NEWS OF THE WEEK.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume IV, Issue 181, 15 September 1876, Page 11

NEWS OF THE WEEK.

It is proposed to hold an art -union some time during the course of next year in aid of the new conventual buildings in Dunedin. The undertaking will be on a large scale, and the prizes to be drawn for beautiful and valuable. Several gentlemen resident in* Europe have been communicated with and commissioned to works of art, some of which are to be obtained in Rome, and alone is ample proof that they will be no ordinary productions. '] In addition, the efforts of local artists will be called into requisition, so that the local scenery of New Zealand will be duly represented, and many views will be taken of the picturesque neighborhood of Dunedin. Already a number of charming landscapes from the able pencil of Mr. J. C. Hoyte have been secured. These are exquisite paintings in water-colors of Lake Wakatip, Otira Gorge, and other places in this island. They are now at the Convent°in Dowling street, where they may be seen and they are well worthy of a visit. We have to acknowledge the receipt from the Government printer of the Statistics of the Colony of New Zealand for 1875, several numbers of ' Hansard,' and other Parliamentary papers. The correspondent of the ' Brisbane Telegraph/ writing from | tha Hodgkinson River, describes an attack by natives as follows : I A party of five prospectors were visited while in camp a few days I since by some blacks who notified their approach by a shower of ! spears. The whites scattered and made for trees. One of them, while snapping a revolver which would not explode, was speared through the right leg and fell. A blaekfellow ran up to him, and as he stood over the prostrate white, nulla uplifted, was shot by one of the man's mates, and fell dead alongside of his intended victim. Four more went over to the majority before they beat a retreat. After the conclusion of the affray it was found necessary I to cut off a portion of the spear before withdrawing it, on account

