An Important Decision.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume XXIX, Issue 38, 19 September 1901, Page 20

An Important Decision.

At Invercanrill on Saturday Mr. S. E. McCarthy, SM, gave a decision of considerable interest to managers of Catholic schools. The County or Wallace brought an action against the Very B«t. Father Walsh for rates amounting to £1 9a 5d in respect toßeotion 2, block 1., Wrey's Bush Township, and 2s 6d in respeot of Motion 1, block VII., Flint's Bush. The questions to be deoided were the lands liable to be rated, and Whs the defendant the owner or occupier of the same. The Flint's Bush section was given to Father Walsh, and is now vested in him for Church purposes. The Wrey's Bush section is vested in Bishop Verdon. and has been fenced by the Church authorities into three paddocks On oue is erected a church, used also as a school ; on another a prea bytery, occupied as a residence by the defendant, who is the loca priest in charge ; whilst the third is used as a horse paddock by those attending the church and school. The only paddock over which there is any dispute is that on which the presbytery it erected. The school is not carried «n by its managers exclusively for gain or profit, and those teaching therein are Sisters belonging to one of the teaching orders of the Roman Catholic Church. The defendant twice every week throughout the year, eioept during the worst of the winter months, teaches one of the school o lasses. Thia class is held nowhere but in the church or presbytery (whichever may best suit the school arrangements at the time). The plaintiffs did not attempt to rate the paddock in dispute until after the erection of the presbytery, and it is in consequence of this erection it now claims the right to rate. After quoting several authorities the magistrate gave his finding as follows : — 4 With regard to the Flint's Bush section, although defendant is merely a bare trustee, yet, as the land is not exempted, either he or his oestoi que trust is liable, and as the land is vested in defendant I must hold him liable as owner. The claim in respect of the presbytery paddock is disallowed ; that in respect of Flint's Bush section is allowed. Judgment for plaintiff for 2s 6d. As the defendant has succeed- d on the main part of the claim, no costs will be allowed to either party.'

In the new Dutch Ministry, which has just been formed, three out of eight portfolios have been given to Catholics — namely, that of Justice to M. L*off, War to General Bergansuia, and Finance to M. Harte van Tecklenburg.

The recent conversion to the Catholic faith of Madame Arabella Goddard conjures up memories of 44 years ago, when she, as 'the for«most pianist of her time,' played for Balfe's benefit at Drury Lane in July, 1857. All the others who took part in that memorable concert — Sainton Dolby, Viardot Garcia, Messrs Grassier, Weiss, and Sims Reeves— are numbered with the past. Madame Goddard, though long since retired from the profession, is still in touch with matters musical, and caries her 63 years quite jauntily.

Our readers in Oamaru and surrounding districts will be conpulting their own interests by paying a visit to the establishment of Mr. A. J. S. Headland, Thames street, whose stock of ironmongery, glass and chinaware, groceries, and all kinds of goods suitable for home and farm use, is up to date and excellent in qualitity. Mr. Headland imports his goods direct, and consequently is in a position to lay them down at prices which cannot be objected t0...

Messrs. Laidlaw and Gray, the well-known ironmongers of Rattray street, Dunedin, have purchased Mr. James Ritchie's valuable stock of ironmongery, valued at clobo on £2000, at considerably below landed cost, and are now offering the same at greatly reduced prices. The sale will only last for four weeks so that those who are anxinus to secure bargains should not miss this opportunity. That Messrs. Laidlaw and Gray are offering genuine bargains a glance at a list of prices given in another part of this issue will convince the most sceptical. Persons requiring lamps, and other household requisites, tools, bedsteads, etc., should vit^it the establishment and see for themselves the solid reductions in prices that have been made in all lines...

There is a notice of considerable importance to our lady reader* in Canterbury in another portion of this issue. In this notice Messrs. Strange and Co., the well-known drapers and house furnishers of (Jhristchurch, direct the attention of our readers to the fact that a personal visit is not necessary when goods are required, as an order by post will be attended to with promptitude. Thounands of ladies, residing in country districts, adopt this method nowadays, with considerable saving to their purses. All such orders will receive the same attention that would be bestowed on the senders in person, and the firm guarantee that these will be executed to the entire satisfaction of their natrons. For those who can spare the time a vit-it to this vast establishment will repay the trouble, as its extensive departments, filled with the newest and best goods, are a sight worth seeing...

Geo. Elliotts fine story, ' Adam Bede,' is given away with 61bs Book Gift Tea. Ask your grocer for catalogue of 500 good books that are given fne with famous ' Book Gift' Tea. — 00 * m