A VISIT TO TASMANIA.

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 504, 11 May 1909, Page 4

A VISIT TO TASMANIA.

INTERVIEW WITH BISHOP JULIUS. (M TBI EGUAI'II—BI'ECUL COIUtKSL UKbB.NT.I . Chrlstchuroh, May 10. : Tho Anglican Bishop of Christchurch (Dr. Julius) has just returned (from a visit t« 'Tasmania, wliithor ho v/ent to attend this services iji coiuicction with tho completion of tho Anglican i Cathedral 'in Hobart. Fifteen years ago Dr. Julius attended the oonsccra-, tion of tho completed cathedral, which was dosignod by • eminent English; architects.' Tha Chapter had been unhappily, porsuaded by some.local authorities, in' order to reduce I tho cost of the edifice, to, dispense with oor. tain supports td tho building, which' were' considered unnecessary'by those authorities; but in four or live years tho. traoory fell'out of tho windows, the arches caved in, and tho wholo of tho chancel' was falling intjo a state of ruin. In tliat condition the building remained for Jomo years, but it has now seen completely' restored, 1 and in rosponso to the. invitation of tho Bishop of Tasmania, Bishop Julius attended and 1 assisted at the opening of tho completed' 'edifice. ' Tho cost of restoring tho cathedral had boon very great, and at present , a sum of £1500 is required 'to meet liabilities.' : ' 1 ; ■.!' "Hobart,"' tho Bishop said, "is not in a very, prosperous condition. Tho hopes which were entertained' in.respect to the'consummation of federation with Australia have not been altogether realised. Thcro soems to b< little doing, and though tho town is spreading, consequent on tho building of outsidci its boundaries, the population is not advancing very rapidly. It seems very likely that ■ before long' Launceston will; bo tho greater city of the.two." : , The general eldctioh took place on the day tho Bishop left.Hobart. There "were at least two political questions of outstanding , importance, Tattersalls and religious instruction in 'the public schools. ■■ "Tattersalls,", said tho Bishop,-"brings in largo , rovenues to tho' State, , and is supported by tho wealthier classes in tho community, but there is a growing feeling among the people.that the : institution exists to tho detriment of the.State, and that it, is doing more harm than good.". It seemed probable that in a few years' timo Tattersalls would bo,abolished, '•' ,' ;• , ■ j' 1 .As to the religious instruction in schools, question, ho stated that tho New South Wales svstcm. obtains at present in Tasmania* "That is," lie explained, "that religious touching is given in school hours by tno State feathers, and by ministers of religion. Tho system has'worked for many years with gonoral approval, and without friction of (uiy kind, but tho Roman Catholics, aro opposed , to it, and with tho assistanco of thoso who aro opposed to any religious teaching in schools' liavo raised a considerable party against it. which demanded the secularisation of tho public schools, and in the case of the Roman Catholic 9 that State; aid bo extended to their schools." When Bishop Julius loft it was oxpocW that tho Labour candidates would soon. heavily, and that if'this proved to bo the caso tho opposition to tho existing system of givinrc religious instruction in the public schools would fail, and in all probability th« party in favour of tho abolition of, Tattorsalb would bo augmented. .