of the barbs at the point. On the following morning four whites left camp on a mission of vengeance, armed with a gun, a rifle, and a half axe. After following the tracks of the blacks for several miles, they came upon them busily occupied in putting barbs on spears, apparently preparing for a fresh attack. The owner of the revolver made a circuit, and, getting to the other side of the blacks, commenced the attack. In their surprise they fled in the direction of his mates, who received them warmly, and events occurred in the conflict which proved that a half -axe in the hands of a determined man is a very useful weapon in an emergency. The improvements at St. Joseph's Church are progressing rapidly. The effects of the elevation and proper hanging of the bell are very apparent ; the sound is much clearer and in every way better than it was. We understand that preliminary steps are being taken with a view to getting up an entertainment to aid in paying off some of the expenses which have already been incurred, as well as those which must necessarily attend on the very requisite enlargement of the church. We beg to inform our subscribers that we take the utmost care in sending out each issue of the Tablet from this office. It is scarcely possible for a paper to miscarry because of any negligence on our part, for we are more than ordinarily watchful. We can only explain the complaints that reach us from time to time, by want of due attention on the part of some of the officials connected with the various post-offices through which our newspapers pass, and we beg to assure our readers that, being the party principally interested, we feel considerably aggrieved by the accidents alluded to, if accidents they be. It is much to be desired, that some means shoxild be devised to render the miscarriage of newspapers as uncommon as that of letters, and we really cannot see that there should be any difficulty in the matter. We do not, however, deprecate complaints of irregularity in the reception of the Tablet on the part of our subscribers, on the contrary, we prefer to hear of this when it occurs, in order that we may do all that in us lies to remedy it, even if our effort be no more than a hopeless letter to the master of a post-office. One of the principal advantages derived from such exhibitions as that held last week by the Otago Poultry and Canaiy Association, is the spur they give to local enterprise. They excite a healthy spirit of emulation, and the result is seen in the improvement of various articles of general use. We observe that at the show in question in the homely but excellent matter of hams and bacon a progressive movement was remarked, and that the first prize in this department was awaided to Mr. Edward Sheedy, whose exhibits met with the highest commendation. The invention of machinery is one of the marks of the progress of the present age, and it is a decided token of the onward march of the city of Dunedin, that a hair-brushing machine has been introduced by Messrs. Coverlid and Mantell into their establishment in Princes-street. This machine is worked by water-power, and is quite a curiosity in its way, besides enabling the hair to be dressed with a comfort and perfection that are unequalled. Mb P. J. Smyth, the member for West Meath, on the 30th of June last, made a speech in the British House of Commons, which has been highly lauded. It is even said to have been deserving of being ranked with the happiest efforts of the great orators of Ireland, and tlie finest thing of the kind heard since the days of Burke. We consider this a matter for congratulation, so far as it affords an additional proof that Irish genius is still fresh and vigorous, needing only a fair field of training and a free arena for its exercise to be once more the admiration of the world ; but we j regret that the speech in question was made against the cause of | Home Rule, on which we believe the future of Ireland, in a great degree, depends. Nor does it yield us any encouragement that Mr. Smith advocates repeal, since, even if he be sincere, he endeavours to divide the strength of the patriotic party, which united is still too weak to effect its object, and can by no means afford any disagreement amongst its members. j Many of our readers will doubtless find it a matter of deep ■ interest, that tlie process is at present being carried on at Rome for j the beatification of the venerable servant of God, Father Louis Maria Chanel, of the congregation of Marists. Father Chanel was one of those holy missionaries who left France in the year 1836, for the purpose of accompanying to the scene of his labors Monsignor Pompallier, appointed "Vicar- Apostolic of Western Oceanica, including New Zealand, by Pope Gregory XVI. The Marist Fathers were the pioneer priests of this colony, and their self-sacrificing devotion must command the admiration and gratitude of all New Zealand Catholics, to whom also it is a subject for especial rejoicing that one personally concerned in the spiritual welfare of these islands bids fair to be raised to the honors of the altar, for although Father Chanel never visited New Zealand, he having remained 1 behind in an Archipelago of the South Seas, where he exercised the office of pro- Vicar Apostolic, and where, after a short course of heroic labors, he gained the crown of martyrdom, still he was associated with our early missionaries and tormed one of their company. We hope, at a future date, to furnish our readers with further details of this matter, for it is our intention to publish in the columns of the Tablet a brief history of the establishment of 1 the Church in New Zealand, and in this, no doubt, a place will be found for a more comprehensive account of the life and death of the venerable servant of God, Father Louis Maria Chanel. I The election of Sir Charles Gavan Duffy as representative of j a district in Victoria, has filled several of our contemporaries with spleen, and caused them to explode in a variety of entertaining fashions. Amongst the many accusations brought against Sir Charles, is the threadbare one of being led by the " priests." From the way in which the latter word is used, we rather suspect that sundry editors regard it in a somewhat hazy light, and that the poetry fossilized therein for them is derived from the terror with | which, in their infancy, they were accustomed to look upon the ' knife-gashing performed in honor of Baal, and likewise from what

they have read, or perhaps experienced, of the'eantrips of the rainmakers and other officials of heathendom, but it is quite evident, that of the office and influence of the Christian priesthood they have no idea whatever. We have no intention of defending Sir Charles Gavan Duffy from the charge, for we write for Catholics, and they know that all such accusations are mere folly, but these wild invectives show us the forces over which our talented fellowcountryman has triumphed, and add to the pride with which we must regard an Irishman and a Catholic who has ever been openly true to his race and his creed, and who has attained to eminence by the power alone of intellect and culture. The far-famed Diamond of California continues to charm, by her versatility and sprightliness, large audiences at the Princess Theatre, where she is ably supported by Mr. George Giddens. Mrs. Walter Hill also, by her graceful acting, forms a powerful attraction, and maintains the high place she has long occupied in the estimation of the public of Dunedin. THB'death of Mr. Thomas O'Donnell will be learned with regret by many of our readers. Mr. O'Donnell had been for some time in failing health, and on Wednesday last he expired at the residence of Dr. Murphy in Stuart-street, Dunedin. He was known and highly respected, not only in this town, but also throughout the province. He was a zealous member of the Catholic Church, and ever foremost in aiding any good work in connection with religion. — R.I.P