins (of ' Ta-ra-ra,' etc., fame) sprained her ankle while dancing the other evening. Dr Sharmau, of Onehunga, N.Z., was present, snd atteuded to her injury."— Did " our own " imagine that we antipodeans were interested in Lottie's mjared ankle, or that the medico from our p?ns'on<T settlement had bandaged it 1 Wnat nonsense to Bend 10,000 miles 1