Current Topics AT HOME AND ABROAD.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume XIX, Issue 17, 23 January 1891, Page 1

Current Topics AT HOME AND ABROAD.

A GOOD WORK.

Thk progress of Catholicism in Dunedin is marked by the necessity that has ariaen for the erection of a church in tbe North-E ist Valley. For some years past Mass has been celebrated there every Sunday in a public hall. The time, however, has arrived when this will no longer suffice, and when the need of having a church is pressingly felt by the Catholics of the district. A piece of ground has been secured for a site, In every respect desirably situated, and the intention is to erect on it a building which will not only serve as a church, to be dedicated to the Sacred Heart, but which, when the occasion arises, as the probabilities are it will ere long, may also be used for a schoolroom. The people of the Valley, who have always taken their full part in nny charitable work connected with the city, and who proved themselves most generous when St. Joseph's Cathedral was in the course of erection, have a claim on the Catholic community generally which cannot be disputed, and no member of it will withhold from them such aid as it lies in his power to give. The sum required is not much. About £300 will be sufficient for the present need, and no very great effort should be demanded to make up the amount. As a beginning a concert will be given in the Garrison Hall, on Tuesday. Febuary 10th., which, if as successful as there is every reason to hope it will be. should go a long way towards forming a substantial nucleus. The music will be under the direction of Signor Sqaarise, and the services of several of our most noted amateurs, including Mrs. AngusMi^s Blan y, and Mr. Densem, have been already secured. We need, however, hardly dwell at any great length on the matter. Tbe task of marking the advance and growth of Catholicism by the erection of a church is one that every Catholic will rejoice to have his share in, and all that is wanted to obtain willing aid is to announce that the time has come for entering on the task alluded to.

STILL ON THE MOVE.

Two rather important publications with reference to labour have just been made by the daily papers. The one contains regulations adcpted by the U.B.S. Company in dealing with their men. The other takes the form of Borne rules proposed by the Building Trades' Union. The rate of wages paid, the hours of labour, and similar matters are explained by the Company, and they seem to be of a nature to which little exception can be taken. A wise arrangement, moreover, is that which provides for the settlement of doubtful or disputed questions by the appointment on the part of the crew of spokesmen, one for each of their two departments, to bring the case in point before the captain or chief engineer — the appointment only to last a month, so that each member of the crew may fill it in turn. But what if the spokesman for the time being be a man of few words ? Men there are, as we know, who find it hard to express themselves, and who, for various reasons, prefer to leave the talk to others. Men there are. on the contrary, to whom the gift of the gab is a choice inheritance and a glory. Was it, for example, with some view towards the repression of such men that the Company adopted the plan of regular succession ? It should, at least, have some effect in preventing what, perhaps, has occasionally been heard of, that is, the hatching of grievances by men gifted with a talent for speech, bo that they might have a chance of exercising their endowment. To foster an interesting excitement, and then have it all spoiled by seme fellow not having a word to throw to a dog would be but a melancholy undertaking. Had the U.S.B. Company something of this kind within sight in making their rule? In any case, it was a wiße step to appoint means for a legitimate expression of dissitisfaction. The proposals of the Building Trades' Union are to make forty-four hours' laLour— already to all intents and purposes existing as a rule, a fixed rule of the trades ; to reduce the working day by a quarter or a half for a period not exceeding six months, should the step at any time seem desirable ; and to permit members, unable to do a man's full work, to take lower wages. The intention of reducing the length of the working day is that of providing for the employment of a larger

number of men during alack times— it being understood that employers would be no less anxious for the completion of their jobs. The intention of the remaining clause is also benevolent — many work-ing-men, for one reason or another more or less incapacitated, being, as circumstances are, in evil plight. Whatever may be thought of the two first proposals— and against either objections m*y possibly be urged — it ia difficult to see that this last can deserve anything but approval. The labour world, as we see, therefore, is still on the gui vive. But whether, ai Mr. W. Hutchison, M.H.R., in a letter to the Otago Daily Times, seems to suggest, our coming Parliament is to settle all its affairs once and for ever on a firm and progressive basil remains to be seen. As yet we see nothing of it— no, not even with the eye of the mind.

