The New Zealand Tablet. Fiat Justitia. FRIDAY, DECEMBER 24, 1897.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume XXV, Issue XXV, 24 December 1897, Page 17

The New Zealand Tablet. Fiat Justitia. FRIDAY, DECEMBER 24, 1897.

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RAMPANT BIGOTRY.

AST week we wrote somewhat fully on the subject of Technical Education in the full confidence that Mr. Seddon's important and really useful measure dealing with the question would be passed by the House. In this case, however, the unexpected has again happened, and the measure which was at first so favourably received by the House is now practically doomed for this session. This result has been brought about by the action of a small but intensely narrow-minded coterie of members, who, in their utterances on the subject, gave an exhibition of bigotry and intolerance which was a scandal and a disgrace to any body of public men. The opposition to the measure was commenced when the Bill was being- considered in Committee. The attack was led by the member for Ashley (Mr. Meredith), who, when clause 2 (interpretation clause) was reached moved that the classes to be established under the Act be confined to the public schools. The Premier naturally objected, on the ground that there were thousands — and particularly those who could only attend night classes — who could not beneiit by the Bill if its provisions were confined to the public schools. The bigots then set up an organised stone-wall, deliberately planned to kill the measure should their petty and unjust proposals be rejected. In the course of the discussion on the member for Ashley's motion, Mr. T. E. Taylor, of prohibition fame, delivered himself of the opinion that it would be " almost a disaster " to have technical schools established outside our education boards. Eventually Mr. Meredith's amendment was rejected by ;j() to 25. This amiable bigot then moved to add a provision to the effect that no denominational school shall form classes under the Act. After another lengthy discussion this motion was also negatived by :)\ to 23. Other members of the party of bigots then took up the miming, and a number of similar amendments were proposed, all animated by the same bitter and intolerant spirit. Mr. (i. •). Smith, one of the Christchurch member^. mo\ ed :— ''That the Bill should not apply to the controlling authority of any denominational school," and when this proposal was rejected by a large majority, the member for Avon, Mr. Tanner, followed by moving to add to the sub-section :— " But docs not include any controlling authority which is at the same time exercising administrate c direction or control over any school in the Colony not recehing a trrant of public money, and not endowed by AcU of Parliament or provincial ordinances." The discussion on these various amendments was remarkable only for the blind bigotry of those who moved and supported them. Thus, Mr. J. Hutc'HKSon, the labour representative for Wellington City, declared that he would never support the Premier at the cost of accepting denominationalism, which he " viewed with horror." Mr. Taylor thought the House was "erring fatally " in not accepting his proposals ; while the member for Avon was prepared to "fight to the last" in this inglorious conflict, and to " take all the consequences." Empty vessels, it is said, make the most sound, and members of the House know the precise \alue to be placed on Mr. Tanner's tall talk. Perhaps the most touching utterance made in the course of the debate was that of the pious Meredith, who, with an air of conscious virtue, assured the House that he opposed the Bill " from honest and conscientious motives." A little more of this sort of thing and the member for Ashley's position as Parliamentary Pecksniff will be fully established. The whole discussion is painfully interesting, as showing how very much yet remains to be done before the spirit of bigotry and intolerance shall be h tamped out of this young colony. The position taken up by these misguided bigots amounts to this : that though they know the Premier's Bill will give an immense impetus

to technical education and confer almost inestimable benefit on the whole community, they are prepared to wreck the whole scheme rather than that the barest modicum of assistance should go to any of our Catholic schools. There is no use in trying to reason with such people. One might as well reason with a mule for kicking as try to induce such people to act with fairness or good sense where the religious question is concerned. There is only one way to get at them, and that is through the ballot-box. For the benefit of our readers we may mention that the members who showed violent bigotry and intolerance in their opposition to the Bill were : Messrs. Meredith (Ashley), Smith (Christchurch), Taylor (Ohristchurch), Tanner (Avon), and Hutcheson (Wellington)^ and we hope that their Catholic constituents will remember them when the next election comes round. We have only to add thai the attitude of the Premier in standing to his guns, and remaining firm throughout, is worthy of all possible praise.

