NEW ZEALAND : GENERAL.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume XXVII, Issue 38, 20 September 1900, Page 18

NEW ZEALAND : GENERAL.

The September issue of the Avttral Lx/hi fully maintains the high standard of that Catholic monthly. His Grace the Archbishop of Melbourne continues his instructive subject, ' No Salvation outside the Church.' Father Cognet contributes another of his series of articles on Maori customs. Among the other contributors are Marion Miller, Father Magennie, and Mr Jageurs.

The Catholic social held in the Theatre Royal. Reefton, on September 12 (says the Inangahua Times'), passed off in a highly satisfactory manner, the attendance being quite as numerous as on the first occasion Songs were rendered by Miss Shanks, Messrs. Phillips and Lynch, and the Rev. Father Hickson contributed a humorous reading. An abundance of choice refreshments was provided, and some excellent dance music was supplied by Miss McGillicuddy.

Lieutenant-General Baden-Powell is to be presented by his admirers in the Wellington district with an ls-carnt gold cigar case, in further recognition of his gallant defence of Mafeking. The following pupils of the Convents of Mercy at Christchurch and Barfield pas«ed the recent Trinity College examination in the theory of mußie .—lntermediate division— Nellie Turner. 90 ; Hilda Flynn, «4. Junior honors— Hilda Flynn, «»!) ; Nellie Turner, «SS. Junior pass— Rose Pepperell, 96 ; Violet Cameron, 93 ; Jennie Clinton, 92; Mary O'Brien, 02; Joseph Clinton, 91; Langley Pepperell, 81 ; Bridget Gill, 73. The following candidates from the Convent of Mercy, Lyttelton, WPrP « llf »f.p«*fnl at th«» Trinity Cnlleo-p musical knowledge examination :— lntermediate pa-s— A. ITildßon, SO ;O. Hebley, 67. Junior pass— M. Grantham, 91 ;M. McConville, 71 ;K. Burns, 67. M. Hart, a pupil of the Convent school, Akaroa, gained 77 marks at the examination in the theory of music held under the auspices of the Associated Boards of the Royal Academy of Mueic and the Royal College of Music. Appended we (Wairarapa Daily Times) give the names (with number of marks awarded to each) of the pupils from St. Bride's Convent, Masterton, who were candidates at the last Trinity College examination, at which they acquitted themselves so creditably, not one pupil failing to pass:— Junior division (honor section), Mary Eccleton, 87 ; Siss Hourigan, SO ; Eliza Collerton, 80. Junior division (pass section), Ivy lorns, 98 ; Mary Eccleton, 95 ; Eliza Collerton, 9 ."5 ; Olive lorns, 9."> ; Siss Hourigan, 9 1 ; Margaret Hourigan, 82 ; Lily Stempa, C.». We take the following from the Audral Light . — From the latest tiles of the Tablet to hand we see that a presentation of the handsome sum of £280 was made to the Rev. H. W. Oleary, who is to read a paper at the forthcoming Catholic Congress in Sydney. When Father Cleary was invited to Dunedin to undertake the editorship of the Taulkt, we felt that Australia was losing a gifted priest, and we are glad to know that he is appreciated in his new surroundings. He is a brilliant journalist and an indefatigable worker, and the result is that the Tabled in one of the best conducted Catholic newspapers in Australasia. Mr. Hannibal A. Williams entertained a large and appro" ciative audience on Monday night in the Victoria Hall, Uunedin. with a Shakespearean recital, the subject selected being a portion of ' King Henry IV.' Mr. Williams came to Dunedin with an excellent reputation from the northern centres, and the audience on the occasion of his first appearance here quickly recognised that his abilities had in no way been exaggerated. The performance as a mere feat of memory was a remarkable one, but apart from that he has all the qualifications of a finished reciter. He has a fine presence, his enunciation is good, and he accommodates himself with much facility to the characters impersonated by him. The interest of the audience was well sustained throughout the whole of the programme, and Mr. Williams is to be congratulated on his success. OruTimiiru correspondent writes: -The following candidates passed the Trinity College 1 musical knowledge examination held in . l une last at the Timaru centre — Honors section — M. Hoare, 7<i ; J. Hoare, 71 (teacher, Miss McGuitmess). The Si-ter-* of St. Joseph," Tomuka were very smcessful with the following candidates: — Junior Divisiou — Pass section — B. F. Connolly, ]i)i) , V. C. Farnie 9!) R M. Earl, 9"> ; hthel Blyih, S7 ;S. A. Ben, Nil. K. McPherson, (Waimate Convent), also passed in the junior division. The possible marks being 100 the pasces obtained reflect the greatest credit on the teacher*-. — A grand organ recital and sacred concert will! take place at the Church of the Sacred Heart on Tuesday the 2."> th inst. The services of the best local artists have been secured to assist the choir, who will be under the conductorship of Mr. Mayne. Mr. Coombe's orchestra has kindly consented to assist Miss McGuinness presides at the or^an. The programme has been specially selected and will be a rare musical treat. Whiting from the Abbey of Melleray. Fraive. to the Kaikoura Star, the Rev. Father Walsh, late of Kaikoura, says : — ' My home is quite retired, in the midst of a delightful country, worked to its utmost extent for the benefit of the people, and beautified by the taste of the many generations of people who have lived here. Although a charming country, an 1 its people courteous and entertaining, still my heart is in the Colonies, so free and quiet, and endeared to me by a residence of nearly 4D years. During that time I had an opportunity of knowing their resources and the means afforded to enterprising and industrious colonists of making comfortable, and with many, independent homes. I had also the pleasure of making friends who shall be ever dear to me for their warm and sincere friendship as well as for the many favors which they generously bestowed. I am so attached ;o the Colonies that you need not be surprised if, after a rest and renewal of vigor, you hear of my arrival in some favored haunt.' Oni: marked feature of the criminal sessions of the Supreme Court (writes the Auckland correspondent of the Otago Daily Tnne<i) has been the number of young men and lads brought before the court. His Honor Mr. Justice Conolly might well call it appalling. The state of things is the despair of the philanthropist and social reformer. One of the lads — a poor, wan, sickly, undergrown boy of 13 — was charged with nearly a dozen cases of breaking and entering, and even when remanded for trial allowed to go back to his parents instead of to gaol owing to ais tender years, was again on the job in the interval ! The judge seemed puzzled what to do with a boy of such criminal instincts. Tkere have been cases lately where boys, despising the restraints and comforts of home and parental control, sleeping about stables and sheds, and enjoying a Bohemian life, have taken to purchasing revolvers and ammunition. Thia sort of thing appears to be the result, possibly, of reading ' penny dreadfuls.'

