NAPIER.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume XXVIII, Issue 8, 22 February 1900, Page 28

NAPIER.

(From a correspondent ) February 11. On Monday the Hawkes Bay portion of the ' Rough Riders' Contingent, 45 in number, left here for the seat of war. His Excellency Lord Ranfurly arrived at an early hour in the Bay by the Tutanekai from the North, but was obliged to leave again in the forenoon overland for Wellington on important business, Lady BanfurJy remaining behind for a few days in Napier. The send-off was a great success in every respect. The weather was all that could be desired, the programme, perfect in itself, was carried out without a hitch. The marine parade, the hillsides, the balconies and windows were crowded with spectators, every part of the province being well represented. It is commonly supposed there must have been 20,000 people present. The Slattery impostors were here for three days, but left again direct for Wellington. Their unsavory mission was not a success. partly because such missions are pretty well played out and always looked upon with buepicion even by those who do attend them, and partly because the past career of Slattery and his female companion waß well to the front before their arrival, through the

leaflets and pamphlets from the N. Z. Taklui Office, which our priests were careful to have distributed in every part of the town. Besides these several letters appeared in the Dadij 'hhyraph giving a synopsis of the lives of both impostors, which must have unhinged th ir plans very considerably. On the first two evenings, his audience was very scanty indeed, no respectable citizens being present. The third eveniDg. having reduced his admission charge to sixpence, he had a sprinkling of the larrikin element, who, it seems, gave him a lively time with a few of last years eggs thrown in gratis. It is said that of all those of his disreputable class — Chiniquy, Biddy O'Gorman. and all the rest — for foulness of language, downright falsehoods, and calumnies about the Catholic religion, Slattery can beat them all His books, too, are of the same infamous and prurient style Even Protestants say they are unfit to be read. No doubt you will hear of him later on even in Dunedin. The Catholic schools are again in full swing after the holidays, with still larger numbers than before. The new wing to the Brothers' school is a great boon to the teachers and children, as well as an improvement to the general aspect of the establishment. Preparations have already commenced for the celebration of St. Patrick's Day which promise to make it a great success.