Owing to pressure on our space we are compelled to hold over several school reports, which will in due course be inserted in our next issue. On Sunday evening of last week a reception of new members of the Children of Mary Sodality took place at St. Joseph's Cathedral. There were about 30 candidates, and after they had made the prescribed promises, which was done very clearly and distinctly, his Lordship the Bishop duly received them as members of the Sodality. After Benediction, in the presence of a crowded congregation, the presentation of a carriage and pair, already referred to in our columns, was made to his Lordship the Bishop. The Sacred Heart School, N.E. Valley, vacation was announced on Wednesday, 15th inst. Miss Teresa Kilmartin received the medal as Dux of the school from the hands of the Rev. Father Murphy. The medal, which is elegantly wrought in silver, is the gift of the Rev. Father Lynch to the school. In another column will be found a full report of the break-up of St. Dominick's College and the Christian Brothers' school, for which we are indebted to the Otago Daily Times. Mr. .T. A. Scott, M.A., L.L.8., late editor of the Tablet, was on last Friday admitted as a barrister and solicitor of the Supreme Court of New Zealand by his Honour Mr. Justice Williams. We have received the Christmas number of the Otar/o Witncx*. This year's number is by far the best and biggest success yet attained by the company in this respect. The illustration^, which number 90, are all excellently printed and reflect great credit on the selector. They mostly depict colonial scenery and are true in every respect to nature. An interesting story by the well-known Dunedin authoress, " Fabian Bell " is a special feature of the paper. The scenes are all well-known to most readers and the illustrations of West Coast beauty, incidental to the story, are familiar to most. We can safely say this year's number takes the premier position among colonial Christmas annuals, and should prove most interesting to friends in the Old Country. The concert given in St. George's Hall, Milton, on Friday evening by the pupils of St. Joseph's School and the Dominican Convent, assisted by a number of friends (says the Bruce IL'ralrf). proved a great success, the audience being one of the largest that hab been assembled in St. George's Hall for a considerable time. The chief attraction was, of course, the children's performances, and these were all carried out with an accuracy that gave evidence of long and careful training. The fairy dance, a snatch of a minuet by a number of girls, and Kindergarten drill by the smaller pupils, were very pretty and elicited loud applause. The original Mrs. Jarley's waxworks, consisting of seven or eight figures, was very creditably performed, Mr. Bastings giving the readings in hit, popular comic style. Several pianoforte and vocal pieces were given by pupils of the convent, with accompaniments by a strong orchestra under Mr. C. King, which also played v, number of interludes. Mr. C. King was very heartily applauded for his singing of " Kathleen Mavourneen." A very enjoyable programme was concluded with a lengthy sketch entitled '-The White Horse of the Peppers," the principal parts in which were taken by Miss M. Lynch and Masters Keogh and Grealish (2). The piece went very smoothly throughout, and created considerable merriment. THE annual meeting of the Invercargill Irish Athletic Society Was held in the Shamrock Hotel on Thursday evening, President H. McAlister occupying the chair. The annual report stated that although the prize money given last year was considerably in excesa of former gatherings, the position of the Society was now