At the gathering of veterans in Wellington on Saturday our genial weather prophet (says the Pott) appeared as a commander of the Royal Navy, with three Crimean medals ; a well-known figure in the colonial museum was a captain in the 14th Regiment ; Dr. Grace was recognised by an old man who had fought against the Maoris as the medical man who had taken out ' that bullet the beggars gave him ' ; Sir George Whitmore was reminded by one greybeard that he had scouted for him in the Urewera country, by another that he was his bugler, by another that he had carried despatches for him, and yet by another with the exclamation • ' Oh, by George, sir, but y m useu to drive us along iv ttiem days ! men it came as a surprise to learn that some of the most peaceful of acquaintances about town were men with military pasts, inspector Pender, for instance, carried despatches through the Valley of Death the day after the 'noble Six Hundr.d' made their famous charge, and was one of the few Britishers who were present at the battle of Tchernaya (Crimea), fought by Sardinians and French against the Russians. There was also John O'Donnell, of New Plymouth, who wore the plain cross which he won in England as far back as IS.") I for having been for two years the best shot in the .05th Regiment. He went through the Crimea, and was also 12 years in India. Prior to his departure from Balclutha for Dunedin Mr. John Dunne, an old and highly-respected resident, was entertained at a farewell dinner. The function took place in McKenzie's Hall, which was tastefully decorated for the occasion. The guest of the evening (says the Clvtha hi aih ;•) had not only been a familiar ligure in our midst, but had been intimately associated with the public and private life of the town for half a life-time. The assemblage was representative of all parts of the district. Several persons who were unable to attend sent letters of apology. In proposing the toast of the evening, the Mayor, who presided, delivered a fitting and deserved tribute to the worth of his old friend Mr. Dunne. He spoke of him as a private citizen and as a public man, and bore testimony to his large-hearted hospitality and kindheartedness on the one hand, and his zeal and impartiality and farsightedness on the other. Not that their guest was a pa-agon of perfection for he made mistakes like the rest of them, but let them be pointed out to him and he would be the first to acknowledge them. His loss to the borough would be keenly felt, and, while that might be the gain of some other place, he hoped his absence would be temporary. In replying to the complimentary speech of the Mayor and the eulogistic remarks of other speakers, Mr. Dunne frankly confessed that was one of the many pleasant nights he had spent in Balclutha He accepted the function as a public demonstration that he had won their to teem and regard. The kindly expressions of the eveniug he and his family could never forget. Though he was going to Dunedin he was not going into business, and his absence would be only temporary — remarks which were greeted with applause, which were renewed when he said he had no intention of resigning hi^ office as a borough councillor till the end of his term, when he would probably stand for Mayor. A number of other toasts were honored in the course of the evening.