DIOCESE OF CHRISTCHURCH

New Zealand Tablet, 28 July 1910, Page 1176

DIOCESE OF CHRISTCHURCH

(From our own correspondent.) July 25, His Lordship the Bishop proposes to commence an episcopal visitation of the Canterbury portion of the diocese towards the end of September. The annual appeal in aid of the funds of the Cathedral Conference of the Society of St. Vincent de Paul in the form of a charity sermon will be preached at the 11 o’clock Mass on next Sunday. Collections for the same worthy object will be taken up at the other Masses and at Vespers. Taking advantage of the presence in the parish of the N.Z. Tablet representative, the clergy of St. Mary’s Church, Christchurch North, impressed upon the congregations at all the Masses and at Vespers on last Sunday week the advantages of supporting that journal in a practical manner, and thus aid it to continue its splendid services in the interests of faith and fatherland.

In the primary schools competition last week it was expected that Opawa, who were winning all their games, would beat the Marist Brothers boys, but the latter had a systematic plan of attack, which enabled them to make the game fast and spectacular; in fact, the scores obtained were the outcome of heady combination, supported by strong individual _ efforts on the part of Khouri and Elliot. Scores were obtained as follow: —Elliot 5, Khouri 4, McDonald 2, O’Donoghue 1. W. Pope converted three tries, making the game 42 to nil. J. Mahony, the popular forward of the Marist Old Boys, was selected to represent Canterbury in the match against the American Universities. P. J. Amodeo, another popular player in the Old Boys team, and an ex-student of the Sacred Heart College, was selected to lead a debate given by the students of the Canterbury University College on, the subject of Home Rule. Opening for the affirmative, Mr. Amodeo placed Ireland’s claims before the meeting in a forcible manner, and clearly demonstrated that he has made a careful study of the history of that country.

The half-yearly meeting of St. Patrick’s branch of the Hibernian Australasian Catholic Benefit Society was held in the Hibernian Hall on Monday, July 11, Bro. M. Grimes, 8.P., presiding over a large attendance. Five brothers were-reported on the sick fund, and two were declared : off. Sick pay to the amount of £5 13s 4d was passed for pay-

ment. One new member was admitted by clearance. The balance, sheet for the quarter, showing the branch to be in a flourishing condition, was read and adopted. It was reported that 27 new members had joined the branch during the last quarter. Accounts for £42 2s lOd were passed for payment. The receipts for the evening amounted to £8 13s Bd. The following officers were elected: —President, Bro. M. Grimes; vice-president, Bro. G. Getson; secretary, Bro, F. J. Doolan; treasurer, Bro. G. Dobbs; warden, Bro. W. F.’O’Shaughnessy; guardian, Bro. W. Rodgers, jun.; sick visitors, Bros. H. Sloan and W. P. Daly; assistant secretary, Bro. M. J. O’Connor; auditors, Bros. M. Colgan and J. Ainger; Judicial committee, Bros. 0. Lafferty, R. P. O’Shaughnessy, L. Haughey, J. McCormick, W. Rodgers, sen., J. Curry, J. Finnerty, G. Getson, and P. Healy; benevolent committee, the president, the vice-president, and the secretary; P.P. for Management Committee, Bros. R. P. O’Shaughnessy and L. Haughey; delegates to district, Bros. D. Flynn, F. H. Ryan, and E. Dane. The officers were installed by Bro. J. R. Hayward, P.P. District-Deputy, assisted by Bro, R. P. O’Shaughnessy, P.P., last Monday. A presentation was made to Bro. J. Donohue in recognition of services specially rendered to the branch during the past half-year. After the meeting refreshments were handed round, and vocal and instrumental items were given by Messrs. Burton, Glubb, Beveridge, Fottrell, Moloney, Augarde, and McNeish, Mr, Nathan being the accompanist. There was a fairly numerous gathering of members and friends, including ladies. -

