CHRISTCHURCH.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume XXI, Issue 25, 20 October 1893, Page 20

CHRISTCHURCH.

(From our own Correspondent.')

Tflis has been a particularly dull week, &s not a single scrap of Ohnrch news is reported—except, perhaps, that which is part and parcel of it, aod that is education. There has been a great deal of correspondence in the daily papers lately concerning the education question. Several of our leading divines have been interviewed by a representative of Truth, and their opinions published. Commencing with our own Bishop, his views, of course, we all know by heart. Then the Anglioan Bishop's are somewhat similar, seeing as he does the justice of oar claims, and the right we have to undertake the education and moral training of oar own children. In doing that we take the responsibility off the State, and have an equal right to the capitation granted to children in the State schools. The Jewiih Rabbi is perfectly satisfied with the present system, and small blame to him for it, as of necessity it suits him down to the ground just in tbe same way it would suit a Mahommedan or Turk, or any other antiChristian. Tbe dissenter*, one and all, would rather see the present godless system mpported than advocate anything in the shape of a grant to the Catholics. They have, without one exception, set themselves dead against it, I often wonder if they really think of what they aie doing or saying, for one moment's reflection would suffice to remind them that the Catholic Church is tbe source from which they have received their religion and the Bible they pretend to love so much.

la matters politic the cry is still register, register. Father Cummings announced on Sunday that there were close on 3,000 electors in Ghristcburch. Just fancy what could be done if all were united. I verily believe they could put in any man they chose. We have bad two political addresses during the week, and in both cages the candidates were treated very badly.

The opening of the boating season, which took place o.i Saturday afternoon was a decided success. This is the annual event, from which date ladies usually don their summer frocks (weather permitting), but ths weather did not permit, and consequently not one summer dress did I Bee. However, the ladies were in strong evidence on boating day, and a very animated scene the banks of the river presented from tha East Belt bridge to the Stanmore bridge. Fl»gs of various colours were displayed on the sbeds of the Canterbury, Avon, and Union clubs, the procession of boate, nearly seventy in number, gaily decked with flowers and evergreens streaming down the river, which looks its best at present with the fri ge on both sides of lovely drooping willows, is a beautiful sight, and it is no wonder that it attracts such crowds of people. The water cycle exhibited by Mr Lett is a great novelty, Tbe machine consists of two cigar khaped cylinders fixed on a light iron frame about three or four feet apart, upon which is mounted an ordinary bicycle frame and saddle, the gear of which is connected with an axe. Od the ends of the axie are two ordinary paddles. The driver works this in the ordinary way and Beers it by an ingenious little rudder behind him.