Notes

New Zealand Tablet, 22 October 1914, Page 35

Notes

A Correction We have been asked to correct an obvious printer's error which occurred in the report of the Christchurch Diocesan Council meeting in our issue of July .23. Referring to the question of providing marquees for the purpose of having Mass celebrated at military camps, the report stated that ' Mr. J. P. Leigh, supporting the remit, thought various branches should assist in the purchase of a marquee, and the cost of railing it to camps should be borne by the Council. Trouble need be anticipated from military authorities providing they received ample time to make arrangements for erection of marquee.'. As was sufficiently obvious from the context, the report should have read, 'Trouble need not "be anticipated from military authorities.' The error was duly corrected in the report as reprinted for distribution. -

Ireland and Belgium

Mr. John 1 Redmond, M.P., intervened in the brief debate on Belgium in the House of Commons on Thursday, August 27, to say a few words in support of the address of sympathy to that country proposed by the Premier;- ' Ho said: ‘ In no quarter of the world, I feel convinced, has - the heroism : of the Belgian people been received with more genuine enthusiasm and ad-

miration than within the shores of Ireland, and there is no compliment which it would be possible for the Irish people to r pay to Belgium that they would not willingly pay, and there is no sacrifice, I believe, which. Ireland would not .be willing to make to come to their assistance. In this .regard 1 am glad; and proud to be able to think that at this niomeift there are many gallant Irishmen willing, to take their share of the risks, and to shed their blood (cheers) and to face death in the assistance of the; Belgian people in the defence of' their liberty and their independence. The spectacle of this small nation making these heroic sacrifices .in defence of their independence and honor against overwhelming odds appeals in a very special way to the-sentiments and the feelings of Ireland. . . I have risen for one purpose only, and that is to make it clear that with-all their hearts the people of Ireland are in sympathy with Belgium in this matter, and that they _ are willing to do what rests with them to assist her in the maintenance of her independence. (Loud cheers.).’ Tuesday’s cables indicate that this attitude has been endorsed and emphasised by Mr. T. P. O’Connor, M.P., at whose instance the great meeting at Wimbledon Common, with hands uplifted, proclaimed that whatever might come they would never sheathe the sword until Belgium was free and reparation made.

Our Catholic Men at Samoa

The following letter from Chaplain Father Segrief, S.M., will be read with general interest, both as illustrating a minor but important phase.of the good work done by the Catholic Federation, and also as conveying welcome news as to the health and spirits of our boys in our newly acquired possession: Co sth Regiment Camp, Apia, Samoa, September 30, 1914. G. Girling-Butcher, Esq., Secretary N.Z. Catholic Federation. Dear Sir,Permit me, on behalf of the Catholic men of the Advance Party, to thank you for the parcels of literature supplied by the Federation for their use. The books and . magazines were greatly appreciated by the lads, who have now plenty of opportunity for reading. Any further supply of literature or magazine material will always be welcome. Any form of comforts for the boys, too, will •. meet with - ready acceptance. The health of the Catholic lads lias been remarkably good, despite a big hospital roll of minor troubles among all ranks. All are keen on getting nearer the centre of disturbance, but are resigned to duty here.

Again thanking you, and with best regards, Yours sincerely, . - . . Thomas B. Segrief, S.M., Chaplain. Any gifts for the men of the Advance. Guard. sent to the care of the Secretary of the Catholic Federation, 51 Lower Cuba street, Wellington, will be gladly forwarded to the Rev.- Chaplain, Father Segrief. • A Nation's Freedom Prof. T. M. Kettle, the well-known Irish Nationalist, has the following lines in the Daily Chronicle on the proclamation of the Tsar's offer of Home Rule to Poland: Word of the Tsar ! . and the drowse malign is broken; -The stone is rolled from the tomb, and Poland free, This is the strong evangel. The guns have spoken; And the scribble of flame of the guns is: Liberty. Have you not met her, my lords, a-walk in the garden, Ranging the- dawn, even she, the three times dead? Nay ! But in bondage, sundered from light and pardon But now the water is'wine and the marriage read. Word of the Tsar! And Russia rises to vision, . .'- Poland and Ireland— my lords, was an augured fate. :' ;•".'''*. '' "■'-"• ' : i- "■'.''-;:vc The days draw in, and .the ways narrow down to de- ■' ' decision ]"l'-~]' ■•' / '■* ;.- •-;';.'■ ■<'■; " Will they chaffer, and cheapen, and ruin, or yield ; -.\" •'" to be great : ':--r.' : ''~ M ..' ; " '-':?■ ' :; ''' :i n"

Christchurch North

<jt . .. October 19. The Rev. Father Lezer, S.M., of Timaru, is now an inmate of Lewisham Hospital. The sodality of • the Children* of Mary was well represented at Holy Communion on Sunday morning. The Rev. Father Hoare,' S.M., returned to St. Mary's on Thursday after spending a few ' days at Hanmer.

There was Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament on Sunday last from after last Mass till the evening devotions, when the usual procession took place, after which there was Benediction of the Blessed Sacrament.

The Very Rev. Dean Carew, S.M. (Greymouth), Rev. Father Eccleton, S.M. (St. Patrick’s College), and Rev. Father Murphy, S.M. (Timaru) were the guests of the Vicar-General, the Very Rev. Dean Hills, S.M., at St. Mary’s Presbytery last week.

Timaru

(From our own correspondent.)

October 19.

Rev. Father Lezer, S. M., lias been removed to the Lewisham Hospital, Christchurch.

In common with the citizens in the other parts of the Dominion, the people of Timg.ru are endeavoring to. raise funds for the benefit of the afflicted in the - Home lands. For this object a series of entertainments, entitled the Olympic Patriotic Carnival,’ was held on Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday nights. Two of our Catholic men—Messrs. T. W. Lynch and John O’Leary — took a prominent part in the proceedings, which were very well.attended. The first part of the programme each evening consisted mainly of items by the different schools, and on Wednesday night the girls from, our local Catholic school showed the excellence of the training given them by the nuns by performing a flag drill march and tableau, ‘ Britannia,’ and rendering very sweetly, ‘ God, defend New Zealand’ and the ‘Flower bells,’ all the items receiving rounds of applause. The boys of the Marist Brothers’ School, neatly attired in white, with green ties and sashes, gave a dumb-bell drill which was heartily applauded and testified to the care and efficiency of the Brothers’ teaching. The second part of the programme each evening consisted of a tug-of-war competition, the primary school section of which was won by the Marist.Brothers’ School. • The wearers of the green and black defeated the Timaru Main School on Monday night, Waimataitai A team on Tuesday, and although their heaviest boy was unavoidably absent and had to be replaced, thereby lightening the team by six stone, they succeeded in beating- Waimataitai B in the final on Wednesday night. The boys’ item aroused great enthusiasm, and the winners were heartily cheered. The teams consisted of seven boys and were limited to an aggregate of 56 stone. Marist Brothers’ School team consisted of E. King, D. Croxford, J. Nisbet, B. Kane, J. Pyke, G. Flett, F. Pearce, and M. Fahey (substitute in the final).