AN ALARMING RESPONSE.

People interested in the welfare of New Zealand could hardly be pleased at the response made last week in Dunedin to an advertiiement for pick-and-shovel men for a railway in Tasmania. Two hundred men were wanted, and we are told that nearly four hundred names were booked. We may, perhaps, make some allowance for the fact that Tasmania may now be regarded as, par excellence, the El Dorado of the colonies. As our knowledge of the Spanish tongue is limited, we may claim indulgence for a bull. Silver, not cold, is the metal in question. Doubtlrss some cf the men applying, or even a good mt-ny of them, were attiacted by the exciting prospects. Colonial experience would warn them against entertaining too exuberant hopes cf becoming silver kings, bat still something good they m'ght look for. This, nevertheless, does not account for everything, lhe desired excdus must s 1 ill reflect unfavourably on the state of things among us. Verily, it is not easy to forget Sir Harry Atkinson's airy explanation that the decrease of the population of the colony was due omy to a laudable and spirited wish of the emigrants, which it would be a thousand pities to check, to see something more of the woild. There can be little doubt that the great majority of this four hundred, notwithstanding the temptation of the silver fields, would vastly prefer to stay in New Zealand were the means of gaining a livelihood here open to them. And, even allowing for the silver fields, why should our people in such numbers seek to leave the colony ? Are there net districts rich in minerals, within our own confines awaiting only the prospector ? A gold or silver-field attracting people from New Zealand ctrtainly casts a sinister reflection on a Government by which mining interests have been so much neglected. This numerous leeponse, therefore, to the advertisement referred to may be looked at from more points than one — and from no point can it appear a matter for congratulation.

HOW MUCH " DEVIL "?

Thebe are countries besides New Zealand where labour is alive and even very much alive. Strikes are Hgain the order of tbe day in many places, and in England, and Scotland especially some rather rough work his accompanied them. In London, for example, non-union sailors have been brutdly used, and on Scotch railways all sorts of horße-play has occurred. The primeval navigator himself, in short, hardly needed a stronger fortification of heart-jf-oak and triple brass than does the traveller by rail now when attempts to wreck trains are, as we are told, frequent. Is it not, in fact, a matter of felicitation on some lin»s wheu the train, with every precaution taken, or believed to be taken, for its safety, arrives intact at the terra iuuH ? What iuubt it be if an attempt to molest it by the way were the not uncommon course ot things ? Such tiicks as this would be bad anywhere, but when played among a douce population what are wu to think of them, or into whose hands, indeed, have Scottish lines of railway passed ? Surely tba native fed on cakes, or even though nurtured on something stronger, we have the sight of our eyes for it that the Scotchman, a* a rule, be*rs hi* caps s c uily. is never accountable for tbe like of this. However it be, folk tbere are who still are not satisfied. Mr. John Buros it seems has horrified the " unco Juid " at Glasgow, as horrified they we 1 may be, by exhorting tbe strikers to put a little more '• devil " into the fight. And there in fact is the danger of the strike. Without some degree of " devil " in it, it would seem bat a weak, or almost worthies!, initru-

ment. The great question is certainly how much " devil " shall we se« before the matter is finally settled. It would be ill for us to be deceived. All has not ended with the collapse of the strikes in New Zealand, and the victory of the U.S.B. Company. An eddy here and there may ebb or flow ; some more successful Mrs Partington may repulse a lesser current with her mop. Bnt the tide still keeps rising, and sooner or later, it must reach its full. These strikes are but froth lashed up at different points by accidental winds. They may toll us something concerning the existence and the nature of the flood beneath, as well as of the manner in which the wind affects it. But they finally determine nothing. Successful or collapsed they leave the great question still to be settled.

