THE LATE MOST REV. DR. RICARDS.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume XXI, Issue 38, 19 January 1894, Page 18

THE LATE MOST REV. DR. RICARDS.

By the death of the Most Bey Dr RicardP, which occurred at Grahamstown, South Africa, on Thnisday, November 30, an eminent prelate and a good man has passed aw»y. Dr fiicards, who was the •;n of a medical doctor, was born in the town of Wexford, Ireland, on January 10th, 1828, and, at tbe age of 21, having been admitted to minor orders, emigrated to the Cape Colony. There his life as an ecclesiastic was passed In the performance of good works and successful labourp, and with results generally that are admired and acknowledged with gratitude, not only by the Catholic colonists but also by the members of all oiber denominations. Tbe life of a priest and bishop in a new country is necessarily, as we are all aware, one of much activity, but, though constantly engaged in labour of the kind, the Bishop found ample time for study, »nd distinguished himself not only as an able preacher and lecturer, but also as the anthor of sjveral valuable works. His book especially, entitled " Catholic Christianity and Modern Unbelief," in which he deals with many problems of the present day, shows, as well as deep learning, a wide range of reading and an intimate acquaintance with the chief questions of the day, more particularly as they effect the position of religion. "It was the cause of education," says the Eastern Province Herald, a paper published at Port Elizabeth, " that was nearest the Bishop's heart, and in this be carried out a great and noble work the results of which will be as an enduring monument to his memory. He brought out many of the religious- teaching Orders for service in South Africe, the Dominican Sisters from Dublin and Bavaria, now established in Pert Elizabeth, Kiogwilliamstown, and East London, the Marist Brothers from Lyons and Glasgow for boys' Bchools ; the Jesuit Fathers of St Aidan's, and the Jesuit missionaries for the native races of the colony, Transvaal and Mashonaland ; and the Trappist Monks in Natal. It was Bishop Ricards' Dominican Sisters from the Convent of Kmgwilliamstuwn, who were accepted by Mr Rhodes and the Chartered Company to take charge of the hospital at Macloutsi and follow the pioneers to Victoria and Fort Salisbury, where, during three years of fever, they performed splendid services. One of the most important of the many valuable charitable institutions due to Bishop Ricards kindly foretr ought is the Nazareth House at Port Elizabeth. Here many helpless childreu, orphans, and others without guardians are being caied for, educated, and brought up under all the rsfining inflaences that come from gentle, cultured ladiep, while many aged men and women have here found a home, and a ' refuge from the stormy blast ' in which to spend the remainder of their days. Another insti ution is the Izeli Farm Industrial school for the poor German immigrant children, and the l poor whites ' generally." " Much of the good wcrk done by the Bishop," adds our contemporary, " will probably never be known ; while he brought into being important educational aDd charitable institutions, his was the disposition to do good by steahh. Gentle and generous, Biehop Bicards will long be remembered in South Africa, and hia history and his achievements— hia life and work— will form one of the brightest and most inspiring pages in its annals." Daring the episcopate of tbe Most Rev Dr Moran at the Cape, Dr Ricard* was his constant friend and associate, and, on his Lordship's being transferred to Dunedin, he succeeded him as Bishop and Vicar-Apostolic. The cause of Dr Ricards' death was paralysis by which he was attacked last September. — Requiescat in pace.

Messrs Brown Swing and Co are now holding a clearing sale, prior to stock-tbking. A quantity of first-olaea gooJs ia thas offered to tbe public at greatly reduced prices. A tax of one p?nny on the shilling will be placed on the pricei of admission to tbe theatres in England,