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New Zealand Tablet, Volume XIII, Issue 9, 19 June 1885, Page 16

Owing to pressure on our space we are obliged to hold over to our next issue a report of Mr. Nolan's paper, lately read at the Canterbury Catholic Literary Society, and other matter. The concert and entertainment to be given this evening at the Garrison Hall, Dunedin, in aid of the Christian Brothers' Building Fund, promise to be a marked success. The programme is an exceptionally interesting one, and we have reason to believe that all the performers are at least fully up to their parts. Lovers of Irish music especially will enjoy a thorough treat, and the audience will find their attendance well repaid. The devotions of the Month of Mary were attended very fully by the Catholics of the Ashburton district, who listened with evident edification to the instructive lectures of their pastor, the Rev. Father Chastagnon. and took part with fervour in the Rosary of the Blessed Virgin. A procession held on Whit Bunday was a very striking ceremony. The collection towards paying off the debt on the Church of the Holy Name of Jesus, continues to make steady progress, and the general opinion is that £1000 will be realised during the course of the year. To assist in carrying out the object in question — one that he has much at heart— Father Chastagnon intends to hold a bazaar at an early date, and there are reasonable hopes that, with the aid of the friends of the good cause, it will prove a complete success. The death of Mr. John Sheehan, M.H.R., has formed the subject during the week of deep and general regret, 'Mr. Sheehan united to many very amiable qualities ability of a high order, and had won for himself a position of much esteem in the Colony. On the question of education we were strongly opposed to his policy as a Minister and Member of the House of Representatives, but we

had never relinquished the hope that with a wider experience, and a fuller consideration of the subject, he would adopt views more in accordance with what we should have desired to witness on his par t He was a member of a family highly and deservedly respected in" the Auckland Province, and wherever they were known throughout New Zealand, and their survivors have our sincere sympathy in their affliction. — R.I.P. r WTyrravtracetveft-a yamphlet-publisfaedTn Sydney, and treating of the necessity that exists for a revision of the Westminster Assembly's " Shorter Catechism,." a publication of which, in fact our knowledge is of the slightest possible. We are qnite willing tha* the Shorter Catechism should be revised — or even abbreviated still more— or perhaps 'done away with altogether— and, for aught we know to the contrary, the Christian religion would not suffer materially from anything of the kind. This pamphlet, however, appears to advocate the complete reconstruction or manufacture of a religion for the benefit of the masses, and in arguing the point an enormous amount of scripture seems to be quoted, and the right of private interpretation availed of to its utmost limit. We confess we have not studied the matter very deeply, whether through a mistrust as to our stiength of head or for some other reason we need not say, but we are quite willing that all who are interested in the " Shorter Catechism " should obtain this pamphlet and consider its proposals as to that important document. Meantime, it seems to us that, a " Pakeha Maori," who is the pamphleteer in question, must have quite as much time at his disposal as he has scripture at his fingers' ends — and if he makes a dreadful waste of both of them that is his own concern. The criticisms of the Governor's speech at the opening of Parliament are many and various, and favourable or the contrary according as the different newspapers are well or ill affected towards the Cabinet. Judging with eyes, however, that have no particular bias we are of the opinion that the 'Ministerial programme as thus laid down promises very fairly, and if duly and wisely carried out, will be found to result in a manner beneficial to the Colony. The promise of legislation for the improvement of the miner's position is especially encouraging, and contrasts markedly with the state of things in which so important a portion of the population suffered from a very reprehensible neglect. The reforms to be made in this matter will necessarily mc lude the abolition of the gold duty, a burden that has hampered the mining industry very heavily, and retarded in a serious degree the progress of the -country in general. — Attention to the conservation of forests is another matter of great weight that has so far been strangely neglected, and on the whole, as we £airi, the Cabinet have undertaken a course in deciding on which they have shown sound judgment. — An omission or two, nevertheless, made by them although expected still detracts from what they have so well done and leaves the most important question of all, that of education, untouched, and to all appearances unalterable. — But let us hope that here also appearances may prove deceptive. The wholly extraordinary conduct mentioned in the following extract from the letter of a correspondent at Wellington, cannot fail to produce an immense effect on our readers. " I happened to mention this afternoon to a Protestant friend of mine that I meant to walk up and have a look over St. Patrick's College. He looked much shocked and observed. ' Well, that's a bad place 1 I was passing by there an hour ago and I saw three of your priests playing lawn tennis, or some such game — on Sunday, mind you — in full dress, ivith their chasubles ontlieir heads. It ought to be stopped. 1 I had some difficulty in persuading him that a chasuble and a biretta were not the same thing." The regular meeting of the Dunedin Catholic Literary Society was held on Wednesday the 10th inst., the Rev. President occupying the chair. Mr. R. A. Dunne gave a paper on " English Literature." tracing the influence of two important periods of English history upon the writers of the same periods. The paper was an exceptionally good one, and the writer was requested by the chairman to continue his paper in connexion with other periods of English Literature. Mr. J. E. Dunne gave a recitation and Mr. Hally a reading. The next meeting will be held on Wednesday evening next, when the Rev. W. Burke will give a paper on " John Knox," and all who take an interest in the subject are invited to attend. It will be seen from the Dunedin Cathedral Subscription List that the special collection for the completion of the towers is making fair progress. One hundred pounds have already been contributed and the names of the contributors will after a little be published by us.