NEWS OF THE WEEK.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume II, Issue 109, 29 May 1875, Page 11

NEWS OF THE WEEK.

We are pleased to learn that the efforts of the worthy pastor, the Eev. E. Royer, to place the schools at Naseby upon a substantial footing, have been worthily seconded by his parishioners, and that they are duly sensible of the labors of the reverend gentleman for the accomplishment of the object in view. At the collection made at the doors of the local church on Sunday, the 16th instant, the sum of .£4O was received, which, considering the parish is neither an extensive nor a rich one, speaks well for its liberality tmd the interest the residents "of the district take in so important a -question.

It is, we believe, tlie fashion in some parts of Germany to celebrate -with becoming festivities the 25th anniversary of one's wedding day, and these celebrations are called the " Silver wedding." The congregation of St. Mary's, Nelson, propose to keep the 25th anniversary or " silver wedding " of the Eev. Father Garin. It is just the above number of years this month since the Bey. Father was appointed parish priest of Nelson. His parish has been to him a loving bride, and he has been a faithful husband and father, The congregation intend to commission Herr Lindauer to paint aflf ull length portrait in oils of Father G-arin, which is to be hung in the dining hall of the Presbytery, and will be held as an heirloom by the Marist Fathers,

It is stated that the difficult feat of walking one hundred miles in twenty-four hours is shortly to be attempted by a pedestrian of the name of Edwards. The feat, if fairly accomplished, will be a surprising one, but we would recommend the gentlemen who have consented to act as the committee, to provide their own tape in the measurement of the distance, as we have a lively recollection of a gentleman bearing the same name undertaking in another Colony to walk seven miles in the hour, and which he was supposed to have successfully performed, but it was afterwards found that the tape which he kindly provided for the occasion had reduced the distance by nearly a mile.

Bs the arrival of the Otago we are in possession of English dates to the 14th instant, but the intelligence is not of an important character. An English telegram on the above date states that during the recent alarm in Eiu'ope, England despatched a note to Germany, in which was expressed a very decided opinion regarding the maintenance o£ peace. The reply, however, received from that Power was in a concilatory tone, being both satisfactory and friendly. The President of the French Republic has written to thank England for her friendly .attitude. — Tlie funeral of John Mitchel took place at Newry, and was attended by ten thousand mourners, but the wires are silent with regard to the circumstances of his death or that of his patriotic brother-in-law, John Martin. — That most veracious chronicler, Anthony Trollope, has paid another visit to the antipodes, and is at present located in Sydney. The object of his second visit has not been etated, but it may be possible it is for the purpose of correcting, in a second edition of his work on the colonies, the inaccuracies for which it was so notable on its issue. — We regret to learn that the whole of the New Zealand mails for March were on board the illfated steamer Schiller, and have been all lost, but of course, much .as this is to be deplored, it pales into insignificance before the melancholy tidings of the sacrifice of co many precious lives.

