NEW ZEALAND : GENERAL.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume XXVII, Issue 46, 16 November 1899, Page 19

NEW ZEALAND : GENERAL.

The red deer have become bo numerous in the Wairarapa district that they have got to be a great nuisance to the settlers. We have to thank the Government printer for a volume of the Statutes passed during the past session of Parliament. The Bishop of Auckland (the Right Rev. Dr. Lenihan) has been in London, and is now in the West of England (says the London i Tablet of September 30). We have received the Government Insurance Recorder for the current quarter, which contains a good deal of matter of interest to insurers and others. A disastrous fire broke out in Waihi on Thursday afternoon, resulting in the destruction of eight shops and two offices. The loss was estimated at about £2000. As a result of the severe frosts of a few nights ago, the orchards in the Alexandra district have received considerable damage, and fruit consequently promises to be scarce this season. A representative of an English syndicate has been prospecting the Taranaki district with regard to the indications of petroleum. Should his report be favonrable the opening and developing of the industry will be proceeded with without loss of time' on an extensive scale. The Nelson Colonitt learns that the Sisters, who conduct St. Mary's schools, have recently started a shorthand class,, and that already two pupils have presented themselves for the first examination. Both Miss B. Kelly and Miss H. Leighton passed, and have received certificates from the Pitman Institute. An occasional correspondent from Lyttelton writes :-^We have just received intimation that Master E. J. Brownie, the first candidate entered by the Sisters of Mercy, Lyttelton, has dbtainfed honours at the Trinity College examination in junior violin playing. We hope that this is but the first of many successes to be placed' to the oredit of the good Sisters. The Eumara Timet of the Bth inst. announces with regret the death of Mrs. Daniel Sullivan, of Piper's Flat. The deceased had been ill for a considerable time. She was a native of Cork, Ireland, 50 years of age, and was greatly respected by all who knew her. She leaves a husband and family of six sons and two daughters to mourn their loss, for whom the greatest sympathy is felt. — R I.P. A Hokitika correspondent writes :— I regret to announce the death of Miss Mary Coyle, second daughter of Mr. Patriok Coyje, who departed this life, after a protracted illness, on the 3rd inst. The funeral took place on Sunday, November 5, the remains being followed to the grave by a large number of mourners from Kumara, Waimea,and Stafford, where the deceased was well known and highly respected.— R.l.P. Sister Visitation, whose death was recently announced (says the Nelson Colonist), was a native of Lyons, Franoe, and was one of the first Sisters to corns to Nelson, having arrived here with a few others in 1870. under the direction of the late Archpriest Q-arin. She was 69 years of age at the time of her decease. Her principal work in Nelson was in the care of vestments, etc., at St. Mary's, and in visiting the Hospital and the sick. She was well known and greatly esteemed for her gentle ways and quiet manner. Her funeral took place en Tuesday, and was attended by the Sisters and girls from the Convent, as well as many others, a large number following the remains. The Sisters carried the coffin to and from the hearse, and a large number of beautiful wreaths were placed on the grave. — R.I.P. ' Evert dog has his day,' so runs the old saying, and the same might be said of every hero, of every distinguished or notorious individual. The fifth of November, whioh in the past has been set apart to the memory of Mr. Fawkes, of doubtful reputation, is likely to be dedicated in future to the honour of ' Oom ' Paul, the sanctimonious South African President. On the last occasion the stereotyped effigy of Mr. Fawkes was laid aside in favour of the more modern and better known Paul, and consequently tall hate and frock coats were in general request by the rising generation, who firmly believe that their latest ' hero ' is of the common or garden variety of nigger. A patriotic North Island boy, of the venerable age of nine, whose father would not allow him to go to bouth Africa to fight the Boers, determined to show his loyalty in another way. In the absence of the head of the householdhe bored a hole in a stump of a kauri tree which stood olose to the dwelling, filled this with blasting powder and laid a train of this explosive some distance away. With the aid of some hay, his father's Sunday* go-to-meeting tall hat and frock coat he made a satisfactory effigy of the much talked-of President of the South African Repoblio, which he placed on the kauri stump. A match was applied to the powder train, and in a few seconds* Mr. Eruger ' went skywards, turned a Bomeisault, and landed on his head. The stump was broken into ' smithereens,' the laigest of which went through the best room window, nearly knocking daylight through a young soion of the family, and smashing some valuable household goods. It is needless to say that the incident caused considerable alarm in the locality, and many of the women folk thought that a full-grown November meteor had struck this planet somewhere in that section. When the boy's father came home that evening these was a conference of a private and confidential character held in a back room between parent and offspring. No details of the proceedings were supplied to the Press, but it was inferred that a lasting impression was made on that boy's anatomy, and now it is not safe for a smaller urchin to mention anything about the Boer war in his presence.

The usual weekly meeting of the Ashburton Catholic Literary Society was held on Wednesday evening of last week, Mr. L Hanrahan occupying the chair. There was a large attendance, including several members from the country districts. The evening was devoted to business of a social character. Songs were given by Messrs. E. Hanrahan, Burgess, M. Moriarty, Moison, Soal, Higgins, Healy, J. Wilson, P. O'Connor, Quinlan, and Flynn, and recitations by Messrs. J. and D. Mcriarty, Gorman, P. and L. Hanrahan, Murphy, Nolan, and M. O'Connor. The meeting was the most successful of its kind yet held by the society.

The following pupils of the Sisters of x Mercy, Greymouth, passed the Trinity College practical musical examination, held on the 6th inst. : — Senior honours : Mary Cecilia Sheedy (piano.) ; senior pass : Mary Cecilia Sheedy (singing). Intermediate honours : Maggie Algie (piano), Nellie M'Donnell (piano). Intermediate pats : Florence Foot (piano) ; Rosabel Weber (singing). Junior honours : Mechtildes Campbell (piano), Winifred White (violin) Junior pass : Nellie Griffen (piano), Daisy Hambleton (piano). Preparatory : Eliza Mahoney (piano) All the candidates sent up were successful. In the drawing examination' in connection with the Technical School, Wellington, the following pupils of the same school were successful : — Model : Frances Broad. Freehand : Charles Broad (good), Frances Broad, Alice Hannan. Geometrical : Alicia Roche, Maggie Greaney, Bridget Nolan, and Mary Power.

Mb M. B. Foster, examiner for Trinity College, London, held an examination in practical music at Westport recently Thirteen pupils of the Sisters of Mercy were presented, twelve of whom were successful, five of these obtaining honours. The examiner expressed himself as highly pleased with the performance of the candidates, especially their knowledge of technique. He made special reference to the pianoforte playing of Katie Ryan and of the violin playing of Mary Flynn. Three of the candidates — W. Horton, M. Whitton, and M. Knowßley — were prepared by the Sisters of Mercy, Reef ton. The following were the successful candidates : — Senior pass : E. Mullan (piano). Intermediate honours : X Ryan (piano). Intermediate pass :J. Lempfert, K. Carmine (piano). Junior pass : A Horn, W. Horton, M. Whitton (piano). Preparatory : G Scott, Q. Ewan, L. Stitt (specially commended). Preparatory pass : M Knowsley. Junior honours : M. Flynn (violin).