A BIGf UNDERTAKER.

Mr. William Hutchison, M.H.R., in the letter to the Daily Times to which we bave already referred, iays out rather a formidable course to be pursued by oar new Parliament. Speaking of the demand and supply of labour, he says : "We shall relegate this •deeper question ' to our coming Parliament. Its members will certainly have to strain their energies, crack their sinews, and all but break their hearts over its solution, for, according to Carlyle, ' This that they call the organisation of labour is the universal vital problem of the world. It is the problem of the whole future for all who will pretend to govern men. 1 " It sounds funny enough to hear Buch a course laid down for a Parliament at Wellington. Have we, indeed, been used to entertain such serious thoughts connected with that assembly ? And yet Mr. Hutchison is right. The problem, the vital problem, is there to be solved. The riddle of the Sphinx wa« not more fateful for those to whom it was proposed than it is for all ot us.— What chance is there that even our new Parliament, high as are the expectations formed respecting it, especially by its new Members, can solve it? Analogy, we are told, is the very gu.de of life. Alas, analogy is against us. No Parliament that has ever sat in New Zealand could settle the question. Wlut, indeed, have they made of questions less important and far less difficult ? G«the likens the task that fell to the lot of Hamlet, to an oak tree planted in a china pot. The idea is, with some defiance, perhaps, of the laws of arboriculture, that the unstunted oak would break tbe pot. Toe task would burst up the weakling undertaking it. A straining of energies, a cracking of sinews, and a breaking of hearts at Wellington— supposing Buch an organ to beat there— we may possibly witness. But let us hope even against hope, or, pretend to do so, if that be any good. We doubt if Mr. Hutchison himeeif does much more than that.

NICE JOINTS.

The Rev Dr. Parker, a light of the London Nonconformists, declares that the England of genteel poverty and genteel misery is darker even than the realm described by General Booth as " Darkest England. '—An advertisement for a copying clerk at 2Gs a week, within his knowledge, brought more than 2000 replies within four postal deliveries, a°nd many of these were from university graduates. Qualified governesses were walking the streets not knowing where the next crust of bread would come from. An educated youta told him that he daied not ask a slight increase to his pound a week, because 20 men were Bitting on the office steps who would do all his work for half hie income." But this is in great part the result of the education system as it now exists. Dr. Jessopp had already told us that it caused an inflow from the country to the towns, the little learning obtained giving birth to an ambition for a softer method of life. Dr. Parker recommendb as a remedy that children should be brought up to trades. Ifl there, then, no danger lest these also become over-stocked 1 We •cc at least that in Dunedin it has been found desirable to propose means by which, when times are Black, work may be provided for tradesmen oat of employment. Undoubtedly the labour question considered in all its bearings, not only as relates to handicraft but also including head-work, presents many nice and difficult points for settlement. Among them not tbc least important, or, possibly the least difficult, is that .of bringing about duch a itate of mind, and perhaps also of body, among thj multitude as will make rough occupitions agreeable to more highly instructed people. The theory is we know that the question settles itself, but such facts as those quoted by Dr. Parker practically and completely overturn tbe theory.

A FAIBurKCJMBN

lndh has been engaged ot late, ag, indeed, has ■ often been tbe case, in exposing a series of impostors. Is it not Henry Kmgsley who, in one of his unpleasant and rather silly books, mtroduces his readers to an old lady who unites Evangelical principles to a devouring love of horse-racing/ Truth, in his is=ue of November 20, introduces us in real life to a gentleman of very similar tastee. The individual in qutfltion is one Mr. James Butcher, secretary of an association bearing the double title of " The Prayer Book Revision S ciety and Prottßtant Lecture Society," and whose chief work, aa l'ndh informs us is tbe combating of " lioaaaibiiii,' lrlluences and tendencies." Mr. Uutchcr appear! to be a m;iu of .>ppiu\ci jiuty and iv the