The efforts which have been made of late to establish a Working Men's Club in Dunedin have at last been crowned with, success, Saturday last being the opening night. The Club is situated in Princes street, opposite the Post Office, and, in addition to reading, smoking, and other rooms, is also provided with a billiard table. The Club now boasts of a large number of members, among-st whom — as an honorary one — figures the name of His Excellency the Marquis of Norinanby. Such an association will prove a boon to the young men of Dunedin, and only requires judicious management to become a thorough success. It is with regret we learn that circumstances of a private nature have caused Mr. Albert Beck, one of the representatives of Bell Ward, to resign his position in the City Council. The only candidate as yet in tho field for the vacancy is Mr. E. H. Leary, who will place himself in nomination. Monday last being the natal day of Her Majesty, was celebrated as a close holiday, the Tradesmen's Races taking place on Kensington Course. His Excellency the Governor was present during the earlier portion of the day, but the weather assuming a somewhat threatening aspect, and no protection therefrom having been provided, he hastily beat a retreat. In journalistic matters there have been material changes of late. The editorship of the ' Bruce Herald ' has become vacant through fclie appointment of Mr. J. M. Perrier to a similar position on the Wellington • Weekly Mail.' Mr. Perrier seems to have made a host of friends in the district which he has just left, and before his departure was entertained by the proprietor and employe's of the ' Herald/ and presented with, a handsome silver service in recognition of the esteem in which he has been held. The vacancy thus caused will be filled by Mr. F. Nicholls, subeditor of the ' Daily Times,' and it is with regret that his many friends, both in and out of the profession, have heard of his intended departure, his genial good nature and thorough bon-homie securing the esteem and friendship of those to whom he is known. Mr. George Geddes, who has occupied the position of publisher of the f Guardian' for the past twelve months, also severed his connection with that journal. Mr. Geddes has relinquished his positron to enter upon a different sphere of labour, but before doing so was presented by the runners under his charge with a testimonial and a very handsome souvenir in consideration of the uniform courtesy they had experienced at his hands. To each and all of these gentlemen we tender our best wishes, and trust they will secure in. their different spheres the hearty expressions^, of goodwill which follows them from Dunedin. By a, ' Gazette Extraordinary,' published on the 15th instant, the members of both Houses are informed that Parliament will assemble for the despatch of business on the 30th prox. Another lengthy Extra, issued also on the 15th, gives a number of interesting tables of statistics regarding the colonial prize firing of 1875. A fire of a most dangerous character, but luckily unattended, with loss of life, occurred on Saturday night in Maitland street. It appears that Mr. and Mrs. Watson, by whom xhe building was owned and occupied, had gone to town, leaving the house in the care of Mrs Watson's mother and the servant. In the course of the evening the latter, in searching for some boots beneath one of the beds, set fire to the drapery, and in a few moments the house was in flames. One of the children was rescued by Mrs. Watson's mother at considerable risk, but neither fortunately receiving any injury. Although the house was insured for .£550 the loss sustained amounts to ,£I,OOO. We would draw the attention of our readers to a return, published in another column, of the number of scholars attending the Catholic Schools of Dunedin, and which possesses especial interest for Catholics. Prom that statement it will be seen that, notwithstanding the supposed superiority possessed by schools which are endowed from the public purse, over 500 children are educated at St. Joseph's without the slightest aid from the Government. It is also worty of note that, as there are but 2000 Catholics in Dunedin, the number of scholars amount to one in every four. The 'New Zealand Times' in reviewing the position of the Ministry in the light of Mr Vogel's illness and detention at Home, says : " Now that the doubt is removed, and wo need not hope for his (Mr Yogel's) return before September, there can be no possible object gained by postponing the opening of the session beyond the usual time, early in July ; also, " It would be idle to shut our eyes to the fact that the Government, as now constituted, is ..perhaps as weak a one as coiild well meet the House at the present crisis." It' says that Sir D. M'Lean will have enough to do to attend to in Native matters, and the Hon. E. Richardson will be fully occupied "in Public Works, and neither can be of much assistance to the Ministers in other business. Neither Mr Reynolds nor Mr Atkinson is equal to conduct the Government business in the place of Mr Vogel. The article altogether is very hostile. It says virtually, that rightly or wrongly, the colony has not confidence in the present Executive without Mr Vogel. A coBRESPONDEifT from Hyde, writing under date, the 24th. instant, sends us the following : — I am. happy to bo able to record tho establishment of one Catholic School here, and though we have not as yet been fortunate enough to procure a teacher, the Bey. Faiher Royei — to his credit, be it written — has, in the meantime, undertaken that duty, and stated, yesterday at Mass that he would coutiuue to do so until a competent female teacher could be procured. Iso trust that Ms Lordship, or some of the clergymen in Dunedin, will, before long, be able to recommend to the committee a lady who will relieve the rev/pastor of the self-imposed duties of teacher. Of ontftfoet, am . I confident that, whatever lady comes here to take charge of the school, the committee will endeavor to make her comfortable. Those who have known Father Royer for the last fifteen years, as the hard-work-ing, indefatigable, and zealous priest ; those who knew him when he was, perhaps, the only priest with whose face the diggers were

familial", at a time, too, when the priesb, as well as the digger, had to "rough" it, will rogret that now, when the hardships and exposure to all sorts of weather in years gone by is beginning to tell on a constitution which must have been like iron, a sense of duty to his Divines Master compels him to "undertake tho responsibilities of a teacher, when a little rest would be more conducive to his health. But Father Royer remembers the commandment given to the church 1800 years ago, "Go yo, therefore, and teach all nations," and is determined that until a person can be got to take charge of the school, the Catholic ch^dren of Hyde shall not want a teacher.