NEWS OF THE WEEK.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume IV, Issue 178, 25 August 1876, Page 11

NEWS OF THE WEEK.

We understand that the establishment of a.n Altar Societj in Dunedin is projected. The object of such a Society is too well known to call for any lengthened explanation on our parb, and its usefulness is so generally acknowledged, that it needs no recommendation from us. It is found universally to be the best method of providing the lesser requisites for the service of the Church, so that the maintenance of decency in divine worship falls lightly and evenly on all ; and, " though last not least," in addition to all this, there are various spiritual advantages attached to the Association in question. We are requested to state that several of the prizes won in tbe late Art TTnion are still unclaimed. The following are the numbers of the tickets referred t0— 390, 1201, 868, 1041, 1378, 1012 279 2884,1956,1300,8887,1907. We have received from the Government Printer, several numbers of Hansard and othei. Parliamentary papers. We learn from the Otago ' Daily Times,' that a substantially bound Douay Bible, the gift of Mr. J. Logan, has been added to the belongings of the Police Court. This act of liberality was prompted by its marked want of such a copy, when a Eoman Catholic Bishop was lately giving testimony in the Court, though the attractive binding of the volume now prompts all and sundry invariably to use it. However much it was required, the Bible could not have been obtained except through some generous donor, unless the General Government was requested by the usual circumlocutionary process. The Darrells at the Queen's and the Lingards at the Princess still constitute the chief attractions at these theatres, and gain the applause of their audiences, which, however, are not so numerous as the high reputation of the talented artistes in question would imply. We perceive that preliminary steps are being taken towards the erection of new conventual buildings in Dunedin. A number of men are at present busily engaged in levelling the site on which these are to stand, and if we are correctly informed, the foundations of the first wing of, the new buildings will be laid without delay. This wing is to form a convent for the Sisters of the Order of St. Dominic, who although they have been for some time resident in Dunedin, can hardly as yet be said to be established here, for to effect their complete and permanent settlement, as well as to enable them to carry out to perfection the discipline of their Order, and the ends which it is desirable they should accomplish with regard to the Catholic community in general, it is necessary for them to have monastic buildings of a suitable character. Without these their usef ulness and power of doing good in the peculiar line allotted to them are seriously impeded. And it is quite evident that hitherto they have been to a great degree hampered by the unfitness of the old Presbytery in which they have been temporarily lodged ; so much so indeed, that they have found themselves quite unable to carry on their schools to the extent, or in the style for which the members of their Order are so widely celebrated. We, therefore, fully recognise the importance of the undertaking that is now inaugurated ; and, although we are conscious that many difficulties have to be surmounted, our confidence in the success of any task that a Catholic community vigorously determines to carry through is so great, that we have no doubt whatever, but that both convent and church will be seen completed before any very greab space of time has passed away. We are confirmed in this belief by what we have witnessed elsewhere. We need not speak of Ireland, where it is well known that congregations noted for their poverty have yet distinguished themselves by the erection of magnificent churches, nor of America, where we are informed that the efforta of the humblest members of the community have covered the land with ecclesiastical buildings. It is more to our purpose to give aa ! an example the Colony of Queensland, where at a time when < general depression prevailed, trade being stagnant, aud the gloomiest aspect of things prominent, the Catholic people set to work, and purchased a house and grounds to serve as a convent, at a cost of £8,000, and further, erected a cathedral that embellishes the city of Brisbane. The Catholic Church in Barbadoes-street, Christchurch, has recently been enlarged, and iB now capable of accommodating a congregation of 800 adults. It has been handsomely fitted up, aud doei much credit to all who have assisted in the good work of improving it and more especially to the energy of the Eev. Father Chareyre. The Catholic Schools about to be erected in Bouk-ott-street, Wellington, are to be built on a large and handsome scale, and when completed it is expected that they will add a feature of no little importance to the general appearance of the city. The regular meeting of the Harbour Board was held on the 17th. inst., when the following resolutions were carried: — "That the Board being of opinion that it would be very desirable to have an Inspector constantly on the spot to supervise the building of the dredge, the Engineer be requested, if possible, to provide such an Inspector oufc of the staff at present under him, and to report at next meeting." " That Captain Thomson with Mr. M'Kirmon be requested to draw up a memorandum on the advantages of the gong " (at Otago Heads) this signal having met with the disapprobation of the Marine Department at Wellington. With respect to the resolution passed lasb month .consenting to exclude from the Board's endowment the triangular piece of ground reclaimed by Government, the Solicitor of the Board gave it as his opinion that this could not be done without sane* tion of an Act of Parliament. Captain Thomson wrote suggesting that lights should be placed at the end of Kattray-street Wharf, and the matter was referred to the Lighting Committee. The following notices of motion were given : — "That His Honour the Superintendenc be asked to pass an Act through this session of Assembly, vesting in his name in trust that triangular piece of ground as described in attached memo. and tracing, with the view of enabling the Government

to carry out the arrangement they have entered into with the Corporation as to an exchange of areas, bo as to provide playgrounds for the Normal and Albany- Btreet Schools." " That the Engineer be instructed to bring up a report at next meeting on the most favourable means of deepening the outer and inner bars at Otago Head*, either by harrowing, dredging, or otherwise." " That on the completion of the repairs of the dredge New Era, she shall be despatched to Port Chalmers, there to proceed with the deepening of the channel from the stream 10 the Kuilway Jetty and from the Jetty to the Graving Dock, in order that vessels frequenting the jetty and the dock may get there without touching the ground."