Correspondence.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume IV, Issue 202, 16 February 1877, Page 15

Correspondence.

(We are not responsible for the opinions of our Correspondents.)

To the Editor of the New Zealand Tablet.

Sib, — I see by the Tablet of the 17th ult., you had some correspondence from the Thames, evidently from a new chum as he takes all credit for what has been done in Catholic affair?, and leaves none to the credit of the old chums, he either forgets, or perhaps never heard of what was done in the Eev. Father Nevara's time ; but I will not quarrel with him. All honor to him and bis new chums to do what they can in a good cause, although it may be over a good old road well metalled with Thames quarts, and Church and School allotments payed for with Thamea gold years ago. My object is to give your readers some idea of the progress of Catholicity in this part of her Majesty's dominions. I suppose you will call it very slow progress when I tell you we have only Mass once a month. The French priest that pays us a visit is one of the most zealous I have seen, for from the time he comes till he leave?, he gives us Macs every day. So if we are not good Christians it is no fault of his.

We had a meeting here about two months ago, and passed resolutions requesting his Lordship the Bishop to send us a resident priest. lam not aware that anything further has been done in the matter up to the present. We have a neat little church with a large piece of ground, quite large enough to build a clergyman's residence on. One of our body will undertake to build a six-roomed house on this fine property for a resident clergyman till they can find cash to pay him. Long life to him, say I. I have been sorry to see the children of Catholic parents running about the streets daily, or going to Protestant schools. This want is about to be supplied, as I have been informed that a very accomplished young lady is about to open a Catholic school in a central position. I hope, as I have no doubt, it will be well supported from the number of good Catholics I see in the district, We have a Sunday School every Sunday well attended by the children, and well looked after by the teachers; one gentleman in particular gives it all his spare time. We had a Catholic concert here at the new year, a number of friends, nearly if not all Catholic, from Napier, together with some local talent, that would have done credit to any stage. It was well supported by all classes of the community, and was a financial success. I might state in passing that it was held in the newly erected Oddfellow's Hall, which, if I am rightly informed, was given, it not free, for merely the expense of lighting. It is one of the neatest halls I have seen in New Zealand.

We established a branch of the now far famed Hibernian Society about three months ago. They hold their meetings monthly. I see they are increasing in numbers, although it is a very scattered district, I think they will succeed, as I see some good old stagers among them. In Society matters I see the South Island has made a move, if not in the right direction, at least in one that will secure them representation at the A. M. in Melbourne ; one that will enable them to keep the funeral funds in New Zealand, one that will entitle the members to pay less quarterage, together with many other benefits embodied in the general rules. Seeing that the North Island has made no move in the matter up to the present, it is very natural to suppose they want no representation at the A. M., that they do not want the handliug of their own funds, although they are obliged by the Friendly Society's Act to keep them in the Colony. I suppose the reduction of quarterage is a thing quite below their notice. Wishin" your little Catholic Tablet every success. — I am, &c. Waipawa, January 27, 1877. P. G.