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New Zealand Tablet, Volume XXI, Issue 32, 8 December 1893, Page 17

The Hon aDd Bey Father Pluakett, and the Rev Father Shearman, C.88.8. arrived in Dunedin, from Melbourne, on Sunday, en, route for Ohristchurch, where the Redemptorist Fathers are giring a mission. The rev gentlemen were the gnesta of the Bishop and the clergy of the mission until Tuesday, when they left by the 8.8. Flora for Lyttelton. On Sunday evening Father Shearman preached in St Joseph's Cathedral delivering an instructive and touching sermon on devotion to the Blessed Vi gin, as a preparation for the Fewt of the ImmacaUte Conception. The Bey Father is an impressive and earnest preacher, and his arguments were most logical and convincing. The church was crowded by a congregation whose attention to the sermon was marked in the extreme. Benediction of the Most Holy Sacrament was given by Father Plunkett.

The return of his Eminence Cardinal Moran is announced from Sydney, where, we need hardly add, his Eminence has been accorded an enthusiastic reception. We would add our respectful welcome to that with whxh he has been greeted.

The Redemptorist Fathers, during their short stay in Dunedin, also viyitel the Catholic schools, wbere the children greeted them with affectionate remembrance of their missions. The favour of the Fathers' visit to Dunedin, we may add, was accidental, as both the rev gentlemen belong to the community in New Bouth Walep, and, coming direct from their monastery at Waratab, would pass through Wellington instead of this city. All members of the Order hava Hlways a hearty welcome in Dunedin, both from the clergy and the laity— and, more especially, as a matter of course, those of them who, like Father Piunkett, are old friends, and have visited us on missions,— as we hope, sooner or later, they will again.

Last week a lecture was given in St Joseph's schoolroom, Dunedin, to the members of the confraternities of the Holy Family and Our Lady of Perpetual Succour, by the Key Father O'Neill, of Milton. The lecture, which wat extremely interesting, was illustrated by lime-light views—including scenes at Rome, Florence,, Pisa, Milan, and Venice, and in France and B*i zerland ; at well aa several of the old cathedrals of England, nnd places and rnins of note and historic associations in Ireland. The rev lee nrer dealt with bis subject in a very racy and entertaining manner, well sustaining throughout the interest and attention of bis audience. Miss O'Driscoll, during the evming, performed some charming and appropria'e music on the piano. Mr Marsden ekilfu'ly manipulaed the lime-light views.

With the m j irity of the active Irish forces in London (says the London correspondent of the Dublin Freeman) the present time is mo-tly one of preparation and of patting the bonse in order, co to Bpcak. Antnmn aiid winter programmes are being arranged in all th? centres that mean work. For mmy reasons the month of Sp. tember and the beginning of October mark v pariod of inactivity or stagnation. Hundreds of the more fortunate workers, whethtr the litterateurs or politicians, have gone to the conn'ry— in the tourist, not the political seDee. The It as-fortunate are then generally overwoaikd after tho dreary business of registrntii n, wl ich year after year calls for slecpVfS ci erpy and many sacrifices from some of the poorest of our people. T^e bent fit is only temporary— in fact, no tangible nault whatever may come of it, and the following year the

toilsome labour must be faced again — the whole reminding us of tbe story of the Sisyphean stone. Registration work in London is little more appealing in its way than penal servitude ; but the strenuous way In which it is faced year after year by the Irish in London — or seotions of them, generally tbose who are hardest pressed in tbe struggle for life— is one of the facts which redound most to their credit, and shows in an unmistakable manner tbe strength and 'be political nature of their national devotion. This year the struggle has beeb particularly ardnons, and the Executive has had to expend a large sum of money in the furtherance of tbe work.

Mb O'Began's return for the Inangtbua (says the R eftnn Times of November 30) was received throughout tbe town with immense enthusiasm, and yesterday he was bombarded with telegrams of congratulation from all parts of the Colony, tbe number of electric missives exceeding 200. Amongst them are the following :—" Accept bearty congratulations on your return. It has been a most trying time, and you well deserve the success that has rewarded your efforts. I feel assured your constituents will not regret the choice they have made. Beat wishes. — B. J. Seddon, Wellington." Prom the vicepresident of the Auckland Anti-Poverty Society, Mr Adim Kelly, Mr O'Began received the following telegram ;—" The Anti- Poverty Society and Kelly family send you hearty congratulations, Adam Kelly, Auckland." Prom the Wangnnui Knignts of Labour— " Congratulate yon on your victory.— J. Perm, secretary." From Mr W. Beehan, chairman Anckland Liberal Association—" Heartily congratulate you on ieturn." "We congratulate you on your success,— J. Grove, president Single Tax Society, Wellington." "My bearty congratulations on your return.— Edward Withy, Auckland." " Hasten to convey hearty congratulations to the O'Began.— W. Hill, Westport." " Allow me to heartily oongratnlate you on your success.— B. Stout."

