NEW ZEALAND : GENERAL.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume XXVII, Issue 48, 30 November 1899, Page 19

NEW ZEALAND : GENERAL.

There was a gain of 298 persons to the Colony on the immigration and emigration returns of last month. The arrivals numbered 1460, and the departures (including 213 for Algoa Bay) were 1 162. In October, 1898, the arrivals were 1829 and the departures 955. LAST week f says the New Era of October 21 ) the Right Rev. Dr Lenihan, Bishop of Auckland, New Zealand, opened a bazaar in Waterloo,^* aid of the liquidation of the debt on St. Joseph's, Blundelli^^t), of which his cousin, the Rev. W. G. Lennon, is rector. r The Department of Agriculture is being kept pretty busy supplying demands for eggs for sitting purposes Already this season between 10,000 and 11,000 have been sold, more than double the number sold last season, and so great is the demand at present that the department has great difficulty in coping with it. 1 Catholic,' from Wallace, writes complaining that Mr. Gilfedder declared himself at River ton opposed to any form of State aid for the Catholic schools. In reply to a q lestion he is reported to have said : ' No, he was not in favour or interfering with ,the present system of education, as it worked very well, etc' 1 Catholic ' continues : ' Wtoat about the poor Catholics, who have suffered and fought for the last 25 years for justice to their children, who; during that time, have supported their own schools and have been compelled to contribute towards the maintenance of the State institutions 1 Does Mr. Gilfedder think that the Catkolios of Wallace, or in fact the whole of New Zealand, have forgotten the motto of the late revered Bishop Moran, who spent his life time in fighting for justice to his people : " Retriste r.your vote and vote for the man that will advocate your cause 1 " In the face of this, I would ask my fellow Catholics to remember that on Wednesday next, December 6, they have the power placed in their hands to punish 'the Catholic candidate who would stand on a public platform and -give utterance to suoh sentiments as "fell from the lips of Mr. Gilfedder.'

The Wellington Motor Car Company propose placing motor cars on the streets of the principal towns of the Colony. Thomas Tbacey, a lad, was riding his bioycle down the main thoroughfare of Wanganui on Saturday last, when he collided' with a horse that was being ridden by -a butcher boy. He fell to the ground on his head, and when picked up it was found that his neck had been broken. It is alleged that the Hon. J. Carroll delivered himself of the following specimen of oratory at Gisborne in reference to the South African war : — The Imperial authorities were at the present time engaged in a little trouble in South Africa, which had stirred the soul of every corner, of every possible tentacle of the Empire which spread over the whole universe. And they all felt proud of their Colony in having responded to the electric touch of Imperial feeling which coursed through the whole of their veins. The Catholic schoolroom (says the Ashburton Mail) was crowded on Wednesday evening by members of the Catholic Literary Society and their friends, the occasion being an open night entertainment. The evening's programme consisted of ' a 'mock trial,' in which the procedure of a Supreme Court was carried out with due regard to the importance of the oase. Among- those present was a number of ladies. At the conclusion of the proceedings the visitors present warmly congratulated the society on having provided suoh a pleasant evening's amusement. It is reported that the Government, propose to employ a trawler to test the fishing grounds on the New Zealand coast. .Parliament voted £500 last session for the purpose, and it is believed that the amount will be sufficient to defray the cost of operations for three months. Mr. Ayson, inspector of fisheries, recently made, an inspection of the trawlers in Hawke's Bay waters, and is satisfied that two or three of the vessels are capable of doing the work required. One of them will be chartered for the purpose. Mr. Ayson will accompany the expedition, and will furnish the Marine department with full details of the progress of the work. Miss E. Doherty, who is about to leave Reefton for Greymouth, was entertained by a number of her young lady friends at a farewell social (says the Inangahua Times). Among the invited guests was the Very Rev. Father M'Namara, who, on presenting Miss Doherty with a handsome gold brooch on behalf of her entertainers, referred in a eulogistic manner to that young lady's many estimable qualities evidenced in numerous ways during her lengthy Bojourn in Reefton. In church matters she had always rendered valuable assistance, and the Altar Society could testify that her services were always cheerfully and obligingly given. It only remained for him, while expressing regret for Miss Doherty's departure, to sincerely hope that her future life would be a happy one, and although severed from her Reefton friends, he felt sure that she wonld always be held in kindly remembrance. The Postal Department is about to issue a series of pictorial postcards, illustrated with views of New Zealand scenery, and of a larger size than those hitherto supplied. The illustration?, which are exceedingly well executed , are placed at the bottom left hand corner of the card, and comprise views of Queen's wharf, Wellington ; Wanganui River ; Lake Manapouri ; Bealey terrace ; Canterbury ; Customhouse square, Dunedin ; and several others. The work has been artistically carried out by the Government Printing Office, and the cards will be issued almost immediately. The department (says the Keio Zealand Times) is also about to issue a new series of postagedue stamps, which are placed on letters or parcels by the postmaster when extra postage has to be paid. The stamp is of the size of the present penny stamp, printed in green, with the values clearly marked in the centre in red The words, • New Zealand, postage due,' also appear in the design. These stamps are printed at the Government Printing Office, on water-marked paper, and are of a very neat and attractive appear" nee. The proposed change of colour of the half -penny, penny, and twopence half -penny stamps cannot be carried out until the necessary inks are received from England and America, which is expected to be about the end of the year. The half -penny stamps will then be green, the penny red, and the twopence half -penny a darker blue than at present, so as to meet the Postal Union requirements. In the course of a speech at Tauranga, Auckland, last week, the Premier admitted that the Hon. J. G. Ward had been wrongly judged, and that his actions bad proved him an honourable and upright man. Mr. Ward would be reinstated in the Ministry. Commenting on the Premier's announcement the Dunedin likening Star Baid editorially : — This information will, we think, be received with very general satisfaction, and will do something to reconcile the opponents of the Ministry to their obtaining a fresh lease of power should such be the verdict of the constituencies. Mr. Ward is, beyond question, the most practically able man of the party ; he has shown a broad grasp of colonial and even Imperial questions, and very exceptional capacity as an administrator, having done the State good service in the capacity of Postmaster-General and Telegraph Commissioner, and having successfully conducted delicate negotiations with other colonies and with the Home Government relative to postal and telegraph matters. The community owe to the honorable gentleman many liberal reforms in both the Postal and Telegraph Departments, and the Press have especially to thank him for valuable concessions. He is thoroughly imbued with the advanced spirit of the age, whilst having no very lively sympathy with the communistic Socialism which unfortunately dominates the ideas of certain sections of the Ministerial party. The appointment of Mr Ward to a portfolio will most undoubtedly stiengthen the Ministry, and. if they are to have another three years' term, we may be allowed to hope that Mr. Seddon may still further improve his position by taking to himself colleagues of a very different stamp to some of those who must have been such an embarrassment to him in the last Parliament, and decidedly not worth their salt politically tr in administration.