INTERCOLONIAL.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume XXVIII, Issue 44, 1 November 1900, Page 19

INTERCOLONIAL.

It is sail that his Lordship Dr. Doyle, duringjhis recent visit to Rome, obtained the snnouon of the Propaganda to change the name of his duoese from Grafton to Liamore. In future his Lordship will be known as the Bishop of Lnmore.

Thursday, October 11th, wis the 5 1th anniversary of the episcopal con-ec ration of his Grace the Archbishop of Hobart. His Grace (^ Kays J lie Monitor) in one of the oldest bishops in Christendom, and one of the very 'lew who, m the divine dispensations of God's Pnmdeuce, have been spared to cl brate the golden jubilee of their episcopal consecration. About 12 months ago when he was I rostr.ited by a very severe attack of influenza and pneumonia, feara were expressed on all side-t lest the venerable prelate's strength should not enable him to survive the illness. His wonderful wtahty, however, ac;ain asserted \ttelf, and after a short sojourn at the seaside be became as htke and active as ever. To-day he is, thank uod, in his usual vigorous health, and to all human seeming, looks and feeN as though he shall be still long with us to guard the interests of religion in Tasmania.

The Sydney Chamber of Commerce (says the Catholic Prett) is agitauugagaiu.t the suggested annexation of Fiji by New Zealand. It is admittel that the proposal has emanated from Fiji, but, say the merchants, it would bo very unwise of the people of that colony to places themselves under any disability which would almost inevitably be imposed by their political connection with New Zealand. ho the merchants are very charitably endeavoring to block the movement. Of course t'ae fact that Fiji does an import trade of about £7.")0,000 with Sydney is the real motive. The people of Fiji will not thank tho merchants of Sydney. They somehow or other have a great aff ction for New Zealand, and down in the Islands you hear .NVw Zji.hu J meuti mol tliree trues to New Sjuth Wales' once. If Fiji was nut worth twopence tho voice of the Sydney merchants would not be heard.

The Rev. Donald Fraser, pastor of the Australian church at Newcastle, in the course of sermon on the Sunday following the dedication of St. Mary's Cathedral, Sydney, eulogised the earnestness of the

