NEW ZEALAND : GENERAL.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume XXVII, Issue 44, 2 November 1899, Page 20

NEW ZEALAND : GENERAL.

We have to thank the Lands and Survey Department for two excellent maps of the seat of war in South Africa.

Just as we are going to press Our Fernery, the annual of St. Mary'B Convent of Mercy, Wellington, has come to hand. A notice of its contents will appear in our next issue.

The secretary of the New Zealand District Board of the H.A.C.B. Society has forwarded us the official report of the meeting held recently in Auckland.

Our Timaru correspondent writes : — At a meeting of the Timaru Aloysian Club on Sunday last it was decided to hold their annual picnic on November 9 at Gordon's Bush.

Our Wanganui correspondent writes :— lt is with extreme regret that I record the death, at Wanganui on Friday, 27th inst , of Mr. Charles Whelan, son of Mr. H. Whelan, late of Wanganui. The deceased, who was only 22 years of age, was a fine, manly young fellow and very popular with all who knew him.

The following pupils of the Sisters of Meroy, Colombo street, Christchurch, were successful in the recent examination held in connection with the Technical School, Wellington : — Freehand : Hilda Sharman, Monica Flood, Beatrice Barker, Nellie Murphy, Kate Barnard, Gerald Gill. Geometrical : James Flannelly, Henry Haughey, Gerald Gill, James McAdams.

The Sisters of Mercy, Wellington, have received advice from London that their pupils in last year's examination in senior singing, held UDder the auspices of Trinity College, took first place amongst the institutions examined by the college in all parts of the world. Miss Daisy Marshall, a pupil of the Convent, has won the vocal exhibition prize. She is the second pupil of the institution to gain this honour.

We have received parcels of used postage stamps for Father Kreymborg's mission from Mrs. E. J. Gallagher, Rockyside, Caversham, and Misses S. and K. Monaghan, Macandrew road, Dunedin. Mr. John Deegan, Waimatuku, has sent ns a post office order for 12s 6d for the same object, the amount being made up as follows : — Miss Kate Burke .and Mr. John Deegan, 5s each ; Misa Kate Connor, 2s 6d.

' A Catholic ' writes thanking us for what he is good enough to style our ' very lucid and interesting explanation of the term "Jesuitical expression."' 31 says it is 'quite natural, reasonable, and charitable in us to suppose, until the opposite is proved, that Mr. Mackenzie's expression was a slip of the tongue ; but stoutly maintains, in a letter which is much too lengthy for insertion, and packed full of quotations from Hansard, that the hard-hitting Member for Dunedin City used the term with offensive intent.

In order to afford special facilities for the unrestricted interchange of commodities between consumers and producers, the Railway aepartrnent has recently reduced the rates on small lota of eooda of 281 b. 561 b, 841 b, and 1121 b weight. The rates are very low, and will doubtless be much appreciated by the public. As an example, a settler, say at Hampden, can send 561 bof bacon to Dunedin for Is 9d (including delivery within the city), or he can get a sGlb bag of sagar from Dunedin for^he same money.

A codxtry mayor sent a long telegram to the mayor of Wellington expressing his regret at not being able to go to the Empire City on the occasion of the departure of the Contingent for South Africa. In his excitement he forgot to hand the forwarding clerk the requisite amount for transmission — about 6s. — but did not forget to write the magic word "collect" on the corner of the telegram form. People do many rash and reckless things when their enthusiasm and loyalty get over boiling point.

Mr Myles Foster, the examiner for Trinity College (says the Pamerston North Standard, October 27), examined the singing pupils at the Convent school yesterday. Two candidates were presented in the senior division, viz., Miss Anderson and Misa Wallace, and both passed with honours. Miss Scanlon — an intermediate candidate — also passed with honours. Mr. Foster was greatly pleased with the candidates, and said it was a treat to examine pupils that had been so carefully and intelligently instructed. We congratulate the Sisters of the Convent on their success, particularly as we understand they were the only teachers who provided candidates for examination in singing. Next month the Sisters intend presenting a number of pupils for the Royal Academy examinations.

Mr. Joseph Carroll, father of the Hon. James Carroll, died at Wairoa, on the east coast of the North Island, last week. The deceased, who was 81 years of age, was one of the oldest pioneers of the Colony. He came to New Zealand in the thirties, having been previously in the New South Wales Botanical Department. The funeral took place on Sunday, and had the largest following ever known in the district, including both Europeans and Maoris. Many of the latter travelled on foot from a great distance. The funeral was conducted by the Rev. Father Lepretre. The Maoris chanted a funeral song at the grave side. Wreaths and telegrams of sympathy were received by the Hon. J. Carroll from all parts of the Colony.

We are reminded of the approach of the festive season by the receipt of the Christmas special num ber of the Canterbury Time*. The Lyttelton Times Company have always been noted for their enterprise in catering for the public in the best style of art and letterpress, and this year's special issue of their popular weekly fully maintains the reputation of the establishment in which it has been produced. The principal feature is an illustrated story by Mis \ Jessie Mackay, who is already well known aa a writer of popular fiction. The number is profusely illustrated, and amongst the pictures are four very fine photogravures of New Zealand ecenery, produced in a style which would do credit to any of the leading journals of the Home countries.