It would seem that in other ways besides that connected with social gatherings Sir Robert Stout is developing tbe qualities of a Pecksniff, fie has, for example, sent a telegram of congratulation to Mr O' Regan on his return, althongh it involved the defeat of his (Sir Robert's) warm supporter, Mr Reeves, to whose efforts he had in a great part owed hie election for Inangahua some months ago. Consider also the following, published by the Inangahua Times of November 28 :—" Regarding Mr O'Began and Sir B, Stout, the following wires speak for themselves. To Sir R. Stout—' It is published here that you have sent a telegram wishing O'Began success, and hoping to meet him in Parliament. Is this correct?'— Reply, R. Beeves. Yesterday Mr Reeves received the following reply— B. Beeveß, Esq, Ahaura — My telegram was that I declined to interfere in election. Get O' Regan to publish this. — R. Stout, Wellington." He would not interfere in tbe election, but still the results pleased him. It is evident that the reliance of the "quality " at Wellington is wisely placed. Sir Robert, in a strictly unscriptural sense however, can be all things to all mci, He will take good care to gain those who are best worth gaining.

The following facts (says the Glasgow Observer) show how entirely unfounded is the impression which prevails amongst nonOitholics that the people of Catholic countries in Europe are generally behind Protestant countries as regards education :— The school attendance compared with the population in Bivaria is I to 7 ; in Austria, Ito 10 ; in Belgium, Ito 10* ; in Catholic Switzerland, Ito 16 ; in England, Ito 17. Here we have four Catholic couotriee, in each of which the school attendance is greater in proportion to the population than in Protestant England. In Bavaria it is moie than twice as great, and in Austria and Belgium two-thirds greater. In Ireland the number of children attending schools is immensely greater in proportion to its population than in England and Wales. The population of England and Wales is more than four times greater than that of Ireland, yet Ireland has 1,006,546 children attending schools— more than half as many as England and Wales combined. The regularity of attendance, too, in Ireland, as shown by official reports, greatly exceeds that io England and Wales, and this, notwithstanding tbe fact that Ireland has, as yet, no compulsory Education Act.

The accident of publication (gays the Daily News) has given peculiar timeliness to the letter which Mr Gladstone wrote to Mr Blak* on the day after the passage of the Home Rule Bi'l in the House of Commons. It serves as an answer to Mr Chamberlain's recent vaunts in America over what be is pleased to regard as the death of Home Rule. Mr Gladstone foresaw the rejection of the measure by the House of Lords, but he refused to regard the act ct the Peers as other than a dilatory vote. He argued from the past to tbe future, and showed that the enormous change in public feeling in regard to Ireland was prophetic of greater changes yet to come. The distance travelled between tbe miserable and the politically depressed Ireland of the early part of the century, and the triumphant Ireland "of the victory recorded la9t night" is immeasurable. The change is no less remarkable as an evidence of the growth

of purely English opinion in favour of Home Bale. Soot* land, Ireland, and Wales, as Mr Gladstone points on', were already converted to Home Bale in 1886. Bat England was not, and the result was a Liberal minority of 120. Tbe minority ooald aoi possibly have become a majority of forty without a great change in English opinion. This is arithmetic, and it may confidently be set against ths vague forecasts as to the issue of the next election, from information received, with which Mr Chamberlain is entertaining the Americans.

Mb T. W. BussELL'sjeyes are beginning Jo open (says the Weekly freeman of October 21). Speaking at a meeting of Scotch Unionists the other day he declared : " They could not shut their eyes to the fact that something must be done for Ireland. They could not put back the bands upon the dial plate. It would be tbe duty of the Unionist Party if they were restored to power to deal with the Irish question from tbeir own t>tandpoint broadly and generously. They wonld settle the question of loc .1 government, wind op the land ques' ion, and see that the education question was put upon a basis that no Catholic would have cause to complain of any grievances. He could ccc a bright prospect for Ireland when she was free from the doctrinaire Gladstonians and from the foolish Irishmen themselves." Ireland free from Irishmen and free to Scotch edventuiere, who describe Irishmen as " foreigners," is Mr Russell's ideal. It is scarcely likely to be realised in his time.

Oub new-born Wellington contemporary should remember, or learn if he be too young for memory, that fair play is bonny play. It is anything but bonny to be bumptious and pert. Let him not, for example, " take exception " to what dowi not concern him, and generally' micd his eye."

The mission conducted by the Very Rev Father Grogan at Panmure and Howick during the past week (writes a correspondent of the Auckland Star) was atteoded with the most gratifying results. The discourses delivered by the zealous missioner were very touching indeed, and about 330 had the happiness of receiving Holy Communion. At the clote of the mission Monsignor McDonald expressed in very faeling terms bis great gratification at the success which attended the good priest's labours, and also at the earnestness displayed by the faithful to comply with their religions duties; After the mutual exchanges of friendship, Father Grogan took bis departure for Auckland en route for Sydney.

Mb William O'Bbibn telegraphs to the Press Association as follows : -•' Lord Salisbury, in his letter to Sir Pryce Jones, complaint that his innocence cost him £5,000 in tha matter of my libel action against him. Let me recall the proceedings of this innocent gentleman. While he had me locked op in prison be made a speech accusing me, in brutal terms, of inciting to murder. Had he stuck to the plain meaning of his words Sir James Stephen, who tried tbe action, declared there must have been a verdict against him, but the noble lord shrank from the plea of justification. He fell back upon a technical plea which neither obliged him to apologise nor make good his word ; and he went to a jury pleading that he bad only meant to accuse me of inciting to boycotting. The adroit lawyer's manoeuvre enabled innocent Lord Salisbury to escape the payment of damages to me. He tslls uf, however, with a groan that his libellous speech his cost him £5,000. Jt is a smart price to pay for one particular "indiscretion," but I cannot think it an excessive penalty for what most plain people would call a cowardly libel, followed by a shabby skedaddle."