Catholio clergy and the piefy and faith of their people. In referring to the sacred edifice of St. Mary's, Sydney, he mentioned that the enormous sum of £200,000 had already been spent, a sum which had been given spontaneously by the generous Catholic community. At the dedication of the oithedral, he mentioned that there were present the prince of the Catholic Church, Bishops and clergy from all parts of Australasia, in addition to three Governors in State, and the moßt influential members of the colonies. This, and the fact thut the cvhe.lral was overcrowded notwithstanding the high price of admission, showed the high respect in which tho Catholic Church is held. He next drew the attention of his hearers to the remarks of \rchbi° Vi >;> f \'r v^l R«v F-i*-h»r Mt^"- nr , tho snh, n-t which, he stated, touched Protestants on their weakest point, the religious elr.caticn of thc ; r chi'droi. In this m^n"*", he «iH *Vy (the Protestants) ha-i much to learn from their Catholic friends. He himself had urged upon the men of his flock, for months and even years, to dovote only one hour of Sunday afternoon to the religious instruction of the little ones, but ho fur not one volunteer has come forth to undertake the tank. Tho Ke.v. D. Fraser stated that he admired the piety and nelf-sacnfice of the Roman Catholics, and he urged upon hii congregation to try and follow the noble example of tho Catholics, who richly deserved the respect of all sects for their staunch adherance to their faith. The Very Rev. Dean O'Connor, V.G., of the diooese of Armidale, who has been raised to the dignity of a Monsignor and Domestic Prelate of his Holiness the Pope, celebrated his silver jubilee recently. An event was never celebrated more enthusiastically in Armidale, for Monsignor O'Connor is beloved by all classes and creedi. Mnnsignor O'Connor was born at Clonea, Ujngnrvan, County Waterford, Ireland, in December, 1848. He pursued the necessary studies for the sacred ministry first at the seminary of Dungarvan, and afterwards at All Hallows' College, Dublin, being finally ordained priest on September li>, 1875. He then worked on an English mission at Blackburn, Lancashire, for six months, under the Rev. Father Herbert Vaughan, formerly Bishop of Salford, but now Cardinal-Archbishop. After six months ou the English mission he was ordered to Australia, arriving in Armidale in June, 1870. The enthusiasm with which all classes of peiple. of every religious denomination, combine 1 to celebrate the silver jubilee of his ordination proves the esteem and veneration in which he is hell in this his adopted country and home of many years. He was advanced to the dignity of Dean in 1882. after only six years of priesthood, and to this title was added, about three years later, that of Vic-ir-General. His unremitting- 7.eal and toil in the service, of the Church and the cause of education and humanity well deserved the honor*, thus put upon him comparatively early in life. He was pubm-ly invested with the purple at the Pontifi -al High Maws celebrated in St. Mary's Cathedral, Armidale, when 18 priests assisted. Ha Lordship Bishop Torreggiani was the celebrant. At the Catholic Congress Bishop Higgins and others referred to the fact that in future all State bursin-s an I scholarships in Queensland could be competed for by children attending Catholio schools. The change is due to the energy of Mr. Frank M'Donnell. M P. for Fortitude Valley, a fearless C ithoko Irishman, win put the case before Parliament, and succeolel in carrying the House with him. The correspondent of tho f',i + ho\c Pnit says — You may remember the motion Mr. M'Donuell succeeded in having carried in the Legislative Assemhty last sessna, (Uahng with Grammar School scholarships. Effect has now been given to the motion. I need hardly pay that this is a most important matter for our people, who have been *-o long denied any benefits in tlie cau-n of education. I may say that all the Brother'!' Colleges mid Sisters' High Schools will also be approved of, and Catholic boys and girl->. who may receive their primary elueation at a State school, can. if successful in winning a scholarship or bur*.«ry. choope one of our high schools to take out the same in Befo-e Mr. M Donnell's motion was carried the regulations provided I. Ttiat scholars from State schools or State-inspected schools (inly could compete (none of the Brothers' schools are State-inspect* d). "2. That successful competitor* should take out the scholarship at a Grammar school. Now every boy or girl the prescribed ago. no m-uter where educated in the colony, can compete, and choose any high school th -y 'ionaider best. The result will bo th it n number of go ) 1 private high schools in addition to oar own will benefit. Since the motion was carried the Council of Churches and other religions bodies hive done all in their power to prevent this benefit il chang.i, and the Courier has been most bitter aul hostile. However, we have succeeded. A short time ago, Archbi«hop Carr and Bishops Moore (Ballarat), and Reville (Bcndigo) wane! on the Victorian Minister for Public Instruction to urge that Catholic primary schools should participate in the scholarships given by tho State. They also requested that the schools should be examined by theStite Inspectors. The deputation made nut a strong case for th- first request. Archbishop Carr pointed out that in Queensland the course now advocated had been followed by the Government, and Catholics feit this to be an instance of altered views and a more generous administration. Some interesting figures were shown the Minister. In the Catholic schools there are 25,28.^ children Taking the averages for the last 12 years, and assuming it f>r the next 12, and allowing £3 10s per child for education, the State would be saved annually £98,875, or over £2,400,000 for 25 years. This is exclusive of the cost of school buildings, which would enormously increase the total. Hie Grace referred to a widespread misunderstanding that existed. They did not ask that a single penny of p.iblic money should pass through their hands. They simply wished their schools to be considered as part of the edueatio-i system, and tha*, payment should be made by the State accordingly to their tpaohern. Further, they should be, allowe 1 to appoint, «v ih teachers as were q'lahfie 1 to give, the religious instruction desired. In Ireland, Scotland, and Canada the Catholics were treated more fairly. However, this was beyond

the present purpose of the deputation, which confined its requests to much less than the Citholics were entitled to. The Minister, Mr. Salmon, could give them no aatisf iction on the first point, whioh he said was not a departmental matter, but a matter of policy. He would consult his c )lleagues. R"gardmg the second that the State inspectors should inspect their schools, he thanked them cordially for the request, land promised to have it complied with. Mr. Salmon was under a slight deletion concerning- the Catholic attitude on this point. Ho seemed to regard it as a chauged one. Nothing 1 he paid could have induced him to force such an inspection on them against their wishes, but he was delighted they had volunteered the mit'cre^tion themselves. Dr. Carr informed him that the Catholic* were not previously averse, but that Professor Pearson, formerly Minister of Public Instruction, had opposed it 'I disagree with, him entirely,' said Mr. Salmon, ' it is an excellent proposition.'