NEW ZEALAND : GENERAL.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume XXVII, Issue 45, 9 November 1899, Page 20

NEW ZEALAND : GENERAL.

THIS is carnival week in Christchurch, and consrqupntly the o'ty is reported to be full of visitors from all parts of the Colony.

THE estimat. d popul ition of the Colony on S^pte nbfir 30 last was 790,819. The net increase during the September quarter was 3095.

The illustrations in the Novembpr number of the Tri-id just to hand are very good, somt 1 very fine views of New Zaal.in 1 scenery being given. The reading matter, too, is inter sting- and wellselected.

The Lyttelton limes states that the whett and fliur <<pnt frcn Canterbury this season represent two an-i a half million bushels of wheat; the oats half a million busUels ; tb.3 pj:at>es TJ.OOO tons.

FROM Irish exchanges juat to hand we learn that tha Right Rev. Dr. L^nihan. Bish jp of Auckland, preached a few we>:ks ago at a' solemn function held at the Loretco Abbey, Eatbiarnaain, Dublin.

A LITTLE River correspondent writes : His Lordship Bishop G-rimes, accompanied by the Very Rev. Dean Foley, will open a mission at Little River on Sunday, 12th inst. An illuminated address is in course of preparation.

The Manawatu Times has been shown a sample of looallygrown kapok, of admirable quality, cultivated by Mr. R. Goodger, of Rorowhitu. The plant was grown from seed obtained in Auckland, and this is the fir3t year it has matured properly. ON the oeca«ion of the 44th anniversary of the opening of the Catholic Church, Spitalfields, London, special sermons were preaohed both morning and eveninsr. The preacher at the evening service was the Very Rev. Dr. Watters, S.M., late of St. Patrick's College, Wellington. It is said the recurrence of the great November shooting stars, which comes round every 33 years, is due to take place about the 13th of this month. These stirs were expected here last November, but apparently got side-tracked. An ordinary New Zealand train would keep closer to time-table date than our stellar visitors.

The Rev. Mother Superior of St. Bride's Convent, Masterton, says the local Times, has received intimation that Miis Mary Bccleton, tbe first candidate entered from the Convent, has passed her Trinity College examination in intermediate practical music. We hope that this ia but the first of many successes to be placed to the credit of the good Sisters' teaching abilities.

This is an age of co-operation, trusts, syndicates, and corners. America ia the birthplace of many of these organisations of capitalists. But we are not behind the age in this Colony as the following will show :— The Levels County Council decline to offer any prizes for largest collection of small birds' eggs this year, because they have an idea that the f .inner prizes have been won by joint stock companies of boys, trading undtr the name of one of rheir number, pooling their output for the purpose, and declaring a dividend out of the prize money. And yet there are people who say the New Zealand boy takes no interest in what is transpiring outside the Colony save football and cricket. OUT of the twenty-five candidates who passed at the examination in instrumental and vocal music, held recently in Wanganui uuder the auspices of Trinity College, London, sixteen were presented by the Sisters of St. Joseph of Nazareth. The following is the list of passes from the Convent :— Senior Division : Winnie Connell, (honors), Adelia Dougherty, Jane Wells, Kate Whitaker. Intermediate Division : Julia Barry, (honours), Norah Pine, (honours), Mary Tymons, (honours), Kathleen Beasley, Julia Flynn, Ruby Perrett Junior Division : Mary Flynn, (honors), lia Anderson, Beatrice Hunter,Vera Galpin, Kathleen Galpin. Preparatory Division : Nellie Dwyer (specially commended). Out of 21 pupils presented 16 passed —a most creditable result (says the Wanganui Herald), for which the painstaking Sifters are to be heartily congratulated. The fact that the stiff intermediate examination should be passed by little Miss Ruby Perrett, only 11 years old, and that a young girl of 12 (Miss Nora Pine) should come out of the same examination with honours epeaka for itself. In the junior division Vera, Galpin is but 11 years of age, and a little toe of 10 (iSfellie Dwyer) certainly deserves the complimentary remarks passed on her musical abilities by Mr. Foster. The Sisters should feel proud, of their pupils, and parents will fully appreciate the efforts of the Sisters. A Little River correspondent writes : A farewell gathering of a large number of the residents of Little River was held in the Maori Hall on Monday, October 30, for the purpose of presenting to Constable and Mrs. Ryan (on the occasion of their leaving the district, for \ddington, after eighteen years' residence) some token of the esteem in which Mr. and Mrs. Ryan and family were held by the people of Little River. Mr. F. D. Buchanan presided, and in a few well chosen words referred in eulogistic terms to the sterling qualities of Constable Ryan as a police officer, and pointed out how, on every occasion, he discharged the duties of his station in a fearless and upright manner regardless of person. With regard to Mrs. Ryan he (Mr- Buchanan) considered she was even more popular than her much-esteemed husband, and therefore he had much pleasure in presenting to Mrs. Ryan, on behalf of the inhabitants of Little River, a few parting gifts as a mark of the respect in which Mr. and Mrs. Ryan and family ware held in the district during their long residence. The presentation consisted of a valuable dinner set of a 100 pieces, also a beautiful marble clock, and many other beautiful and costly prizes and gifts Mr Buchanan called for cheers for Constable an 1 Mrs. Ryan and family, which were heartily given. Mr. Ryan suitably responded. Mr. and Mrs. Ryan were foremost in all movemenrs in connection with the Church in the distriot,'and their departure from Little River is much regretted.