discharge of his duties. The Rev. Samnel Wainwright, D.D., called by Iruth " a Boanerges of Protestantism," testifies to his " undertone of earnest moral purpose." Dr. Cranage, of Wellington, speaks of him as " a man of just the right stamp for tbeae perilous times "— considered perilous, we presume, with an eye towards the encroachments of Rome. The Rev. Basil Duckett Aldwell, of Bouthsea, decribes him as '• conversant with the principles of the Reformation and eloquent in his exposition of them." " The name of Protestantism," he adds, " burns in his heart." " While the Rev. J. B. Waddington, of Clitheroe , prays devoutly :— ' May the Divine blessing manifestly rest on the work^pf this laborious servant of Christ.' '• Mr. Butcher, nevertheless, also followed more sporting courses, and, as Truth tells us, persuaded one of his friends that " certain prominent lights of the Prayer Book Revision movement were desirous of supplementing the diffusion of Protestant principles by a system of extensiveioperations oa the turf." To make a long story short, this light of anti-Romanising undertakings, by a pretence of operations on the turf conducted by a betting syndicate of gentlemen — having no connection with anything of the kind, and, further, by quoting the name of an honest broker on the Stock Exchange who had no real existence— swindled two friends of his out of a considerable sum of money. Evangelical pursuits and horse-racing, meantime, m»y or may not go together band in hand. Henry Kingsley, if we recollect aright, suggests that suck may be the case, and Mr. James Butcher gives us a practical proof that the combination, if not a still worse one, really exists. What it is important for ub to note is the exposure that is once more made of the kind of men— and the women we know are not far behind them — who come forward and are accepted as exponents of the principles of the " Reformation " and champions against Rome— both offices, we also acknowledge, being worthily filled by them. For so much we are debtors to Truth.

A SUGGESTION.

The members of oar new Parliament are preparing for their momentous assembling at Wellington. And we confess, the meeting of our new Parliament, our labour Parliament, as at least it presents itself to the imagination, cannot fail to be interebting. What are the chances that it will prove equal to the work proposed for it? Will it help towards solving the problem suggested by Dr. Parker's revelation / In the late labour procession in Dunedin we noticed a display that struck us forcibly as of evil portent were it typical. Other such instances there may have beenWe do not know. Everyman's attention is caught by that which most nearly concerns himself. The compositors and printers made an imposing appearance, and prominent among their mottoes, was the well known one " The pen ia mighter than the sword." There was not however, even one solitary representative of the pen to be seen. Is the consideration of brain-work, therefore, to be excluded from the labour question and is every calling to be viewed only with respect to its mechanical branches ? Still even the position of the capitalist the man who has bad the wit to acquire wealth, may require to be duly considered if a true solution is to be arrived at. In the existence of the "mute inglorious Milton "we have no very firm belief. We hold that geniuj will out, and that braiaa, wherever they exiat, muet make themselves known. They arc, lodeed, too rare and valuable a possession to be permitted to remain useless in obscurity. We would fain hope that some, at any rate, of our new Members are Miltons cleaving their way to fame. We trust that the processional display to which we have alluded was not typical in their regard, but that, having brains themselves, they will be so placed as to give consideration to the claims, not oaly of the hands but also of the head, in the question to be settled.

BOOM TO PAUSE.