There was a very large gathering at the Provincial Council Chambers on last Friday afternoon, when a meeting was held to consider the question of establishing a training hostel for girls in connection with the Technical College. The Mayor of Christchurch (Mr. C. Allison) presided. His Lordship Bishop Grimes, who was among the selected speakers, said that he need not say that the proposed scheme would have the best wishes of all interested in one of the greatest problems of the day. Practice was worth much more than theory, and the hostel promised to give a judicious mingling of both. During the past few weeks the citizens had had to swallow some very nauseous and idiotic doses prepared by correspondents in the newspapers on the subject of the domestic help problem. If the people wished to solve the problem the hostel was the way to begin it. The dignity of labor should always be represented to girls, and nothing could be better than such an establishment to impress it on them. The culinary department was one of the most important in a household, and the work to be undertaken was on the right lines in that direction. He had always taken a keen interest in the movement. He had told the children of the convent to join, and he was pleased to say that 44 of them were taking domestic instruction now. He was sure that every effort would be made to achieve success and make the project worthy of the venerated pioneers of Canterbury, who had laid such noble foundations in good housekeeping. Copies of a report of. the advisory committee of ladies were distributed to those present. The report stated that at present there were nearly 50 girls taking the full course in domestic science at the Technical College, and, as the numbers had steadily increased, it was confidently anticipated that by the time the hostel was established there would be not fewer than 60 or 70 waiting to avail themselves of the facilities which it would offer. It was proposed that all the work in connection with the house should be done in rotation by all the girls taking the course, and it was obvious that a home such as that would afford the fullest opportunities of acquiring under a competent instructor skill and method in household management that would be of the utmost value in after life. There was a good attendance at the Choral Hall on last Tuesday evening, when a most interesting and instructive lecture was given by the Very Rev. Dr. Kennedy, B.A. F.R.A.S., on ‘Modern Astronomy,’ with special reference to Halley’s Comet. Among the audience were his Lordship Bishop Grimes, the Very Rev. Dean Ginaty, S.M., V.G. the Very Rev. Father Price, Adm., and others of the clergy! The Mayor of Christchurch (Mr. C. Allison) presided, and in introducing the Very Rev. lecturer paid a worthy tribute to Dr. Kennedy for his diligent search for knowledge and his generosity in so eloquently imparting the fruits of his researches to all who cared to profit by them. By way of preface to his lecture. Dr. Kennedy said that of all nature studies that of astronomy was the most resourceful and enthralling, and he strongly appealed for a more general study of the subject and the providing of facilities for such in at least the four chief centres. Dr. Kennedy (says the Lyttelton Times) dealt in a lucid and interesting manner with the characteristics and motions of the sun and planets of the solar system, his remarks being illustrated by a number of ingeniously devised mechanical slides, showing the relative orbits and orbital speeds of the planets. The lecturer devoted some time to an explanation of the principal phases of spectrum analysis, and showed the characteristic markings denoting various elements. An interesting portion of the lecture was that devoted to the sun, a number of line photographs taken through the 9-inch equatorial refracting telescope at Meeanee Observatory illustrating the description of sun spots and the structure of the photosphere. The photographs in which the largest magnifying power had been employed to show the granulated markings of the photosphere were particularly well defined,

and the lecturer stated that the Meeanee photographs had been praised by Professor Hales,, who had paid a high tribute to their excellence, and who had stated that the atmosphere in the locality of the observatory must be of exceptional clarity. The lecturer described the . history of the discovery of Halley’s comet, and explained the nature of comets and cometary tails, several fine pictures being shown in illustration of this phase of the lecture. The stars outside the solar system, the great nebulae, and other astronomical phenomena were also dealt with, the lecture covering in clear and concise style the elementary facts regarding the heavenly bodies, supplemented by facts ascertained as the result of the most recent researches. The lecture was given in aid of the parochial schools fund of St. Mary’s Christchurch North.

