DIOCCSE OF CHRISTCHURCH

New Zealand Tablet, Volume XXXI, Issue 26, 25 June 1903, Page 6

DIOCCSE OF CHRISTCHURCH

(From our own correspondent.)

Juno 22

Professor Bickerton said, during the course of a scientific lecture recently delnered that the result of the present education system was to ' sacrifice the soul of the youth for the husk.s of imperfect knowledge The opinion of Mr G. T Booth, who is the head of an important manufacturing industry in this city, expressed a few e\enings ago at a meeting of the emt lovers and Parliamentary representath es in regard to pieference to unionists, is to the following efiect : Jhe proposal involved an inherent injustice to the nonunionists. Unionists (he said) had no more right to expect preferenre than Presbyterians or Catholics had The Catholics might quite as justly say that the positions in the public seivirc should be ioserved to t.icm They had i^en more 1 lqht than the unionists, as they were doing something to legencrate the world and make it better to live in Unionists could not show such ovidonce of pHiblic utility The proposals of the Tramways' Board, submitted to the ratepayers to empower the raising of a loan for the purchase of the rights of existing lines and to olectnlv them and others protected, was decider! by ballot last wer-k. and appro-. p<l of l>v .nor 88 per cent of those who voted The amount proposed to be raised is £250,000 Owing to the recent lamentable death of the Rev Mother Provincial, the eustonnuy entertainment and recognition of the least day of his Lordship the Bishop will not take place on the present occasion at the Monastery of the Sacred Heart. In other respects, however, the Sisters of the Missions are not unmindful of the chief pastor, and intend piesenting his Lordship with a very beautiful awl costly pair of curtains. These are of cardinal Roman satin, magnificently ornamented _ in cold 1 thread and arascne work, depicting a tropical scene the suhiect imludin* palms, bu rushes, water b?rds,' etc The reverse side is lined with silk of corresponding color.

The triduum, preparatory to the Feast of St. John, patron of the diocese, was inaugurated in the ProCathedral on Sunday. His Lordship the Bishop preached at High Mass and explained the nature of the celebrations, and in the evening pontificated at Benediction of the Blessed Sacrament, attended by the Very Rev. Vicar-General and Rev. Father Richards. Particular attention had been devoted to the adornment of the sanctuary and high altar, the effect being particularly attractive. At Vespers the Rev. Father Richards, of Lincoln, preached an impressive discourse on ' Faith ' to a largo congregation. A special Mass will be celebrated each morning at nine o'clock, that on the concluding day (Wednesday) is to be a Pontifical High Mass. The Rev. Father Cooney (L\ttelton) occupies the pulpit on Monday evening, the Rev. Father Hyland (Rangiora) on Tuesday, and the Rev. Dr. Kennedy (Akaroa) on Wednesday. There will be devotions and Benediction of the Blessed Sacrament each evening, and adequate facilities offered for compliance with paschal duties. The devotion of the Forty Hours' Adoration was commenced on Sunday last in the Church of the Holy Name, Ashburton. The rector, the Very Rev. Father O'Donnell, is to be assisted during the period by the Very Rev. Dean Bowers (Geraldine), Rev. Father Hyland (Rangiora), and Rev. Father O'Connell (Pro-Cathedral). Whilst on an episcopal visitation to Akaroa his Lordship the Bishop was mot on arrival at Barry's Bay by a number of parishioners,- who had proceeded there by steam launch. When his Lordship reached the presbytery an address of welcome was read to him by Mr. F. Narbey, j'unr. The Sacrament of Confirmation was administered after the 11 o'clock Mass on the following Sunday, and in the afternoon his Lordship visited the Sunday school and sodalities. The Bishop celebrated Ma"s on Monday morning, visited the parish school, and later on in the day left on his return to Chi istchurch. During the visitation £65 was subscribed towards tho Cathedral building fund.