INTERCOLONIAL

New Zealand Tablet, Volume XXXI, Issue 29, 16 July 1903, Page 31

INTERCOLONIAL

At a conference on public morals in Sydney last week appalling statements were made as to the extent of the immorality at the present time, especially amongst young girls. Resolutions were passed for comprehensively dealing with the evil and these will be presented to Parliament with a view to legislation.. On July 1 eight priests left Sydney on a visit to the South Sea Islands : Rev. Father Roche (Muswellbrook), Rev. Father O'Flynn (Newcastle), Rev. P. Murphy (formerly of Merewether, but now on leave), Very Rev. Father Bertreux, S.M., of New South Wales, and the Rev. Fathers L. Martin, E. O'Brien, M'Carthy, and Cary, of Victoria. His Grace the Archbishop of Melbourne has made the following clerical changes in the archdiocese : Rev. P J. Fitzgerald, from St. Brigid's, North Fitzroy, to St. Mary's, Geelong ; Rev. W. B. Power, from St. Mary's, Pandenong, to North Fitzroy ; Rev. J. Collins, from Geelong to St. Ambrose's, Woodend ; Rev. M. Ryan, from Woodend to Dandenong. On June 24 the parishioners of the Rev. E. J. Luby, Brunswick, Melbourne, entertained the rev. gentleman ancr presented him with an address and a purse of 150 sovereigns in celebration of his silver sacerdotal jubilee. There was a large and representative gathering. Mr. W. Rose, J 1., who presided, made the presentation on behalf of the parishioners. The Rev. Father F. J. Roche, who has labored uninterrupted] v for the last 16 yeai s in the diocese of Maitland, the last se\en of which ha\e been spent in Muswellbrook, where, throughout the district, many schools ami churches stand as monuments to his zeal and energy, was made the recipient, prior to his departure on a holiday visit to some of the islands of the Pacific, of an address and purse of over 80 sovereigns. At a committee meeting of the St. Vincent de Paul Society, Melbourne, it was decided to adjourn out of respect to the memory of the late Archdeacon Slattery, who was a generous benefactor of the Society. He always conti lbuted <LLOO per annum, and sometimes more, in lact, whenever he obtained a bequest he generally .shared it with St. Vincent de Paul Society. Deep and heartfelt expiessions of regret were maniiested by all the membeis foi the loss of one whose love and s.v mpathy lor the poor and afflicted were ever in leadmess to relieve and comfort those in distiess. When Mr. J. G. Duffy, M L.A., was addressing an election meeting in Seymour about 17 years ago, he was asked by Mr. T. Bolton, a local butcher, if ho would favor giving a bonus to the parents of large families. Mr. Pudy leplied that he v\ould, and jocularly added that, should Mr. Bolton ever become the father of 20 children, he would, n i.nable to induce the Government to give him a bonus, piesent him with one out of his own pocket As years i oiled on, Mr. l'.olton's twentieth child aniveci, and when Mi Bufly was in Sejmour recently attending a social lunction, Mr Bolton Reminded him ol bis pi omi.se, and the other da\ he received a handsome silvei-plated me f i om Mr Dully The Nursing Sisteis of the Little Company of Mary are established m South Austialia (writes the Sidney eonespondent of the Adelaide 'Southern Cross'),' anil you will, theieioie be lnteicsted in the annual meeting of the subset ibers to then- beautiful hospital at J <-w ishani, S>(lncv 'I he meeting was held under the presidency ol the Goveinoi and there was a laige and distinguished £ath"iii)i: r l he Cardinal deliveied an addiess desci ibing and eulogising the woi k of the Sisteis '\ ho State Governor (Sn llaiiv Kawson) also paid a tubule to the Sisteis Ihe collection amounted to 4:1. 1 D r \hc Sisteis have won the h.'.uts ol the people of all denominations M h<> l!e\ I>r Porter, a Baptist clergyman know n foi his ant i-Cal ho! ic pi c mclice, was a piomment figure at the meeting, and among the tionat ions receiv ed during tho year was £XX) fiom a l'rotostant gentleman The thionueil lonaniMtion in St Mary's Chinch, Geelong, dining the obsequies of the late Archdeacon Slatteiv was uiouil lor oiiMdi i able emotion when his Grace the Aichlushop m the midst oi his delivery ot the fineral oiatmn <hgii<-si<! to nad a letter which' he had received that <lav fiom one ol the many who had been assisted hv the deceased pi lest The w i itcr proceeded to say 'If ever theie w.is a true Chiisti.'ii on this earth, it was this man (the Ai chdeacoi') Sop c 1(> >eais ago 1 was m veiv Lreat distiess. ;uml sonieliovv I felt impelled to wute to the \rch(leacon, though I had never seen him Next evening- when 1 op< ned niv door, 1 found a letter, which contained a cheque lor £ft In the letter the Archdeacon soul his dutus prevented him from being able to get employment Tor people, but at the same time he would help me in oider that 1 miirht, be the better enabled to help niv self He concluded by advising me to put my trust in God Although a bit of a sceptic in religious matters, the Litter came ;i.s .such a surprise that in<-tmcl iv ely 1 dropped on my knees to offer a prayer for niv benefactor and for niv sell 1 mention this so tha< you niiiv fully realise what a man he was ' The Archde. (<m died practically penniless Tangible proof of the hob! he hnd on all classes wins evinced on the (lay of the announcement of his death when a meeting of a represi ntat n c (hniader wws held in Geelong ami the sum of ,C:UH) subscubed towards erecting a mortuary chapel in the local eewoteiv to peipetuatc his mejnoiy. The total cost, £500, has now been fully subscribed.