CHRISTCHURCH.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume XXII, Issue 17, 23 August 1895, Page 29

CHRISTCHURCH.

(From our own Correspondent.) Thb Bight Bey Dr G-rimes continues to give, at tbe Pro-cathedral on Sunday evenings, an able and instructive course of lectures on the primitive Church in England and the British Isles, or on the " Church of onr fathers. " Attention was called from the pulpit at the Pro-cathedral on Sunday last to the parochial library. This institution, it seems, though fairly well patronised, does not receive the support which it justly merits. Is it not difficult to understand tbe cause of the want of appreciation on tbe part of tbe Catholic people in this parish for such an important matter as a good library ? For a long time back many persons bave deplored the absence of a Catholic library in the parish, and this acknowledged want, the Bight Bey Dr Grimes, with characteristic zeal, left no stone unturned until he provided for, and be has provided, not only an excellent library, but also a very suitable reading-ioom. The present collection of books comprises from eighteen hundred to two thousand volumes, and, handsome as this number unqtu stionably ie, a large and valuable addition to them, we were told on Snnday last, will be soon placed on tbe shelves. The books now available to readers are handsomely and substantially bound standard works on'a variety of subj cts, Very many of them are Catholic work?, and since we are all fond of talep, tbe lovers of fiction bave not been neglected. But work? of this nature bave been chosen with care, and the writings only of tbe best authors bave been ! ■elected. As to common yellow-backs — now and then an occasional volume may perhaps be found, but they are certainly not there in full force. Periodicals have also||occupied the attention of the Bishop, and such publications as the Dublin Review, the Quarterly Review, the Month, the N.Z. Tablet, the London Tablet, the Spectator, the Illustrated London News, the Graphic, and others are regularly forwarded to the library, Tae readingroom is a pretty and well-lighted compartment, and its walls are adorned with pictures in harmony with the object of the institution, Not a few of these pictures are works of erf, and many of them were presented by the Bishop, Indeed, when the Very Bey Father Lynch, of Dunedin, was recently in onr city and visitel the library be expressed himself much astouished with it geaerally and tbu Bey Dr Watters, of Wellington, has spoken in most eulogistic terms of its present collection of books, Ours is assuredly a reading age and society is inundated with literature. But much of this 1 iterators is corrnpt in character, &nd as bad bread will do a man harm, so will a bad book or periodical. Tbe publications in the library are, however, a pare and improving class of literature, and being inch, they will serve as an antidote to bad books and papers and must be productive of much good. E/ery Catholic, then, in tbe parish, or at least one member of every Catholic family should join the institution and avail themselves fully of the books in it. Another reason which should induce people to become subscriber?, particu-

larly when to be a member involves bat • very slight demand on one's parse, if the object that the Bishop has in view in establishing the libraxyjaad the deep interest he takes in its welfare. The library is open on most Bights during the week, also on Sunday afternoons. As to the librarian, Mr J. P. Young, no better man oould b* found for the position. He is ever at bis post and most attentive to his duties. The Bight Bey Dr Grimes received during the week a letter from his Lordship Bishop Luck of Auckland, upon whom it appear! the Very Bey Father Onmmings called on his way to Sydney. Bishop Luck in bis letter expresses much regret to find that the Very Bey Father Oammings was so very ill on the occasion of his visit. No news has come from him yet, but it is ardently hoped that the pleasing intelligence will soon arrive that his state of health hai much improved and that he will before long return to this city, According to a local paper, Mr H. Bossiter has received a letter from Mies Bose Blaney, written in Melbourne, in which she eooloses a clipping from the Melbourne Times of August 1, which speaks in high terms of the " O Salutaris " composed by that gentleman, and sung by her in one of the Melbourne churches. She also states that she will Bhortly return to New Zeoland with a concert company, of which she is to be the soprano.