ROMAN CATHOLIC SCHOOLS.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1548, 18 September 1912, Page 7

ROMAN CATHOLIC SCHOOLS.

FORWARD MOVEMENT IN AUCKLAND. (By Telegraph.—Special Corrcaponflent.) Auckland, September IC. Interesting information iu regard to the forward movement, which it is understood the local Roman Catholic body is carrying out in the'matter of its was given Ly Dr. Cleary, Roman Catholic Bishop of Auckland, to a reporter. The Bishop disclaimed any suggestion of a

"new" movement in regard to Roman Catholic schools. As to tho "forward" character of the movement, it consisted, he said, of an effort to meet in fonie measure the demands of tho Roman Catholic body for new schools. School fees had long since been abolished iu Thames, Waihi, Hamilton, and Gisborne, and a combined! and centrally-controlled movement was in progress with a view to making all the parish schdols in Auckland and the surrounding districts free schools as soon as possible.

"A new school for tho Mnrist Brothers is now being erected on a fine property in Vermont Street, Ponsonby, at a contract price of about .£3000," continued Dr. Weary. "A girls' school, on the same general plan, will also shortly be erected there, and it is hoped that iu the near future another boys' school will be provided in the Eden Terrace district. Land has also been purchased iu two other suburbs, with a view to school and church extension. A large new school is being erected by a private donor at Huntly, and preparations are being made for the erection of a new school at Ellerslie, where a fine property was purchased some 12 months ago for the Sisters of tho Mission, fit a cost of .£2500, and a convent and school established there in January of the present year. The Star tif the Sea Collego has been rebuilt am! enlarged upon—beautifully ■ laid out grounds- at Takapuna at K>'eat expense— and is now one of 4110 best-equipped institutions of its kind in the .Dominion. During the past year the great new convent of the .Sacred Heart was erected at licmuera by the sisters at a cost of about .£20,000, and'the Marist Brothels' College, l'onsonby, in spite of the additions made during the year, is now inadequate for the requirements. There are now over 4000 children in the Roman Catholic schools, primary and secondary, in the province of Auckland." Going into the details of expenditure on school buildings erected in and around Auckland during the past 15 or IS months, liishop Cleary set down tho total at £41.900, in round figures. "The opening of all these schools, added the Bishop, "is our idea of a Bible-in-schools movement. We feel the need of religion in tho school, but in this matter of religion we prefer to feel in our own pocket-not in the pockets of other people. We do not ask, and have never asked, lor a penny from the common purse tor the views of religion which wo impart in our schools. Wo will never consent to teinjj compelled to pay for the views of religion in education and life winch underlie the present Education Act. We often hear of •tho religion of tho future,' he concluded "The religion of the future is the relHon that holds the children of the present. Those that fail herein have only to wait a iittlo while/when the grass will cover the path? to tlieir church doors.