NEW ZEALAND: GENERAL

New Zealand Tablet, Volume XXXI, Issue 34, 20 August 1903, Page 19

NEW ZEALAND: GENERAL

On Sunday, June 20, the Most Rev. Dr. Fennelly, Archbishop of Cashel, ordained to the priesthood for the archdiocese of Wellington, t the Rev. James McManus a student of St. Patrick's College, Thurles. There are nearly 1300 telephone exchange connections in Christchurch, 1420 in Dunedin, 1554 in Auckland and over 1900 in Wellington, or about one for every 35 persons in the aggregate population of these centres.

Chief-detective Campbell has, at his own request been transferred from Dunedin to Greymouth. He will be succeeded in Dunedin by Detective Herbert, of Christchurch.

Mr. C. J. Pharazyn, of Wellington, who wa^ in his 101st -year died on Sunday night. He landed in Wellington in 1841, and had lived there practically ever since*. He held a seat in the Legislative Council from 1869 to 1885, when his son succeeded him. He celebrated his hundredth birthday in October last.. Among the students who were ordained recently by the Most Rev. Dr. Foley, Bishop ofKildare and Leighhn, at Carlow College, were the following for New Zealand :— Priesthood, Rev. Timothy Creed, Christchurch ; deaconship, Rev. Ferdinand Deighman, Auckland ; minor orders, Messrs. Jeremiah Cahill and William Murphy, Auckland.

At the end of June the population (exclusive of Maoris) was 818,832, consisting of 432,572 males and 386,260 females. This represents a net increase of 3990 since March 1. There were 5239 births during the three months and 2954 deaths, and 6440 arrivals against 5644 departures. Adding the Maori population (as per 1901 census), 43,143, and the population of Cook Islands and the other islands in the Pacific which were annexed in 1901— namely, 12,292— the total estimated population of the Colony reaches 874,267.

We beg to acknowledge receipt of a copy of ' Our Alma Mater,' a magazine edited by the students of St. Ignatius's College, Riverview, Sydney. )This school annual has always occupied a very high position among similar publications and Jwe are pleased to see that the present issue not alone maintains that standard but even exceeds it . The contents are varied and interesting, and apart from the records of school happenings peculiar to such magazines there are several literary contributions of a high order of merit. ' Our Alma Mater 'is copiously illustrated, and its general turn out is highly creditable to all concerned.

Under the heading ' Ireland Abroad,' the Dublin 'Freeman's Journal,' of May 26, had a contributed article, appreciative of the life, work, and high personal character of the late Hon. Dr. Grace, M L.C. The writer pays a well-deserved tribute to the memory of Dr. Grace, and points with evident pride to his ardent Catholicism, sturdy advocacy of the rights of h s native land, and unblemished character in public and private life. The literary style and intimate knowledge of Dr. Grace's character possessed by the writer lead us to think that it was contributed by the Very Rev. 1 Dr. Watters, S.M.

An exchange reports that the trustees of the Stoke Orphanage have decided to proceed with the erection of the new building in brick. As the tenders sent in are above the estimate, the work will be proceeded with by day labor, certain portions of the work being let as subcontracts. The bricks required are to be made on the property, a brick-making plant and kiln now being erected A start will be made with the work in a month or so.