THE CHURCH OF THE ASSUMPTION, ONEHUNGA.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume XXI, Issue 2, 11 May 1894, Page 15

THE CHURCH OF THE ASSUMPTION, ONEHUNGA.

(From our own Correspondent.

The ceremony of consecrating the marble altar by bis Lordship Bishop Luck was carried out on Sunday, 22nd April, the Rev Fathers Purton. Welsh, Hackett (Adm. of St Patrick'?, Auckland), Gillan and Moneignor Paul assistinp .

The interior of the church presented a very attractive appearance on the occasion, tbe brilliant lights, tbe handsome altar and tbe purely white walls all conducing to produce a beautiful effect. A large congregation, including many visitors from Auckland was present. On arrival an address was read on behalf of the parishioners by Mr J. E. Leahy to his Lordship, to which he suitably replied. High Mass was celebrated by Father Purton and at the Gospel Bishop Luck addressed the congregation, complimenting them on their zsal and liberality, especially that of Mr Henry Claike. After tbe discourse, which was chiefly explanatoiy of the ceremony of the day the offerings were taken up and they were very generous.

The altar, a present from Dr Luck must have originally cost in Europe not less than £SGO, and it seems in every respect to harmonize with the building It is composed of a great variety of be>utiful marbles and attracted a great many visitors during the week previous and subsequent to tbe ceremony.

The limes, in a special article on Saturday, March 24, sounds the note of alarm with regard to the Government eigfi hours day. The conversion of a number of the Tories to the movement was too sadden to las*, and now tbe Times voices the complaints of those who fear that private employers will be coerced by tbe action of the Government into adopting a similar policy. The cry of foreign competition is raisrd, and the u*ual decay of British industry predicted. — Uhter Examiner.

Al hou?h silver has ceased to bo a circulating medium in Italyi specimens of coined silver are sull met with. In the vicinity of Taormins, renowned for the pictureeque rums of its ancient theatre, sereral Bilver coins of great antiquity, belonging to the Qre. j k-Sicilian citiee, have just been found buried beneath the soil, They are very beau 1 if ul as works of art and of great value on account of their rarity. Some a>e from Syracuse, bearing: the artist' 6 Dim", and having on on« side the quadriga, or chariot drawn by four horses, and on the other the bead of the nympb Arethusa. Tois is the most artistically beautiful coin that has ever been struck. Among others found now at Taormina is a very rare coin of Gela, with the quadriga and an lonic column on one siJe, and the bead of the Minotaor crowned with a garland of laurel on the other. Perhaps the Italian Government might find money enough beneath tbe soil to pay the deficit without attempticg to further tax the oppressed and starving population. Commendatore Lanciani, an authority on such matters, has just told us that great treasures were bnried in tbe foundations of tbe temple of Jupiter on tbe Capitol hill. He also undertakes to point out the exact spot where tbe treasure is to be sought for. The residence of tbe Germun ambassador to the Qairinal — the Palazzo Caflarelli— is, unfortunately, situated above the treasure, and the German Government ib not likely to allow its embassy to be rained in order to assist in atcfcaeilogical research, tbe practical results of which are exceedingly problematical. But whether found in the vicinity of Tnormina or to be sought in tbe foundations of the Csffarelli Palace, silver or gold is exceedingly desired and very welcome in tbe Itßly of to-day — the Italy of paper circu'ation par excellence-— Borne correspondent of tbe Pilot.