NEW ZEALANDERS AND CRIME.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume XXIII, Issue 49, 10 April 1896, Page 17

NEW ZEALANDERS AND CRIME.

larrikinism in colonial youthood rise up to suggest a different conclusion to rational men of a little worldly experience. It is possible, indeed prooable, that young New Zealand is slightly better than young Victoria. According to the Rev Mr Savage, of Carlton, who delivered a speech before the Congregational Union in Melbourne in 1893, "the increase of crime by Victorian natives ia more than double, amounting (between 18tfl and It9lj to 8865 per cent., leaving no option but to believe that the increase of crime in Victoria is to be credited to the youth of our land." Young New Zealand, we fear, is not notably beyond young Victoria. We remember a story told of a resident in another British colony, which will give matter for reflection. A certain man was notorious among a more than limited circle of citizen acquaintances for ungodly and unchristian life. This gentleman, who lived in a glass house had an unfortunate habit of uncharitable stone throwing. He spared no one. Needless to say he was not spared. His vices, criminal in the sight of heaven and pure men, though unchronicled in the police news, were the subject of common club-room gossip. On one occasion the merits of well-known colonists were discussed, and this wealthy individual gave his opinion freely about each. It always contained a parting fating — " a fine man, yes, but he drinks "; or" a clever man, yes, but he takes more than is good for him." Nettled by unkind allusions to a friend, one of the party quietly referring to his strong total abstinence principle, said : " John has one virtue. " The man of many degrading vices and one virtue collapsed. Immunity from drunkenness does not mean immunity from gross, though unrecorded and unpunished vices.

The briefs of appointment of Monsignor Verdon as Bishop of Dunedin wera received by his Grace Archbishop Redwood on Tuesday last.

Monsionor Vebdon, Bishop-elect of Dunedin, sent Father Lynch a cablegram on Tuesday evening announcing that the consecration ceremony would take place in Dunedia on the Feast of the Patronage of St Joseph — the third Bunday after Easter.

His Eminence Cardinal Moran and several Australian Bishops will accompany Dr Verdon to Dunedin.

His Grace Archbishop Redwood will preach the " Consecration " sermon in St Joseph's Cathedral, Dunedin, on Sunday, April 26.

The ceremonies of Holy Week in Dunedin were largely attended , Very Bey Fathers Mackay (Oimaru), and O'Leary (Lawrence), Rev Fathers Newport (Port Chalmers), P. O'Donnell (Gore), J. F. O'Donnell (Palmerston), Ryan (Milton), Hunt, Lyncb, Murphy and Howard took part in the various functions. Father O'Leary preached the sermon on the Blessed Eucbanst on Holy Thursday, Father P. O'Donnell delivered a discourse on the Passion of our Lord on Good Friday. Members of the Confraternities of Holy Family and our Lady of Perpetual Succour, and Association of Children of Mary watched, by turns, before the Most Holy. Father Lyncb celebrated the High Mass on Easter Sunday, aod preached in the morDii g. The evening preHcher was Father Murphy. Father Mackay was celebrant on Holy Thursday and Good Friday, Father Murphy wa celebrant on Holy Saturday. Taa altar of repose was brilliantly illuminated.

THE Dunedin Catholic Literary Scce'y meet this (Friday) evening. We heartily wish the Society a successful session.

We regret to learn of the serious accident to an old subscriber, Mr P. Bheehan, who waa bidly cruthed on Easter Monday while shunting at Ba'.clutha.

The Holy Father baa conferred the Doctorate ot Professor O'Loan, May nootb College.

The Ross bazaar and srt-union has been further postponed til midwinter. We trust the good Sisters will succeed in the naos laudable work they have in ba- d.

IHE awards of " Tax " in the competition for our yonng readers will appear in next issue, in which also particulars will be given of a third competition for best atnusiog anecdote.

THE hon treasurers acknowledge 10s from Mr P. Dowoey per Mr N. McEnerney, Tuapeka Mouth, for Bishop Moran Memorial Fund,

MB Thobold Watebs, an ex-membsr of St Joseph's choir, Dunedin, recently saDg Neidermeyer's Pater Nostei at St Francis Church, Paddiogton, Sydney.

