NEWS OF THE WEEK.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume IV, Issue 177, 18 August 1876, Page 11

NEWS OF THE WEEK.

At a meeting, held in the Forbury school-house on tlie evening of the 10th inst., it was resolved on the motion of Mr. Price, seconded by Mr. M'Kay, that "the Municipal Council of South Dunedin should at once take steps to obtain a water supply from Dunedin." The frequent shocks of earthquake, which Lave been experienced of late in the North Island, are attributed to the activity of Tongariro, which has been in a state of quiescence for some time. It, however, appears that the unpleasant disturbances in question •are by no means confined to New Zealand, for many reports have reached us of their recent occurrence elsewhere, and, as may be seen by the telegrams, Vienna has been severely visited in this manner within the past month or so. Our Maori friends, says the Wairarapa Standard, are pitiless even to horses. The other day it leaked out from a native that a valuable hack had been hung up in the bush with, vines for some weeks. The Maoris were waiting for a reward to be offered for the missing animal, and let the poor brute be hung up in agony day after day and week after week for the sake of the few shillings which, they calculated on obtaining for discovering it. When pakehas miss a horse they should advertise a reward for it at once, otherwise they are in danger of losing it among the guileless natives of Papawai. One of the largest funerals seen of late in Auckland was that of Mr. David Sheehan. The deceased gentleman was a colonist; of long standing, he having arrived in New Zealand in 1841. He was much respected, and great regret is expressed for his loss. We learn from the ' Leader ' that the total quantity of gold shipped from the Province of Westland since the opening of the goldfields to the end of last month was 1,985,6 200z5., in value 27,849,838. That quantity and value is exclusive of the gold shipped at Greymouth from the Province of Nelson. The gold -export{L.of Westland for the last half-year amounted to 27,0720z5., as ag J|pr 36,0500z5. for the same term ended June, 1875. The ladies of Timaru are busily engaged in preparing for a bazaar, to be held in that town some time next November, in aid of the building fund for the extension of the Catholic Church. The cost of the new schools at St. Mary's Convent, Wellington, is estimated at about .£3OOO. Messrs. Bountree and Bussell are the contractors. A whip-bied, possessed of only one wing, is now to be seen in the Brisbane Museum. It would seem (says the 'Courier') from the appearance of the bird, which is full grown, that it was never possessed of more than its single wing, the part of the body where the missing one ought to be being perfectly formed and covered with plumage. It was presented to the Museum by Mr. Bretherton by whom we believe it was shot; and it is said to have been quite capable of flying. Its tail appears to have had a natural inclination in the direction of the wingless side, and it would appear possible that, by means of this inclination, the balance of. the body when flying was to some extent maintained. A striking illustration of the vicissitudes of life is to be found in the details, given by a Victorian contemporary, of the career of

a lady who wandered about the Australian colonies as a strolling vocalist ; but who is said to have been the daughter of an English earl. She died of consumption at Sandhurst about two years ago. A begularlt organised boxing-match came off on the Ocean Beach last Saturday evening. The disgraceful encounter was maintained for nearly two hours. The police were unfortunately kept in the dark until it was too late, and the matter had terminated. The handsome lithograph of his Lordship the Bishop, executed by Mr. Henderson, can now be had on application to the Lady Superior, Dominican Convent, Dowling-street. Besides forming a valuable souvenir of his Lordship, the picture alluded to makes a most suitable ornament for a drawing-room, and its cost is vary trifling. Thebe are at present on view in Princes-street a number of landscapes executed in water-colours by Mr J". C. Hoyte. The subjects chosen for representation are various scenes in New Zealand, and we can bestow no higher praise upon the artist than to say that hi» talents have been equal to the task undertaken by him. He has produced several pictures of extreme beauty, and which prove beyond all doubt that the scenery of New Zealand fully equals, if it does not surpass, that of those countries of Europe, which are the most celebrated for their beauty, not excepting even Switzerland or Italy. An exhibition of such paintings in the old country would certainly attract many adventurous lovers of the beautiful face of nature to our shores. The beams that sustained the bell of St. Joseph's Church having become decayed through length of time, it has been found necessary to erect a tower to replace them. This has been done at considerable cost, and so far as we understand no appeal has been made to the congregation to bear their share of the burden. However they will, no doubt, perceive the propriety of contributing towards defraying the expense incurred, as none will be disposed to deny that it is the duty of a congregation to maintain the decency of all things connected with their church, and that the clergy are not to be expected to undertake at their own risk the repairs and improvements requiiite for fitly carrying out divine worship. Subscriptions for the purpose referred to may be sent in as us .a! to his Lordship the Bishop of the Diocese, or the Bey the Cler?y ; or if found more convenient, they will be received at the Tablet office, and duly acknowledged and forwarded. At vespers on Tuesday evening last, Feast of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary, an interesting ceremony again took place on the conclusion of the sermon, which was preached by his Lordship the Bishop, and in which the most rev. preacher explained the meaning of the festival — pointing out its early observance in the church, as evidenced by various ancient sacramentaries and the works of ecclesiastical writers ; the great dignity of the Mother of God, and the reasonableness of the doctrine which asserts that her sacred body never knew corruption ; the obligation that binds all Christians to hold this belief; the joy with which the hearts of all must be filled in contemplating the fact that one who had been, as it were, our sister had been elected by God to such great glory ; and the efficacy of the Blessed Virgin's advocacy. A young lady, who had been attending for some time the school of the Dominican Sisters, was received into the Association of the Children of Mary. Such edifying ceremonies now bid fair to become frequent in Dunedin, and the Catholic congregation cannot too fully congratulate themselves on the means which the efforts of the Bishop have succeeded in placing within their reach for the instruction of their children. The influences of the ladies of the convent have long been evident, and they are plainly gaining ground from day to day while, short as has been the residence of the Christian Brothers amongst us, the effects of their teaching are already marked; and all things tend to prove the wisdom of the step 3 that have been taken in establishing the two religious orders in question in our midst, and to impress upon Catholics the fitness of doing their best at every time to co-operate with their clergy. Such sacrifices as they are called upon to make are of but little account when placed side by side with the benefits to be derived from them. It is pleasing to know that the medicines lately introduced into New Zealand, namely, " Ghollah's Great Indian Cures," have been used by many of our most respectable and well-known old colonists with the happiest results. It is evident, from the reports we hear of their being continually used, that there cannot be detrimental ingredients in their composition. The testimonials, which, we notice in the ' Otago Daily Times,' are certainly calculated to inspire confidence in the use of these cures. Donnelly, alias Medway, alias Butler, who was remanded last week on the charge of burglary, was again brought up at the Police Court on Wednesday. The prisoner pleaded guilty on the accusation of having robbed the house of his Lordship the Bishop, and was committed for trial. Two other charges were then brought against him, on both of which a committal was obtained; and on the Bench's intimating that they were about to adjourn, Inspector Mallard stated that five other cases yet remained to be heard, in which the prisoner was believed to have taken a prominent part.