NEWS OF THE WEEK.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume IV, Issue 193, 8 December 1876, Page 11

NEWS OF THE WEEK.

This evening — Feast of the Immaculate Conception — on the conclusion of Vespers and Benediction of the Most Holy Sacrament at St. Joseph's Church, Dunedin, a number of young ladies -will be received into the Sodality of the Children of Mary. The aspirants, of whom there are nine, hare been for some time under the instruction of the Dominican Sisters. His Lordship the Bishop of Duuedin returned from his visit to 2J"ew South Wales on Saturday last by b.s. O.bago. The vessel steamed direct from Sydney to Hokitika, which she reached on the 28th ult. The time from shore to shore being five days. The building intended for the use of the Dominican Sistera in Dunedin is being busily proceeded with. The foundations aye already showing themselves considerably above the ground, and a good idea may now be formed of what the interior of the convent will be when completed. We observe that a slight prejudice exists in some <juarters against the breadth of the walls, which is supposed to be insufficient, but a glance at the great pile in Bondstreet, constructed likewise under Mr. Petre's direction for Messrs. Cargill, -will afford proof positive of the stability of concrete, although its dimensions may be less than most people are accustomed to look for in high edifices. All new materials must, however, run the gauntlet of popular prejudices, and concrete is comparatively new to Dunedin. The Sacrament of Confirmation will be administered in St. Joseph's Church, Dunedin, after the H o'clock Mass, on Sunday next, 10th inst. In the course of an able article on Chinese immigration, which appeared in the Oamaru 'Evening Mail' of the 29th ult., the iollowing remarks occur: — "As is known to all, the hordes of yellow-skinued and almond eyed barbarians who bow their heads to his Celestial Majesty reckon almost half the human race, and notwithstanding the wholesale destruction of the young, they are increasing in number year by year. In their own land they drag out a miserable existence, while those who have

Tiaited European Colonies or American settlements, and saved » few hundred pounds, return to their country, and with tfiat sum set up for Mandarins, living in Celestial ease and opulence for the rest of their days. Dazzled and allured by this attractive bait, for the one Chinaman who ventured to leave the Flowery Land twenty years ago, there are at least a thousand to-day ; and to such an alarming extent has the exodus been carried on that the original residents of the places favored with celestial preference will soon become but an atom in their populations. When it is remembered that China, with its 400,000,000, could spare 10,000,000 of its population — which would be but an atom of the whole — or five times the population of all the colonies of Australia and New Zealand, it will be seen we have not been speaking idly, and our alarm was not without good grounds." On Monday evening next, 11th inst., the Grrand Musical Festival, for which rehearsals have been for some time taking place, will be held in St. Joseph's Church, Dunedin. The object in aid of which the festival has been undertaken is that of liquidating the debt incurred by the recent improvements. The Church has been enlarged to a considerable extent by the removal of the old organ loft and the construction of a gallery, and the organ has not only been moved to the aide of the building, and re-erected in a recess especially designed for the accommodation of the choir, but it has likewise been iet up, renovated, and thoroughly improved by a gentleman whose skill in his profession is acknowledged to be unsurpassed anywhere. The cost of these various alterations has amounted to a large sum. In fact about .£450 have been expended, while as yet not quite £200 have been subscribed. The works were instituted and carried out altogether for the convenience of the congregation,amongst whom complaints •were rife of the unpleasant crowding at the services of the Church, owing to the smallness of the sacred building in which they were held ; so that no doubt the propriety will be evident to all of energetically endeavouring to raise the necessary funds. An opportunity is now offered of doing this without leaning too heavily on individuals, for should the festival to be held on Monday prove, as it is hoped, •uccessf ul, little more in the way of collection need be done. Memhers of fho congregation, therefore, will do well to exert themselves in disposing of tickets, and they may do so with all assurance, as fche entertainment provided for the public will be of a very high class, and one not commonly to be found in Dunedin. Of the composers, whose music is to be performed, it is needless to speak. To dwell on on the perfection of Handel, Haydn, Weber, Mendelsohn, or Rossini, would be a wa9te of time, and in attempting to do so we should merely lay ourselves open to the charge of superfluous verbiage. It only remains for us then to say that some of the happiest efforts of these great masters have been prepared with the utmost care by a number of the leading vocalists of this city under (he able conductor»hip of Mr. Charles Sykes, and that therefore an excellent programme may bo looked forward to. There will be no religious ceremony whatever ou the occasion. A programme will be found in another column. Wb are unable to give a list of subscribers to the ' Tablet ' this week as our space is fully occupied. We have, however, received a number of subscriptions, including several forwardad by our "Wellington agent. They will be acknowledged by name in our next issue. Owing to an accident, we are obliged to make use of inferior paper in the present issue. This matter will, however, be amended next week. We hear with regret of the loss of the s.s. Otago, which ran on shore during a fog at Chasland's Mistake, on Monday morning last at two o'clock. We desire to express our sincere sympathy with Captain Calder and the other officers attached to the vessel, who axe particularly noted for carefulness, skill, and the other qualities requisite to form successful seamen. The Princess Theatre will be opened on Monday next under the able management of Messrs. Steele and Darrell. The wellknown ability and taste of the gentlemen in question afford the best earnest of the excellent manner in which the establishment conducted by them will be directed. Mr. Keogh, -who now severs his connection with Dunedin, will find many to regret his absence from the scene, where he has been for long indefatigable in his efforts for the amusement and satisfaction of the public, and where his endeavors have been universally appreciated and successful. The annual gathering of the Caledonian Society of Otago will be held on the Society's grounds at Kensington, commencing on New Year's Day. Amongst the many sports that are now from time to time, carried out in the neighborhood of Dunedin, those in question appear to maintain the chief place in public favor, and "bid fair to become the popular festival par excellence to which, the inhabitants of the city will yearly look forward, as the gala period •wherein to forget for a little the cares of life, and recreate themselves for recommencing the labors of their condition with renewed strength and spirits. Athletic games have from the earliest days of the world's history been practised and encouraged, and were we | inclined to search into the records of the past, we should find that the great nations of antiquity allotted to them an all-important position. In modern times, however, they have been relegated totally to the province of amusements, where they form a rational and wholesome pastime, agreeable to the spectator, and healthful i for the performer. The success of such games depends a good deal ! upon the skill and tact of the management, but in these matters, the I Caledonian Society has long since given ample proofs of their unsurpassed ability, and all who intend to be present at the f 6te given by them may expect to spend a thoroughly enjoyable time. The yalue of the prizes offered is unusually high, amounting in all to .£533, but particulars will be found in our advertising columns.