Althouoh it was a very wet night — the rain was probably " he'd over " from sunny St Patrick's Day— the Cathedral (says the Sydney Freeman) was filled in every part on Sunday last. The great congregation was, doubtless, due to the fact that Monsignor Verdon, the Bishop-elect of Dunedin, had been announced to deliver (he panegyric of St Patrick. The Cardinal- Archbishop presided . The special Bermon was intended as a celebration of the new window of the Irish saints. Monsignor Verdon, whose rich, full voice was distinctly heard all through the Cathedral, took as his text : — "Can we resiit the will of God 1 You thought evil against me, but God turned it into good that He might exalt me, as at present you see, and might savp many people (Genesis c 50, v 20).

Eight Rkt De Vebdon, as reported in the Bydney Freeman thus concluded his discourse :— "Our poor noble people were perse« cute), well nigh exterminated ; but they have been sustained by the kand of God, and they have risen up again with renewed vigour, strong in their faith, and strong in their hope. They were driven from home and scattered over the four quarters of the globe ; but in the wonderful designs of Divine Providence they have been the instruments employed to spread the faith to many lands. Wherever they have gone they have carried the faith with them, and in America and Africa, as well as in sunny Australia, they have covered the land with churches and schools, and they have established Catholic congregations as fervent and generous as any that can be found in Ireland, Yes, it has been the high destiny of the Irish race to carry the Gospel to many lands. Evangelisers of many nations, respected and honoured in many lands, the children of St Patrick enn look down with feelings of generous pity on their persecutors, and, conscious of their high destiny as instruments in the hands of Divine Providence, they may gay, like Joseph of old : You thought evil against us, but God turned it into good that He might exalt us, as at present you see, and might save many people. Children of St Patrick, remain true to your trußt. You hays received the faith pure and untarnished, Oh ! preserve it, then, pure and andefiled. The blood of confessors and martyrs flows in your veins. Oh I be true, then, to the traditions of your fathers. Let your light shine before men. Let those around you see your works— such works a> God expects from you— such works as will edify your neighbours and make them give glory to your Father who is in Heaven.

Reference is made in another column to a lecture on the Passion Play by bis Lordship Dr Grimes at Greymouth. Begret will be felt all over the world by those who have seen the Oberammergan performance or read the history of the wonderful play on bearing that Josepn Maier, who played the part of Obristas in 1870, 18711880, and 1890 will act no more. A few months ago he was employed with others in hauling some heavy timbers, when one of them fell and crushed his leg so badly tbat it had to be amputated, Visitors to the Bavarian village will miss the sweet tones and sympathetic utterance of Maier. " Passive patience " was the feature of his presentiment of Christ, who, in his idea, had little more to do but much more to suffer. It is probable Archbishop Carr will also accompany the Bishop-elect of Dunedin.

The last member of the Order of Sisters of Mercy trained by the holy fmndress, Motber Mary Catherine McAuley, died on January 20 at the Convent of Mercy, Nottingham, in the 85th year of her age. The deceased nun— Mjther Mary Magdalen— was niece of Archbishop Folding, first Archbishop ot Sydney.

" Fathee O'Fltnn " has been sung from one end of New Zenland to the otber at the St Patiick's Day celebration. Who is the author ? Mr Alfred Percival Gravee, pon of the Protestant Bishop of Limerick, and dow inspector of schools in London. Both father and mother were musical. Young Mr Graves, poetical as well as musical, was always proud of his nationality. Oace, as he jogged home, a lively tune t jok possession of his mind. He whistled over and over again " The top of Cork road." Suddenly the wordß of " Father O'Flynn" flashed into existtncc. He wrote them down when he got to his room, and we have them now. Charles Sant'ey introduce! it into New Zealand.

A cdbious barometer is used in Germany and Switerland. It is a ]<lt of water, with a frog and a little step-ladder in it. When the frogcomee out of the water and sits on the steps a raia sto-m will soon occur.

An encyclical on the Papal snpremacy will aoon appear.

" I NEVEB mean to for o et that I belong to the Holy Catholic Ohurch."— Thas Bishop Vincent of the American Methodist Church.

The strange request of an absintheme, says the Paris corre - pondent of The Daily Telegraph, will furnish an example of what a continnona absorption of the national poison will eff ct. The female toper ' presented hereelf at a public telephone office and asked the clerk to pnt her in communication with the Pope. On that official recovering from his astonishment at this unexpected demand, he pohtely told her that be could not switch her on to the Vatican. Iherenpoo the woman flew into a fearful passion, and, flourishing her umbrella over the clerk's head, threatened him with chastiaement if he did not obey her. She was eventually removed to the polioe-atation, and thence to the infirmary at the Depot. On a eearch being made at her lodging eighteen empty bottles of absinthe were found, as well as five glasses full of the noxious liquor.