AUCKLAND.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume XXI, Issue 16, 18 August 1893, Page 25

AUCKLAND.

( From our own Correspondent,) August 10, 1893. In my last letter I stated that his Lordship the Bishop bad made arrangements to obtain more Maori missioners for this diocese througo Cardinal Moran. This was a mistake ; it should have been Cardinal Vaughan, His Lordship the Bishop preached at St Patrick's laßt Sunday evening on the subject of education, and the obligation of Catholic parents therpto. He referred to his application to the Education Board, and subsequently to the Minister of Education, eulogised the action of Father Hackett, and then spoke straight to those Catholics who ever pose as fault-finders with oar Catholic schools, and offer it as an excuse for their not sending their children to them. In scathing terms he alluded to the individual or individuals who, according to the local papers, dubbed themselves " leading Catholics," and who were about to resent this priestly intolerance. " Alas," said the Bishop, " for the Catholicism of these people." He then read from the address of the Außtralasian bishops that portion dealing with education. The whole of the discourse was timely, and produced, I feel certain, the desired effect upon those for whom it was intended. His Lordship promised that he would retnrn at an early date to this vital question. On last Sunday a well attended meeting of the Devonport Catholics, presided over by Father Hackett, at Devonport, in order to consider the proposed erection of the new church. Tbe committee appointed at the last meeting sent in their report. The churcb of St Fraccis de Sale, in Newton, was now to be had. Several sites were i t-übmiitei, which led to an animated discussion, and it was finally decided that the committee be instructed to make a further report on 1 next Sunday. It is to be hoped that a site will be at once chosen and the much-needed church erected thereon. In my la9t commumca'ion I referred t^ our Bishop's request to tho local Educition Board for the services of an inspector for tbe Catholic schools of the dis rict. Tbe Board refused to comply, whereat his Lordship aopeai' d to tbe Minister of Education, informing him of the refusal of the local Board to grant an inspector for 1 the Catholic schools. The lion W. P. Reeves, through his secretary, has replied to the Right Rev Dr Luck, It is a very carefully-worded document. It admits the correctness of the Bishop's interpretation of the E lucition Act of 1877 when he says : " Ihe Board has full powir to authorise the inspection for which you have applied, and if the Board were wil l ig, it c mid, without running counter to the Ac', comply with your request." And further, the Minister " tLiuks that no danger to the maintenance of the public school system would be involve in Buch comp'iar.ce." This is very nice and plausible, saying much, but meaning nothing, for tho hon gentlem in add 9, " On ' the other hand it aupenrs equally clear that the Act gives the Board discretion in th s m.tttr. aid that I have no power to coeice the Board ii either direction." ■• Discreuon in this matter," indeed ther is no uiscretion but downright bigotry, Gratuitoua advice is then g yen by the Minuter to the (fleet that the Supreme Court would be tribunal to settle it." H'B Lmlship has sent this Ministerial epistle to tha Board, with an accompanying note reiteratirg 1 his nipest for an inspector. There the matter stands at presen', but from my knowledge of the composition of this Board it is like I whistling jigs to miles'oms Inure are other and more effectual means yet nmainicg which, if properly and judiciously used, will secure ju3ti<.u to us.

As a result of the stand taken by Father Hackett, Sister Mary Borgia has assured me that the attendance at the Hobson streets schools has been and is steadily increasing. The same good news is told, me of the Marist school. Firmness was necessary. y I with some friends from the South, were shown over 8t Mary's drpbanage, Fonsonby, on one day last week by Father Hackett and the Sister in charge. The home is a mode! of cleanliness and reflects the highest credit on the good Sisters and Father Lenihan, the managerThe children's ages run from eighteen months to fifteen year*, and we were all particularly struck with the healthy and happy appearance of the children. What a flood of recollections and thoughts turge through one's mind in going through this place, and gazing opon the — babies some of them. To look upon these little waifs would melt the heart of a stone. Surely those who devote their lives to the happiness of these little ones will be amply rewarded by Him who said " suffer little children to come unto me." A sad and sympathetic scene took place dnring our vißit. Father Hackett made his way in the school to one of the girls whom he found writing a letter to her brothar in the Catholic Home at Stoke, Nelson. The good priest had the day previous received word of the death of that brother and had come to tell the sad news to the Sister. The letter remained unfinished on the desk, the good Sister removed the sobbing child, and everyone present was affected by tte touching incident. The bye-election has ended by a great victory for Mr Cadman. To everyone the large majority, 751, was a surprise. Had the contest taken place immediately after the Napier trial the verdict would not have been so pronounced. The fact is, that Mr Bees killed himself, be talked too much, and too often. He slashed out right and left, wherever a head appeared he struck at it, and made bitter opponents of quondam friends. Mr Oadman was the antithesis of all tbia, and by a few speeches — so few compared to bis antagonist — and personal intercourse with the electors he made hosts of friends and won a great victory. It is said that Mr Cadman is again likely to become Native Minister. That he was much malighed I believe, at the same time a Minister ought, like Caesar's wife, to be above suspicion. For the future he should avoid sharp-edged tools. A great nuisance during the late Cad man-Bees contest was the professional tout. These gentry, like the swallows, come and go. They injure those whom they seek to serve. 'Tis a pity they are employed at such work, and employed they certainly are, for it is not patriotism that moves them. Oh ! dear, no. At the Police Court last week a man was charged under the Vagrancy Act with having no lawful or viiible means of support. To the surprise of the Bench, but not of the police, he produced £25 io notei. His astute lawyer compared him to the hero in Victor Hugo's " Lea Miserables," who was hounded down by the police and driven into crime. The money and the oration secured his acquittal. Comparisons, it is often said, are odious, and in thia instance the French author's hero suffered beyond measure. The late fracas in the House of Commons afforded a great opportunity to onr Tory organ to have a fling at the Irish Party and people. It concluded at once that the Irishmen were the aggressors, but subsequent cables proved otherwise, when the over-aanguioe writer had once more to eat the leek. We have bad a most unprecedented rain-fall in thia district during the last three weeks. It has averaged sii inches more than the average fall of previous seasons. Passenger traios alone run to the Waikato ; the goods trains remain idle in consequence of the flooda. A passenger who came down from Waikato two days ago assured ma that at several places en route the water almost approached the floor of the carriage in which he travelled. Serious damage will ensue 'f the rain continues. At the last meeting, on Tuesday night, of the Auckland Catholic Literary Society, Mr McPherson, M.A., of Edinburgh University, r.ad a splendid paper entitled " Looking forward 100 years." Tie reader described the wonderful changes likely to take place 100 years hence. The application of science to mechanic! would work wonlere» dynasties rise and fall, political changes of a sweeping nature ; but in the midst of this chios the Catholic Church would alone remain nnchanged and unchangeable. Father Hackett and several members spoke in high terms of the paper.