The Inspector-General of Schools, in a memorandum to the Rev. Mother Prioress of the Order of Notre Dame des Missions, Lower High street, Christchurch, under date Wellington, July 7, states: —‘l have the honor, by direction' of the Minister of Education, to forward for your information a copy of a report made by Mr. T. H. Gill, an inspector of this department, on the secondary classes of the Sacred Heart High School, Lower High, street, Christchurch. The following is the report, the inspection having been held on June 13, 1910: — ‘There are 30 girls on the roll of the secondary department, which consists of two divisions, junior and senior, with 23 and 7 pupils respectively, all of whom were present on the occasion of my visit. In addition to these pupils, the school comprises all the standard classes and a small infant department. Standards IV., V., and VI, are taught in the same room as the secondary classes. Of the total enrolment of the secondary department, 5 pupils have passed Civil Service Junior examination, 21 hold certificates of proficiency, and the remainder certificates of competency in Standard VI. Only one pupil travels to school daily by train. The others either board at the school or live in Christchurch. The course of instruction, consisting of English, Latin, French, arithmetic, algebra, geometry, geography, history, physiology, botany, drawing, book-keeping, shorthand, typewriting, music, cookery, and sewing, is arranged partly to meet; the requirements of the Civil Service Junior and Matriculation examinations, and partly to provide a suitable course of instruction for commercial work or in continuation of the work of the primary school. Pupils are allowed as many options as possible. Latin is taken by 25 pupils, and is taught for an hour before the commencement of the usual morning session. French is taken by all pupils. Four pupils take the commercial course. The time-table has been carefully constructed, and provides for five hours’ work daily, exclusive of Latin and Christian doctrine. A praiseworthy feature of the time-table is the amount of time set apart for English.' The methods of teaching were, in general, quite satisfactory, and were applied with thoroughness and zeal. The written work that came under my notice here testimony to the teachers’ careful supervision and the pupils’ interest in their lessons. The botany notebooks were satisfactorily kept. To enable good observational work to be done, the pupils should be provided with small hand lenses. The order, 'attention, and behaviour of the girls were excellent, A good spirit of work and a fine tone were noticeable. The physical education of the girls receives attention. They play tennis and hockey, have five minutes’ deep-breathing exercises daily, and receive instruction in physical exercises with wands and clubs half an hour every week.’ ■

Temuka (From our own correspondent.) July 25. _ 9 11 ,, Thursday afternoon last the Athletic (Catholic) f ootball Club, playing m Victoria Park, defeated Celtic in the junior grade by 9 to nil, and Temnka in the president s competition by 8 points to nil. For the juniors Roland Gillespie, F. Twomey, and P. Sullivan each scored a try and B. Connell and M. J. Brosnan scored for the 3rd grade team, William Fitzgerald succeeded in converting the last-mentioned try. On Tuesday evening in the Catholic schoolroom a progressive euchre match was held in aid of the funds of the Children of Mary and the Catholic Club. There was a large attendance, and a most pleasant evening was spent. The first prizes were won by Miss Mary Scott and Mr. P. Brosnahan. Mr. E. B. Gillespie, in presenting the prizes, apologised for the absence of the Rev. Father Fay who was unavoidably absent. . He thanked those who had helped to make the gathering a success and intimated that this was the forerunner of many such entertainments. The • members of the Catholic Club have received a challenge from the Waitohi Library members to a card match at an early date, and also from the Temuka Football Club for a contest, at billiards, the latter to be played on the fine table in the Catholic Club rooms.

Grey mouth (From our own correspondent.) -’ J 4 is J vith & e P regret that , I have to record'*the death of Mrs. Mary Blanchfield which sad event took place last Wednesday. Deceased, who was a native of County Kerry,

were Z,!hSf St Cst l or forty-five years, thirty of which were spent at Maori Creek, where she reared a large family nf LfiTt and l our d /^ ghters ’ Mr. Patrick Blanchfield, of the well known firm of Blanchfield and Quinlan being one «L th ,L S °V S ‘ The J Un t°? Place last Friday afternoon, ?r* d w« S n ße 7 attended, friends coming from all parts of p e +i^ eS M^ ,aS !i,* 0 pa? their last tribute of respect. Rev. ducted" the C wrlf assisted by Very Rev. Dean Carew, conducted the burial service at St. Patrick’s Church and at the Greymouth Cemetery.—R.l.p . nUlcn ana at