A cheap edition of the late Charles Kingaley's famous romance, " Westward Ho ! " has recently been published. It has had an enormous circula tion, and, as a necessary consequence, the doinga of the Spaniards in South America have been again condemned far and wide with horrorIt is unfortunately impossible that a tenth of the people who have been misinformed in the manner alluded to will read Sir Arthur Helps' " Life of Las Casas," in which they would find eet forth with truth the action of the Catholic Church in endeavouring to repress, rather than in co-operating with, the evil deeds of Spanish adventurers. What deeds of the Spaniards, however, could exceed some of those established as having attended on the expedition of Mr, Stanley, committed by men who had enjoyed the privileges of the Reformed religion and the tall blaze of enlightenment as it had beeH developed during close upon four hundred years, and which still must have disgraced the most ferocious Spaniard bred in the darkness of the Sixteenth Century. Some reason, therefore, is there to take Charles Kingsley's random and bigotted statements with caution — as well as to modify the condemnation pronounced agauur the Spaniards, lest it should reflect unfavourably on the British cmliaation of the period.

11 ITSO?

The Behring Sea dispute still wears a somewhat serious aspect. The United States and Cinada, so far as reported at the time at which we write, are at luggcrbculs about it, Still, there is the calm assurance that it will

come to nothing. It, nevertheless, seems un worthy of a great nation like the Americans to set up a claim that they have no intention of pressing. The claim hag been very definitely made in the President's late message, in which, for instance, hope is expressed " that before the opening of another seal tng season some arrangemer t may be effected which will assure to the United States a property right, dprived from Russia, which was not disregardei by nny nation fur more than eigh'y years preceding the outbreak of the existing trouble." But we are told the matter is all an electioneering trick. The Republicans, it would seem, are anxious to make capital for the presidential election now coming closer — the more anxious, perhaps, since the late victory of the Democrats. Hence, it seems desirable to them to tickle the Iriph voter, and how can they do this more effectively than by making a pretence of flouting England ? Such, we are told, is the true secret of the Behring Sea dispute. We do not know that this view of the case flatters the dignity of mankind in general. There is the American Government — that of one of the greatest nations of the world, stooping to unworthy tricks and fa'se pretences. There is the British Government, occupying at least as high a place, and possibly claiming a mush higher one, but still submitting to be flouted, and, if not entering into the spirit of the fun — nay, winking •lyly at the flouter — falling in with the necessities of the case, and setting all its diplomatic engines and some of its war-ships in motion. There is the Canadian Government taking the matter seriously, ani, all for nothing, putting itself much about. And there is the Irish voter, too big a fool to occupy bo important a post. His disposition affects two mighty Governments, and yet he is stupid enough to be bamboozled by a mere transparent feint of hostility. Still the Irish emigrant is in some degree avenged. The British lion is placed in a humiliating position, and obliged to show his teeth and growl whi'e be knows that he is being baited, as it were, with the shadow of a straw and to please a despised enemy. What room there is in all this for a proper maintenance of dignity it is difficult to see. Each of the parties concerned occupies a somewhat foolish position. If this, indeed, be the true explanation of the dispute the situation brings ridicule on every one connected with it. Is it the true explanation ?— for that is the question.

SPOTS IN THE SUNBEAM.

Thk " Light of Asia " appears not incapable of suffering eclipse. That, for example, is a very suggestive report that comes from China relative to the massacre of Christians at places named respectively Ta-tsin and Ma-pao-chang. The massacre was the work of Buddhißte, and followed immediately on a celebration of one of their religious festivals. Viewed in this connection the movement towards Buddhism now making progress in Europe becomes a grave consideration. We are told that not only is that modification of the creed known as Tbeosophism gaining ground there, but that Buddhists properly so-called may be met among the natives of France, and even among those of England. But if we may judge of Buddhist principles, as we probably may, from what they apparently produce among a population thoroughly imbued with them, and to whom they have descended from their forefathers, the spread of the creed in Europe can hardly add to the peace and comfort of society. Indeed we may doubt if it will, after all, be found to contrast very favourably with Christianity in any of its forms — much less to outshine them all at> a system promotive of brotherly love and the elevation of mankind. But how strange it seems to point to the depths of China for a warning, in the persecution of Christian converts there, against a creed that has been introduced into Europe as superior to the Gospel of Christ. Is not some possibility discernible of the evils that are to presage the approaching end of the world .'