stronger financially and otherwise than ever. A great amount of this success was due to the energetic president and also the directors, who pulled well together. Kegret was expressed that during the year Messrs. T. Mclnerney and H. McSberry— two very, energetic directors— had left the district. The secretary suggested that instead of fifteen directors retiring yearly, it would be judicious to elect five for three years, five for two and five for one year, so as to reduce the possibility of having an almost entirely new directorate after any annual mejtinjr. The suggestion was adopted. It was decided that Lord Ranfurly be asked to give his patronage to the Society. The election of office-bearers resulted a? follows :— President. Mr. J. Crowther ; vice-presidents. Messrs. J. Kirwin and W. Murdoch ; directors (three year?), J. Sinclair, H. McAlister, D. Coakley, C. A. Wilson, and Thomas Thompson ; (two years) I). Roche, T. P. Gilfedder, H. Crawford, P. Dunne and Hon. 11. Feldwick ; (one year) W. Beard, T. McGrath, 11. Dawson, J. Collins, and W. J. Moffett ; hon. secretary, W. J. McKeown ; treasurer, H. McAlister ; handicapper, W. Murdoch. On the motion of Mr. Sinclair it was resolved that a medal be presented to last year's president as a slight recognition of the valuable services he rendered. The balance sheet showed that the Society commenced the year with £11 14s to the good, and terminated it with a credit balance of £50 os Od, but against this a liability of £23 is due as the Society's contribution to the Park Board of Management. The report and balance sheet were adopted and the proceedings closed. Weekly Times. A large and enthusiastic audience greeted the pupils of the Kaikoura Catholic School at their annual concert held on Friday , December 10. The manner in which all the items on the programme were rendered reflects great credit on Miss Hollis who has charge of the school, and it showed that she spared neither time or trouble in the training of her pupils. The following programme was gone through .-—Prologue, May Sedgwick ; chorus, " Loving voices," scholars ; recitation, " The voice and the pen,'' James Keenan ; song, " Barney O'Hea," Mrs. Bell ; tableau, " Santa Claus," scholars ; song and chorus. '• I have no home." Maggie Keehan ; song, " Irish gems," Rev. Father Walsh ; tableau, " Beauty and the Beast," scholars; chorus, " I don't want to play in your yard," scholars ; song, '■ I'll put it in the hands of my solicitor," Mr. Fraser : reading, " Hanging a picture," Tom Keogh ; chorus, '•Pussycat's tea party," junior scholars; glee, " The hardy Norse, man," Mrs. BAI, Miss Hollis, Rev. Father Walsh, Messrs. Fraser, Peoples and Smith ; recitation, '• Rival flowers," Mary Adair ; song '' The parson and the clerk," Mr. Fraser ; drama, " The violet sellers," or " Kindness costs nothing and is worth much." At the conclusion of the concert the Rev. Father Walsh, in a few wellchosen and humourous remarks, briefly returned thanks to all who were present. Tiie following subscription to the South Dunedin Catholic Orphanage has been received during the week : — Very Rev. P. O'Rielly (Thames,). Cl. Contributions towards the erection of the Orphanage will bo thankfully received by the Sisters of Mersy, South Dunedin. and by the Catholic clergy of Dunedin, and will be duly acknowledged in the columns of the Tablet. A very successful concert, in aid of the Waiinangaroa Church building fund was held in Sherlock's Hall, Waiinangaroa, on Saturday, October 11th. A crowded audience greeted the performers, who all acquitted themselves in a very creditable manner. The following ladies and gentlemen contributed vocal selections :— Mesdaines Baker and Young, Mibses Lester, Hart, Williams, Danks untlSowbery, Messrs. Rodgers, Ennis, Leover, Mabin, Murray, Cooper, and Young. Mr. Kirk wood gave a club swinging exhibition, and the accompanyments were played by Mihs Pain in her usual efficient stylo. The funds of the church will benefit to the extent of £19 100 as the result of the entertainment. The quarterly meeting of the Dunedin branch of the Hibernian Society was largely attended. After the transaction of general quarterly business, past president Brother James O'Neill was presented by the members with a handsomely-framed and glazed P.P. certificate. The president (Brother T. Hoare), in making the presentation, mentioned the very great interest and activity displayed by Brother O'Neill on all occasions to forward the cause of the branch, and of the Hibernian Society in general. Brother O'Neill, in an eloquent speech, thanked the members .for their handsome present, and hoped it would be an incentive to othei members to come forward and push ahead the cause we were all advocating. The nomination of officers for the ensuing quarter took place, and a committee with power to act was appointed to procure a now banner for the branch. During the week we have received from the following parcels of stamps for Father Kremborg's mission :— Gertrude Adams (Ashburton), Agnes J. E. Crowley (Wsupori), D. Heffernan, junr. (Duncilin), and two parcels from lU'ef ton and Macraes (no name).

We have received from Messrs Loft and Co. their pictorial almanac for 1898. It is an excellent photo of Pope Leo XIIL, and will, we are sure, be very mnch appreciated by all the firm's dustomers.

The work done by the pupils of St. Dominick's College, which is referred to more fully in another column, was beautifully laid out in St. Joseph's schoolroom. It is a very fine display, and speaks volumes for the efficiency of the teaching at the College and for the splendid work which the good nuns are doing for the higher education of our Catholic girls.