INTERCOLONIAL.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume XXX, Issue 17, 24 April 1902, Page 7

INTERCOLONIAL.

The Sisters of Mercy of Broken Hill, with the consent of Arch, bishop O'Reily, are about to form a branch house at Mount Barker, South Australia. A property has been secured, and the nuns will open a high school there in a few weeks. A Sydney message received on Saturday states that Miss Amy Castle's opening concert in that city was a success. Critics differ in regard to the singer. The Herald congratulates her upon her vast progress in einging. The volume of her voice is not so large as it was, but it retains its sweetness, and has gained in evenness, flexibility, and everything that makes for advancement. The Rev. Father Leahy, who had been stationed at Gundagai for about three and a half years, and who recently took charge of the newly-formed parish of Koorawatha, was honored by the people of Gundagai in the middle of last month. At a large meeting, over which the mayor presided, Father Leaby was presented with a puree of 60 sovereigns and an illuminated address. A fund has been started in Sydney for the purpose of providing a testimonial to Mr. Victor J. Daley, the author poet, in recognition of his valuable contributiona to Australian literature. The committee, which has been formed, explain that ' failing health has rendered it necessary for Mr. Daley to take a sea voyage in obedience to imperative medical advice,' and it is thought that ' the people of the Commonwealth should be afforded an opportunity of substantially showing their appreciation of a genuis.' The Advocate reports the death of a distinguished member of the Jesuit Order — the Rev. William Hughes, S.J — who expired at the House of the Jesuit Fathers, Seven Hills, South Australia, on April 1. The deceased prie&t, who was one of three brothers, all of whom devoted their lives and talents to the sole service of the Sanctuary, was born in County Carlow, Ireland, in 1841, and, consequently, had entered on the 61st year of his age when death summoned him to hie eternal reward. Father Hughes pursued his early theological studies at Maynooth, whence he graduated to that famous seat of learning — Lou vain. He entered the Society of Jesus 42 years ago, being then in his 19th year. A correspondent of the Catholic Press, who was a passenger by the Ophir, gives the following particulars of the reception accorded to Cardinal Moran on his arrival in Colombo : ' One of the most enthusiastically successful days I have ever spent has just closed at Colombo. The Archbishop and his Coadjutor and the body of the clergy came off the moment the Ophir anchored in the bay. The signal of his Eminence's arrival was heralded by the bells pealing from all the churohes. Immense crowds assisted. The Governor Bent his barge, and the Cardinal and the Dean were wafted ashore with vice-regal honors. To describe the enthusiasm of his Eminence's landing would be a hopeless task. Somehow he reached the Archbishop's carriage, and ultimately reached the palace. The great business of the day, after his Eminence had visited the cathedral and the Sisters of the Good bhepherd, was the laying by his Eminence of the foundation stone of a reunion hall connected with St. Joseph's College. All Ceylon was there. After his Eminence blessed the corner-stone he delivered a stirring address in praise of the splendid achievements in Ceylon of the Oblate Fathers. He took the work in hand to mean the definite breaking down of the greatest curee of these poor peoples — the slavery imposed by the distinction of castes. From this his Eminence referred to the encyclical letter of the Holy Father on the reunion of Christendom, and forecasted and prophesied that the English-speaking colonies of the Empire would lead the van in this great work, as the crowning jewel of the twentieth century.' A lady visitor, in the course of a letter to the Western Mail, gives her impressions of a visit to the New Norcia Mission, Western Australia. She says : — ' There are at the present time about 100 natives under the monks' care, and quite one-half of these are children. Babies abound, and when a boy is born the parents prepare a feast, but a girl ia received without any fuss or rejoicing. The monks make no difference between the men and the women, although the Bexes are kept very strictly apart, and a woman is never seen walking alone to fetch water from the well or stores from the monastery. The women are modest. It was a merry sight to see the girls dancing in their quarters on Christmas Day while one little dark maid playtd the concertina, and the aged Brother looked on and smiled. In the boys' quarters I found two cripples who can never leave the mission. A schoolmaster assists the Brother with the boys, and I was assured that the three R's are not pressed too much, and the work on the farm is put before lessons, and paid for during the vintage and the harvest. The native love of color is found in the homes, the white-washed walls being feßtooned with yellow and pink everlastings. The red, white, and blue Government blankets look smart on the beds, and are much appreciated. Mutton seems to be the staple food together with excellent cream. Milk is plentiful, also olive oil, but butter is not eaten by the monks or the natives. One of the largest buildings is set apart for the manufacture of macaroni, and this wholesome food seems to be popular. The monastery garden is full of beautiful fruit trees, and from this place sweet and salted almonds, dried figs, and other delicacies reach the store. All rise with the Bun and go to bed at dark. Needless to say there is little or no sickness. The Brothers who have reached their four score years drop off, but the natives enjoy excellent health. It is very touching to see how Bishop Salvado lives in their memory. " Our father," they say, " our father who loved us." The new Superior has no easy place to fill, but he has had sone previous experience of native races. Before the American-Spanish war he was for a time in the Philippine islands. When he and his aged interpreter came to wish me good-bye I felt that I had learned much, and I said au revoir to New Norcia conscious that nowhere could I have spent a more profitable Christmas.