Commonwealth Notes

New Zealand Tablet, Volume L, Issue 3, 18 January 1923, Page 35

Commonwealth Notes

NEW SOUTH WALES.

Labor did splendidly in New South Wales. A feature of the polling in Sydney was the contemptuous rejection of Mr. Catts' ridiculous "Majority Labor" Party, whoso candidates could not even save their deposits. Few people will regret the departure of Mr. Catts. Labor easily won the new seat of Reid, and hjggnprobably defeated the Speaker at Lang. Mr. egregious Labor renegade, was rejected, and the Federal Parliament has, it is to be hoped, seen the last of him.•, Mr. Chanter is certain to be defeated for Riverina,' and. the seat will probably go to Labor. Mr. Parker Maloney had no trouble in securing re-election for the Hume seat, but by the defeat of Mr. Considine the House has lost one of its most picturesque personalities. Messrs. Lavelle, Nicholls, and Cunningham, three Labor members representing country constituencies, are each in a precarious position on the present figures, but. should just pull through. Mr. Lazarrini is safe for AVerriwa. VICTORIA. On a recent • Sunday* Bishop Foley laid and blessed the foundation stones of the churches at Lismore and Derrinallum. Each will be a substantial brick structure, which will add considerably to the architectural beauty of their respective towns.

Among the successful St. Patrick’s College students who were candidates for scholarships at Newman College were Fitzgerald James and Laurence O’Brien, both of whom have been awarded non-resident exhibitions. They are in the order of merit for succession to resident Scholarships in the event of unexpected vacancies occurring among those allotted.

A most successful concert was given in St. Alipius' Hall by the children in aid of the scholarship and prize funds for St. Alipius' Girls' School and the Christian Brothers' School at Ballarat East. The accompaniments were played by Mrs. Bloink and Miss K. Meagan, and violin solos were contributed by Misses J. Maher and K. Conway. The secretarial work was carried out by tho Misses Harrington and Fitzpatrick. QUEENSLAND. The Queensland election figures are, on the whole, satisfactory. Mr. Higgsihasj met) the inevitable fate of the political renegade at Rockhampton, and that is a. good deal to be thankful for. Labor expected also to win Brisbane, Maranoa, and Herbert, but has just failed in each case. South Australia gave an overwhelming vote for Labor. Mr. Yates is back again, and Nemesis has overtaken Mr. Poynton, who, with Mr. Blundell, has at last paid the supremo penalty of political perfidy. The Labor Nationalists are at the bottom of the poll in each case. Both Messrs. S,tory and Blundell received ridiculously small support. The West is still Nationalist. It has not yet seen through the smoke-screen set tip by W. M. Hughes in the war years, but Labor can bide its time. Kalgoorlie has gone back to its old allegiance, and that is no small achievement for the Labor Party. Tasmania, like the West, is still seeing the light with W. M. Hughes—now a feeble, sickly, smoky flicker. Mr. O'Keefe should win Denison, and if he loses disappointment will be mitigated by the certain defeat of Mr. Laird Smith. Mr. Jackson, a curious example of the political nonentity who so often succeeds in getting a footing in Australian t politics, is returned for Bass; but the oracular Mr. Williams, formerly leader of the Country Party, is defeated. . The Senate; position is still obscure. That there will be Labor gains is certain, and that is all that can be said with certainty at present. ' *

Another beautiful edifice has been added to the churches of til® diocese of Bathurst, by the opening of the Church of the Blessed Sacrament, , by his Lordship the Bishop of Bathurst, Right Rev. Dr. O’Farrell, 0.M., at Newbridge. The building, which, is a splendid monument to the zealous parish priest (Rev, Father F. A. Crowe), and the generosity and devotion of the small Catholic community of Newbridge, occupies an imposing site, and railway travellers on the main western line will note this new landmark. It is a handsome structure of brick, roofed with patent tiles. The foundation stone was laid by his Lordship

Bishop Hayden, of Wilcannia-Forbes, and although the work took considerable time, as Father Crowe and his committee had to contend with many difficulties, it was finished earlier than expected. The cost will be about £2OOO, exclusive of gifts. The work was done by day labor, which is estimated to have saved about £2OO, compared, with the original tenders. The donations at the opening amounted to £220, and taking all receipts into account, a debt of £530 is left for the little congregation to pay off. On a recent Sunday morning the Bishop motored out from Bathurst, and the proceedings started with a procession. After the blessing, Solemn High Mass was celebrated, Rev. Father B. O'Hea, CM., being the celebrant; Rev. Father F. King, CM.,- deacon; Rev. Father V. Wheeler (Brisbane, recently ordained), subdeacon; Rev. Father J. Norton, 8.A., Adm., master of ceremonies; Rev. Fathers J. Hall, CM. (president of St. Stanislaus' College), and A. Power, CM., and Rev. Father Doran, of Perthville, were also present. The choir ably rendered the music for the High Mass. Mr. Cyril Wearne sang "O Salutaris," and Miss Phyllis Falvey (Sydney) assisted with violin. SOUTH AUSTRALIA. South Australia's new Governor (Sir "Tom" Bridges) put in his first appearance at a Catholic function on Friday morning, when he presented the prizes to the successful students of the Christian Brothers' College (after witnessing and listening to a very enjoyable programme) in the Adelaide Town Hall, which was crowded with interested spectators. His Excellency has, unfortunately, a very severe cold, and was so hoarse that ho could not attempt to speak; but he seemed to quite enjoy handing the fine manly line of boys their prizes, and as the principal of the college recounted their notable successes he must have been very favorably impressed with the high standard the college has reached in University, commercial and sports realms. His Grace Archbishop Spence, in thanking his Excellency for being present, said they were glad to have such an early opportunity of showing their loyalty, and the wish that his Excellency's stay would be a pleasant and happy one was received with acclamation. His Grace further said that, as the present ruler at Government House was a soldier, he would be interested to learn that over 700 of the boys from tho Adelaide branch went to the Great War, and of that number 77 made the supreme sacrifice.

One of the most interesting items in Catholic school growth was also made known then by his Grace, for he informed the audience that the Christian Brothers (Bro. Barron came over for it) have just completed arrangements for the purchase of “Rostrevor,” Magill, at the Port hills. This is an ideal arrangement. The college in Wakefield Street has long been inadequate to meet the growing demands for boarders, while even the classrooms were overcrowded. In future the city school will be used only as a high school, and the boarders will be housed at

“Rostrevor,” which is set within forty acres and commands a wonderful sweep of view right round the sea line. There will be ample room for sports grounds, and as there is running water also, it is hoped before long to have a swimming pool, while a fine and full-bearing orangery should prove a great temptation to the boys. Of course, the building will need some alteration, but the sale of

the forty acres of land at Gillie’s Plains, on the Main, North Road (where it was originally planned to erect a college), will help in that direction, as, with a boom in land, prices have somewhat increased. Bro. Purton, M.A., principal of the college, is to be congratulated on having secured “Rostrevor.”

J Erected entirely by their own hands on the foundations of the ruined abbey church, the Benedictine monks of Buckfatt Abbey in Devonshire (England), have completed the building of their new abbey church, which was recently dedicated by Cardinal Bourne. - , *