Notes

New Zealand Tablet, 20 November 1913, Page 35

Notes

Good Belfast Stories The Manchester Guardian contains some good Belfast stories. A Belfast man was charged in the police courts of his native city with entering the shop of an Italian image-seller, and smashing up all her stock of statuary —Blessed Virgins, saints, and all. ' Why,' asked the magistrate, reproachfully, ' did you destroy all this poor woman's goods?' 'Well,' answered the culprit, ye see, the way it is wi' me, A can't stan' bigotry.'

This story also comes from Belfast: A newly-ap-pointed Resident Magistrate, adjudicating in a case in which a man was charged with assaulting his wife, took the examination of the woman in hand himself. ‘ Tell me, my good woman, exactly what he did to you.’ ‘He hut me ower the head wi’ the matta.’ ‘ With the what?’ ‘She means,’ interposed a native, ‘that he hit her over the head with the motto.' The magistrate was still puzzled as to what weapon of offence this might be. ‘ Ach, don’t ye know,’ said the witness, ‘it is thon wee thing wi’ a frame roun’ it an' “God Bless Our Homo in the middle.’

A Harmless Joke The Rev. Herbert George Kosher, M.A., vicar of Palmerston North, has made himself during the last few days, in Gilbertian phrase, ' a source of innocent merriment' to the citizens of the thriving northern town. He has composed an elaborate inscription, done on linen parchment, to be used in connection with the laying of a memorial stone for the new Anglican church which is now nearing completion in the town, which inscription contains, inter alia, the following: 'To the glory of Almighty God, we, His servants dwelling in Palmerston North lay this memorial stone of a permanent church for this town—the outward sign of the permanence and continuity of the mother church of England. . In this Temple the glory of the Eternal Trinity will be proclaimed; the sacraments duly administered; sacred scriptures read and explained; nuptials will be blessed, and God worshipped for ever, acording to the solemn and reverential customs of the Anglican and Catholic Church in New Zealand.' These historical and theological fairy tales are to be well and truly buried in a copper casket underneath the stone, so that they will do little harm; and in the meantime they have contributed to the gaiety of the citizens at a time when just occasion for a laugh is particularly welcome and refreshing.

The C.I.C.

The C.1.C., which is doing an admirable and very necessary work, is not so well known as it deserves to be; and we therefore willingly find room for the following clear statement of its objects which has been prepared by a member of the Committee and formally endorsed by the secretary.

‘ Dear , You ask me to tell you exactly what the C.I.C. is, and what your duties and responsibilities will be if you become a member, as I suggest. The Catholic Immigration Committee of St. Vincent de Paul, usually knownfor brevity’s sakeas ‘The C.I.C.’, was first formed in Wellington, and is a sub-committee under the Diocesan Council of the N.Z. Catholic Federation. Its objects are:To meet all Home boats; welcome Catholic immigrants; provide lodging, in Catholic homes for them; and generally to look after their spiritual and physical welfare. More especially, however, the C.I.C. aims at protecting and caring for immigrant girls of the domestic servant class, and

obtaining situations for them with Catholic employers who will encourage them to practice their faith as they did in Catholic Ireland, and not grow careless in the irreligious atmosphere of New Zealand.’

The C.I.C. meets alternate Fridays, when the following programme is carried out:-Prayers; reading of minutes correspondence from the various branches and general; reports of visitors to oversea vesselsgeneral discussion of immigration matters, and call for volunteers to meet boats arriving during the fortnight. Two members board vessels on arrival & the stream, by the Health Officers' launch, and thus have an opportunity of meeting immigrants before the mey table bustle and excitement of the ship's arrival Pan a? Hoi ,T7\ •?* Br ° therS ° f Sfc ' Vincent de Faul at Hobart distribute cards to our people an nouncing that C.I.C. members wearing WuE2d white star badges will aboard the ship 011 arrival in New Zealand; and so our immigrants are looking out for us. We welcome them, give them all possible information,' and secure such details of each one's destination, prospects etc., as are obtainable. Two other members of horlrpH ;™T f ° ard at th wharf and help those booked to Wellington to find lodgings, etc. In the case of immigrants bound for other places, we write or wire particulars to the C.I.C. of the district to which they are going, and that branch, then takes their case in hand Immigrants are always glad of a helping hand in a strange country, where conditions of life are necessarily so different; and we try to keep in touch with them after they have settled down to the new life We hope ere long to have a branch of the CI C iii every district throughout the Dominion, composed of capable, zealous men and women, ready to give what is more precious than mere money—time and sympathy —to the work of caring for Catholic immigrants, many of whom may otherwise drift from the faith of their fathers Of course, the majority of Catholic immigrants are Irish. May I hope you will assist us by devoting some of your leisure to this most necessary work ? 'Very sincerely yours, Ada Wheeler, ) _ 'C. Ellis, } Hon - Secs -'