Intercolonial

New Zealand Tablet, Volume XXXVII, Issue 14, 8 April 1909, Page 555

Intercolonial

The Marist Fathers some time ago made arrangements to huild a suitable vessel for missionary work among the Islands. The work is now being proceeded with, and it is expected the vessel will .be ready for service about, the end of May. A -magnificent demonstration of national patriotism (says the Freeman's' Journal) marked the close of St. Patrick's Day celebrations on Saturday, March 20, at the Royal Agricultural", Society's Grounds, Sydney. More than 20,000 people thronged "the enclosure, each content to share in the general rejoicings, and all equally proud of the possession of the green emblem so dear to the Irish heart. The Melbourne correspondent of the Sydney Freeman's Journal writes: — The Very Rev. Dean Phelan, V.G., has received a cable message from his Grace the Archbishop congratulating him on the success of the St. Patrick's Day demonstrations. The Most Rev. prelate was particularly pleased with the account he received of Lord. Dudley's speech and the presence of their Excellencies at the Irish national gathering. The receipts from the' exhibition fete show that £230 was taken in excess of last year, which was considered a record result ; while the concert in the Town Hall returned. ' £232 4s, the largest sum ever received from this event. When -the Archbishop will return to Melbourne is still uncertain, as in a letter from him received on St. Patrick's Day he said he had not even then decided with regard to his return. ■ His Eminence Cardinal Moran opened the twentyiy«ith annual District Meeting of the H.A.C.B. Society in Sydney on March 23, and delivered an important address. The report of the District Officers disclosed a most fruitful yearns work. It stated -in part : — During the year 11 branches were opened, while another branch is about to -be opened at Ballina, Richmond River. The total membership at the close of the year was 7639. The net increase in district funds for the year .amounted to £3319 17s 9d, and in branch funds £2043 18s Id, or the splendid total net increase (district and branch) of £5363 15s lOd. The total funds of the society now amount to £50,444 18s 4d, made up as follows: District funeral fund, £20,487 18s 2d; women's consolidated sick fund, £990 4s lid; other district funds, £443 18s; branch sick funds, £27,053 8s lid; other branch funds, £1467 8s 4d. One of the last private . acts of Sir Harry Rawson , Governor of New South Wales, before leaving for England was the sending of the following letter of congratulation to his Eminence Cardinal Moran, in which he expressed his appreciation of the St. Patrick's Day celebrations: ' Your Eminence, — Will you please convey to the children my best congratulations on v the magnificent spectacle I had the privilege of witnessing at the Agricultural Grounds this afternoon. The display of drill was a sight long to be remembered, and can only have been the result of a good organisation by the committee, of tireless and patient effort on the part of the teachers, and of a "willing response by well-disciplined pupils. ' Such exhibitions promote grand training for both mind -,and body,- besides being, an opportunity for display by the children of loyalty ,;to their King, devotion to the mother country, and pride in th© flourishing portion of the Empire which is their inheritance.' His Eminence Cardinal Moran speaking at the Hibernian Society's annual breakfast in Sydney, said: — Every citizen in this free land of Australia must Use his vote, which is his rifle for the maintenance of the spirit • and integrity of the country, and to enable it to attain its destiny. lam sorry to say, judging from public reports in the press, that it is really astounding to find sometimes in an electorate of say 10,000 voters, only 2000 tr 3000 avail themselves of. their votes. They, cannot.complain if their representative -does not employ his influence and position in Parliament to carry out the mandate th'a electors gave him. Every man and woman — now "that the womanhood of Australia is entitled to the franchise — should vote according to .conscience for the person whom they believe best suited to carry out their wishes, to maintain the integrity of the State, its freedom, and assert its rights, and who will, moreover, make that ''due progress in promoting the and welfare of the country which the representatives of the people shouid make. I' cannot too strongly impress this matter upon you, especially as we Catholic voters are identified in this connection with our Protestant fellow-citizens. Sometimes people say, 'We should vote for a Catholic,' but I say any man who offers himself to you for election on the sole ground of being a Catholic should be laid aside. Do not vote for him.