NAPIER.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume XXI, Issue 32, 8 December 1893, Page 6

NAPIER.

(From our own Correspondent.)

November 29, 1893. Rjceivjng information tbat a great ceremony, namely, the ordination of several joung men at the Meanee seminary for the priesthood was to be performed at the Catholic Church next Sunday, I paid Meanee a visit last Sunday with a view of obtaining some particulars. The above event is lookei forward to eagerly, and when it eventuates will, no doubt, be attended by a great many people from tbe surrounding districts. There ars five candidates for the priesthood. Their names being as follows :— Messrs Chapelle, Oalerne , Maboney, O'dhea, and Malone. The two first named are natives of France, Mahoney bails from Wellington, while O'Sbea and Malone belong to Hawera. For deaconsoip there are two students— Messrs Herbert and Dupont ; sub-deaoous— Messrs Guyavarch, Haberty, Huault, OymoiiP, and Ainswortb ; minor orders— Mr Holley. lam ioformed by Father Huault that the passes this year have been excellent. I regret to learn that Dr Kennedy, one of the professors at the Meanee Col* lege.is now absent in Canterbury through ill health. The other two, Dr Pestre and Father Huault are, I am glad to say, enjoying good health. Looking back tothetim«wbenthelateFatherßeigoier r apriestwhohas done noble work in Hawkes Bay, was in charge of the mission station at M«anee, few people, I venture to say, had any idea that after the laps* of a few years there would be such a place as the present institution where not only the youth of this colony but of neighbouring colonies and European countries wonld be trained for the prie9tbood.

I am very sorry that my letter, in which I gave a forecast of the elections for the districts in which the Hawke's Bay people are interested, did not reach you in time for publication in your last issue. Am it tnrna out, I managed to "tip" the four MembersMessrs Oarnell for Napier, Hall for Waipawa, Carroll for Waiapu, and Captain Bußsell for Hawke's Bay. The election in Napier yesterday, although exceedingly exciting, was the most orderly ever conducted, the latter feature being due, no doubt, to tbe women. The women on Mr Camell's committee put forth all their energy to secure the return of their favourite, and they were rewarded by the fact thtt he polled a majority of 520 over his opponent, the man who despised the Catholic vote. I am glad to say that the Catholic vote has told heavily against the defeated candidate at the election, and should our old friend Mr Vincent Pyke, who, I am delighted to see, bat besn returned, introduce a fair Bill into Parliament giving some aid to Catholics, Mr Carnell will be found voting with him. Tbe number of rotes polled was 3,708, Mr Carnell receiving 2,114. When the result was known, Mr Carnell w&b carried eboulder hifeh up and down bis committee room, while his supporters cheered and shouted ; tbe fair aex were also greatly excittd, and waved their handkerchiefs s>nd made various gesticulations, showing that the win was a very popular one. Mr Carnell made a few remarks, and then was carried out into the street again by his enthusiastic supporters. Tbe band tamed oat and played in front of the Masonic and Criterion hotels, one of the pieces being ' Britons never shall be slaves." The Liberals of Napier have been fighting for fourteen years or so for the above result, and, by the aid of the women, have succeeded at last. Poor Sir John Hall, surely, when he introduced the female franchise into Parliament, never had any idea that it would annihilate his own party.

Mr Ward, ths Colonial Treasurer, had a great reception at the Gaiety Theatre the night before the election. To hear him speak was one of the greatest treats Napier people have ever had, although, of course he had to deal with a mass of figures. At the conclusion of his speech he waß presented by a young girl with a large bouquet of flowers, as also was Mr Carnell. There is no doubt Mr Ward, by Lib

able speech, did Mr Oarnell a great deal of good. In bit remark* he canted great laughter when speaking of Napier's financiers.