NEWS OF THE WEEK.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume IV, Issue 205, 9 March 1877, Page 11

NEWS OF THE WEEK.

The uproar attendant on the fact that the late Cardinal Antonelli died worth a large fortune, has terminated, as commonly occurs in such cases, after the " nine days' wonder," productive of nothing. It has been shown beyond controversy that his Eminence's wealth had been inherited in the first instance, and subsej quently increased by judicious investment. Certain cf our contemporaries would do well to remember the adage de mortuis nil nisi bonum, at least so far as its observance may prevent them front being convicted of a display of pitiful spite. We perceive that the policy of eviction still continues in Ireland. Back-rents continue to be demanded as a cloak for a determination to exterminate the tenant-farmers. Sheep and cattle are found by the land-lords much more payable than cultivators of the soil, and there is no scruple observed to prevent industrious farmers from being converted into paupers or emigrants. It is evidently acknowledged preferable to pamper a vicious class rather than to secure the welfare of a nation. It is not to be wondered at if the banished people leave as an inheritance to their children a detestation of the Government that has acted towards them the cruel part of the injusta noverca. In another column we publish an appeal issued by the Lady Superior of the Dominican Convent, Dunedin, and addressed to all those persons who are considered likely to help in a good cause. The object of the address is to obtain aid towards the erection of the Conventual buildings now in process of construction, and which, when finished, will ensure to the people of Otago, and the Colony generally unsurpassed means for the education of their children, and the other advantages that accrue from the establishment of a convent. That the benefits resulting from the foundation and support of such institutions in any given locality are considerable is very evident, but were all other proofs wanting, we should find ample testimony to the fact in this alone that we frequently read in the Irish newspapers descriptions of the warm selfcongratulations manifested in some neighborhood where a monastic community has been established, and if , in a country where such, colonies are already " thick as leaves in Vallombrosa," their increase should be hailed with joy as an unquestioned acquisition and benediction of Heaven, unexceptionable witness is borne to their utility. How much more then ought a land where they are indeed "few and far between " to rejoice at their foundation, and struggle in their behalf. Means of aiding so praise-worthy an object are now offered in endeavoring to f urbher the interests of the forthcoming art-union an effort which, moreover, persons less spiritually minded may be induced to undertake in hope of obtaining one of the many beautiful and valuable prizes to be drawn for. The weather in New South Wales has been unusually hot. From all parts of the Colony complaints of the almost unendurable state of the atmosphere have been received. The ' Illustrated N. Z. Herald ' for March contains some fine views of Northern Queensland, Scenes of a voyage from Melbourne to Port Chalmers, a sketch of the town of Oamaru, and various other illustrations. The periodical is, if anything, of more than ordinary merit. A discovery of gold has been made in the neighborhood of Warwick, a town situated to the south of the Darling Downs in Queensland. It had been for some years the impression that auriferous country existed in the district, but until the present no find of any importance seems to have been made there. Warwick is a prosperous town, and is generally accredited with an -English appearance. It is situated on the banks of the River Condamine, which, however, in the matter of volume has not here much to boast of at ordinary times, although it is the occasion now and then of considerable floods. The locality enjoys a good climate, standing at an elevation which secures it from the great he it of the latitude. It is much affected by the painful Australian ophthalmia, known as sandy-blight, which is the principal drawback to a beautiful and otherwise heathful country. Dr. Joyce, an Irish-American, not unknown already to fame as a poet, has written an epic entitled, "Deirdre," the subject being 1 the story of the Sons of Usna, which also gave rise to Moore's spirited lines " Avenging and Bright." The poem is said to be the work of the age, and able critics have even gone so far as to assign it a place not altogether unworthy of comparison with that occupied by the Iliad. As a consequence of the Falk Law 3 combined with those deBigned to supply Prussian dissecting room 3 with subjects, it is not at all impossible that at some time the dead body of a Catholic bishop may be handed over to the disposal of the medical students. The Catholic mind mast, however, so far as we can see, lay itself out to the contemplation of horrors and indignities, for even btepa have been taken with respect to the interference of the emplojfo

