NEW ZEALAND: GENERAL.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume XXX, Issue 41, 9 October 1902, Page 20

NEW ZEALAND: GENERAL.

Thebe will be an eclipse of the moon on the 17th inst., visible in New Zealand. The moon will rise almost totally eclipsed about 6.20 p.m. The middle of the eclipse will be at 6.28 p.m , and the end 8.15 p.m. A Wanganui syndicate is arranging for the importation of several motor car omnibuses to run between Wanganui and the various suburbs. The 'buses are to be of the latest and most up-to-date typo, and will coat £1000 each. Each will carry from 30 to 40 passengers. The Government subsidy on the sum of £400 contributed to funds of the Wellington Hospital by the Chinese during the past eleven years amounts to £480, so that through the liberality of the Celestials the institution has (remarks the Post) benefited to the extent of £880. Abbangements are being made to give a civic reception to Mr Seddon on his arrival in Wellington. The Mayor, being assured that »the demonstration would have no political significance, acceded to the request, and has called a public meeting. Retubns show that the total deaths among the 10 New Zealand Contingents sent to South Africa were 223 officers and men, 59 of whom were killed in action. The figures include tho3e men who died on the way back and since arriving in the Colony. The following are the names of the successful candidates from the Convent of Mercy, Greymouth, at the Trinity College theoretical musical examination held last June: — Senior honors — Augusta Skoglund 80, Alice Dix 74. Senior pass— Alice Hannan 89. Intermediate pass— Mary Peterßon 94, Joan O'Reilly 83, Lily Cottle 79. A ceremony of reception took place in the Convent Chapel Gisborne, on Sunday evening, September 21. The postulant who took the white veil wag Miss Bridget Gill, fourth daughter of Mr James Gill, Darfield, Canterbury. Rev. Father O'Connor officiated. Benediction of the Blessed Sacrament brought to an end a very impressive ceremony. The novice took for her name in religion Sister Mary Philomena. The results of the theoretical musical examination, held last June in the Catholio schoolroom, Gisborne, under the auspices of Trinity College, have (writes a correspondent) just come to hand. All the pupils (twelve) presented by the oonvent were successful! The following are the marks gained by each pupil .—Senior division (honors section)— Mary Anthony Fitzpatrick 76. Intermediate division (honors section)— Ad ela Mary Roche 94, Florence Somervell 69. Intermediate division (pass section) — Mary Bernard Fishenden 79, Cecilia Rowan 62. Junior division (pass section)— Nellie MoLonghlin 100, Dora Booth 100, Lullie Power 100, Katie Currie 99, Nellie Martin 99, Amy Solvander 99, Peter Conville 73. Mb. A. Mistowski, examiner of Trinity College, London, conducted the practical examination at St. Mary's Convent school, Gisborne, on September 24th. Of the 10 convent pupils presented nine were successful. Mr Mistowski expressed himself highly pleased with all the pupils, and recommended Miss Liddell to study for the diploma of Aesociate of T.C.L. The following is the list of successful candidates : — Senior division. — Solo sinering — Mary Anthony Fitipatrick ; piano, Miss Liddell. Intermediate division.— Violin, Miss Lullie Power ; piano, Miss Victoria Bridges, Miss Florence Somervell, Miss Katie Currie. Junior division.— Piano, Mies Linda Nicholson, Miss Dorothy Parker. Preparatory grade.— Piano' Miss Hilda Howarth. An ex -New Zealander, writing on August 13, from Johannesburg to a friend in Christchurcb, says : — 'People are flocking into Capetown and Durban at the rate of from 700 to 1000 with every steamer. There will be some great distress before it is all over. Advise every man you know not to come here. £100 in New Zealand is infinitely better than £200 here. Long's Hotel, where lam staying at present, is £1 per day, and no reduction for weekly or permanent boarders. You can get board alone, however, at £2 10a per week, but rooms are at a prohibitive price — £4 per week for a single room at a none too fashionable or select show. All payments in advance. lam not exaggerating in the slightest.'

The Agricultural Department hare sent 100,000 vine slipa to settlers m various parts of the Colony. Signor Bragato, Government VitiouUunst, states that New Zealand is likely to make a name lor itself for the quality of its wines. The climate in most parts of the Colony is well suited for grape culture, and better wine can be made here than in Australia. A great many new vineyards are being planted, and he believes in five or six years' time we shall be able to sell table wine at 2s 6d per gallon and make a good profit. Several settlers in the North Island are, he says, making £300 per acre per year from their vineyards. Samples of New Zealand winea are to be exhibited by the Agricultural Department at the Auckland A. and P. bnow, so that quality may be compared with that of the imported article.

The largest gathering of parishioners of St. Patrick's Church for some years past (says our Palmerston North correspondent) assembled m the echoolroom on Sunday morning last to discuss the ways and means of erecting a new oonvent, whioh is urgently needed The Rev. Father Tymons occupied the chair, and after a successful meeting the following gentlemen were elected a working committee to carry out the proposal :— The Rev. Father Tymona (chairman) Mr W. Ryan (secretary), Mesara Aiaher, Garrityf HanJXi k T °p SmAl h Kenned y» M - O'Connor, O'DoL neU, M. Hiokey, Prunty, Kearns. The Bum of £212 was promised in the room; two gentlemen present very generously contributing cheques for £28 eaoh. The present convent, which has done service for many years past, being only a cottage of five rooms to aooommodate a community of four nuns, is now found sadly inadequate, the increasing Catholic population demanding a larger staff of Sisters to be provided for. As this object is a moaU deserving one itehould receive the support and sympathy of the parishioners and donations for this object will be thankfully reoeived by the Rev. lather Tymons or any gentleman of the committee. At the conclusion of the meeting, on the motion of Mr Martin Power, a very hearty \ote of thanks was accorded to the rev. chairman. A pleasing function took place at the Commercial Hotel, Cromwell, on Tuesday of last week, when a number of gentlemen representing the Borough Council, Jockey Club, Athenaeum Committee and others met to wish Mr J. J. Connor farewell and to present him with some slight tokens of the regard and esteem in which he was held. Mr Murrell, Mayor' of Cromwell, said that he had * very pleasant duty to perform. To him had been delegated the task of presenting to Mr Connor v, slight token of esteem from his brother councillors and from gentlemen who had worked with Mr Connor en other pubiie bodies. The intrinsic value of the present was not to be regarded so much as the faot that it waß a visible manifestation of the high opinion in which the recipient was held by all who had come in contact with him during his sojourn in Ciomwell. He referred to the good work done by Mr Connor as a councillor and as an active and energetic member of various committees and societies. He then presented Mr Connor with a gold pendant. Mr Warburton, on behalf of the Athenaeum Committee concurred with the remarks that had been made by the chairman and said that they had found Mr Connor a very useful and active member of the Athenaeum Committee. In the choice of books hia assistance was invaluable, as he possessed very good literary taßte. 0 thers having added their meed of praise, Mr Connor thanked the speakers for their kind remarks and the donors for their present. A Press Association message from Waimate states that the foundation stone of the new Catholic church at Makikihi was laid on Sunday afternoon by Bishop Grimes. Mr Nicholas Quinn gave the site and £200 towards the cost of erection. The collection at the ceremony amounted to £184.