NAPIER.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume XXVIII, Issue 1, 4 January 1900, Page 19

NAPIER.

After the Napier Correspondence on page 5 of this issue went to press we received the following communication :—: — At the distribution of prizes at the Convent School, Mr. Fraser, the new Member for Napier, at the invitation of the Very Rev. Dean Grogan, addressed the large audience present. He said he felt pleased and honoured to be asked to take part in the distribution of prizes in the Convent School of Napier. He was not ignorant of the high reputation which these schools had in the province, and the high class entertainment which he so much enjoyed, of what these schools can do. Mr. Fraser then called attention to the number of Convent girls from Napier now settled in various parts of the district, of whom Mrs. Fraser was one, who are an honour to the nuns and the convent. The speaker briefly touched on the question of how the Catholic schools, though doing suoh excellent work, are handicapped in New Zealand by the present school system and its friends, such as some of the Napier Education Board. Against such injustice he protested, and as far as he could would do his best to hare the present state of things remedied. He congratulated the nuns on the efficiency of their school, and the children on the great advantages they had in attending such schools. Dean Grogan thanked Mr. Fraser for his kind expressions of sympathy and approval. In his position, he always appreciated any kindness in word or work done to the Catholic schools. For over fifteen years he had learned from experience what energy it requires to keep our schools up to the high standard they have attained, so be felt grateful to Mr. Fraser or any other person for any expression of encouragement they give in such a vital matter. There is another gentleman in this town who has taken a deep interest in the efficiency of our schools (continued the speaker) for the past two years — Mr. Hill, the Government Inspector. On a public occasion like this I feel pleased to express our feelings of gratitude towards him and to protest against the unreasonable strictures put on him of late by the Chairman of the Education Board of Napier for the interest he has taken in the Catholic schools. The fact is admitted that the chairman and his friends are jealous of our schools because they are aware the Government schools cannot compete with ours. Therefore, in the opinion of such men, we must be handicapped ; the government Inspector must be prevented from examining our schools ; and the class passes obtained by our children at the pa«t examinations must not be given them. Could anything be more unjust 1 They are pleased to see our Catholic young men volunteer for the Transvaal in defence of the Empire. They oan shed their blood to any extent they wish, but they must not fit themselves for any Government office or position, simply because they are educated in Catholic schools. I hope the time for such prejudice is fast passing away, and that the late example we have had of it at Napier is about the last. Whether we are forced to continue in the future as we have been in the past, whether handicapped or not, we have made up our minds to use every means in our power to keep our schools up to the same high standard of efficiency, and we doubt not but the time is near at hand when our children, by their truthfulness, their examplary lives as well as by their scholarly abilities will prove to the public that neither the nation nor society generally can well do without them. It is more and more evident every day that the public schools are not improving society. On the contrary, they are a danger to society and even to Christianity. If a remedy is to be found it must be sought for in the religious schools. Dean Grogan. on behalf of the convent, again thanked Mr. H racer, also Mr. McLean, the late member for Napier, who was also present, as well as the parents and friends, who showed by their presence that they were friends of the convent. The Catholics of Napier held a very successful picnic here on Boxing day. The locality chosen was the green meadows in the mission farm at this season of the year, a sort of terrestrial paradise. It is computed that over 1500 people attended and every person enjoyed himßelf to bis heart's content. The Christmas festivals, as usual, were celt brat ed here wiih great splendour. On the feast itself, in St. Patrick's, there were Solemn High Mass and Vespers. Rev. Father Chauvel, of Samoa, with Fathers Bell and Hicfcson officiating in the morning, and Dean Grogan and Fathers Chauvel and Bell in the evening. Father Hickson preached on Sunday evening and Dean Grogan on Christmas evening. There were some 300 for Holy Communion in both churches.