of the wretched usurper of Italy on the decease of the Holy Father, should that deplorable event take place during the occupation of Some. Ora contemporary, the 'Otago Daily Times,' in its issue of Wednesday last, supplies in a local the alteram partem toj a leader, -which immediately precedes it, impressing the necessity that exists for the introduction of compulsory education into this colony. Our contemporary very properly animadverts on the misconduct of certain pupils attending the Pelichet Bay Grammar School, who, it appears, are in the habit of trespassing on the neighbouring line of railway and placing stones in the way of the approaching trains. Surely the 'Times' must perceive that to render a scheme of compulsory education effective, it is absolutely indispensable that the discipline maintained in the institutions where attendance is enforced should be without flaw. Is must be evident that the education, given at such an establishment as that alluded to, is but calculated to furnish roughs with further weapons of offence. The New Zealand Tablet is above all things a marvel-moving journal; Our mission seems to be in great part the excitement of wonder in the gentle breasts of our contemporaries. In fact, we continually find ourselves playing " bull in a china-shop," and it is distressing to contemplate the tumult we unsuspectingly occasion. The venerable father of all the ancienti ent Eomans himself never felt his "hair spontaneously arise in more rigidity, nor his voice more fixedly become adhesive to his throat, than now and then do those editors who glance upon our chimsera-displaying columns, aghast at what they find there. For ten consecutive days did the editor of th c ' Evening Star' wonder in silence, but on the eleventh, having managed to hem and haw his vocal powers into their accustomed ability to pipe, he commented as follows, in his issue of Tuesday last, 6th inst., on an extract that appeared in the Tablet of the 23rd ult.: — '* We are somewhat surprised at the Tablet publishing as undisputed facts a story, evidently of American origin, purporting to describe the treatment of certain so-called Fenian prisoners. In answer to a question it was elicited from the Government in the last session of the Imperial Parliament that no Fenians are undergoing penal servitude for political offences, but that the persons so-called now in confinement had been convicted of grave crimes against person and property. Will our contemporary supplement his extract from the ' Irish World' by informing its readers what are the crimes of which M'Carthy and O'Brien were convicted?" With our habitual obstreperousness, and in pursuance of the general eye-openingness of our demeanor, we venture to hint that we are quite aware that the British Government colors its unmerciful detention of the Fenian prisoners by a pretence of graver accusations, but, nevertheless, we strongly condemn the unbending cruelty of the men's imprisonment, and discern in it a continuance of the " sparrow-hawk" policy which, of late years, has characterised to a most deplorable degree the English Cabinet. Mb. Martin's Gridiron Hotel, in Princes street, Dunedin, is decidedly one of the finest establishments of the kind in the city. It has been erected at a large outlay, and its appearance, both exteriorly »nd interiorly, is a credit to those who were concerned in its construction. On entering through the principal door, the visitor finds himself in a spacious hall, from which access is gained to the upper »nd lower storeys by a staircase of unusual dimensions, and which occupies the centre of the building ; the bannisters and rail being of polished kauri, and by their substantial make and well-designed shape forming a handsome feature in the surroundings. On the right of the hall are situated a largo and commodious commercial room which looks out upon Princes street, and a dining-room eminently calculated to minister to the pleasure* of those persons who frequent it. It is of fine proportions, lofty and wide as well as lengthy, and commands a splendid view of the harbour upon which its windows open. Fine views are indeed a special charateristic of the establishment, for many of the bedrooms also command the harbour, and from some of them the Ocean Beach is to be seen. In the y\ >n of the edifice, pains seem to have been taken to secure all the advantages offered by the site, and in consequence — cheerfulness, ventilation, and the enjoyment in the midst of the city of beautiful scenery, have been ensured." the building, water, both hot and cold, is abundantly laid on, and each of the upper storeys is provided with a convenient bath-room. The bedrooms number forty-three, and those at the top of the house, instead of being, a3 is frequently the case, mere gloomy cells, partake in the cheeriness which distinguishes the establishment all through. But ere we conclude, though last not least, the kitchen deserves special notice. It is situated beneath the dining-room, and is a most inviting apartment ; it is, moreover, furnished with a magnificent range and its whole appointment bespeaks the supreme excellence of the cookery performed there. Thh usual -weekly meeting of the Dunedin Catholic Young Men's Society was held last Wednesday evening, when there was a good attendance of both members and honorary members. The Vice-President, the Key. Father Crowley, occupied the chair. Next Wednesday there ib to be a lecture delivered by one of the young men and it is particularly requested that all the members will be present. Clifford's Mirror of the Wcrld is again on view at the Temperance Hall. No one should lose the opportunity of seeing this beautiful exhibition, in which scenes of nature are shown with a vividness that is hardly short of the locality. We beg to call the attention of our readers to Messrs Guthrie and Larurtch's prospectus to be found in our advertising columns. We will refer at greater length to it in our next issue.