ARCHDIOCESS OF WELLINGTON

New Zealand Tablet, Volume XXXIII, Issue 29, 20 July 1905, Page 4

ARCHDIOCESS OF WELLING TON

(From our own correspondent.) July 15. In an article in ' L'lndej^endance Beige ' Mr. George Robertson, of the Government Life Insurance Dcpaitment, gives some information of historical interest regarding the atkmipt of the French to colonise New Zealand, and also of the progress of the Catholic Church in Canterbury. On Monday evening the members of the Catholic Young Mea's Literary Society held their usual weekly debate. The question tor discussion was : ' Should Asiatics be admitted into Austrailasia ? ' Mr. E, A . Baker. opened in the affirmative, and was opposed ]ff Mr. Dixon. An interesting discussion enfled in favor of the advocates of a policy of exclusion. The bazaar held in the Town Hall last week to provide funds for the furnishing of the Home for Chronic Invalids, recently erected in the hos-pital grounds, was a brilliant success. His Excellency the Governor paid a v isit to the f air, and graciously left at one of the stalls an order for a supply of goods to be sent to Mother Aubert, to whose nable example the existence of the present home is largely ascribed. Mother Aubert also paid a visit to the bazaar, and was warmly welcomed by the committee and stallholders. She was not allowed to depart without some comforts for the unfortunates under her care. The Bible-in-schools Referendum League is showing signs of much activity. The Town Hall has been secured for August 3, when a monster demonstration is to be held at which addresses will be delivered by clergy and laymen. The Anglican Synod, after much discussion, decided to support the League's proposals. It would appear that for the most part they would favor a denominational system, but since such does not appear possible, they consider the only course open is to advocate the introduction of Bible-teaching into the schools of the State. Bishop Wallis' remarks at the conclusion of the debate are worthy of note. He said that if they were in earnest, they must make their det sires known at the next general election, a*id not miss their opportunity then. In the course of his remarks at the Synod the Rev. C. C. Harper made certain references to the New Zealand Educational Institute, suggesting that the Institute did not represent the teachers, afriid that? the views of the la-.tter on the question of the Bible in-schools ' were not really interpreted by the Institute. The secretary of the Institute, in a brief communication to the ' Times,' cloar'y showed that the Institute was representative of the teachers, for out of 2996 adult teachei s in the Oolony 1715 were financial members of the Institute. Again in January last a coimcil of 57 teachers, representing every education district in New Zealand, debated and agreed to the following remit from the Hawse's Bay District Institute : ' That the introduction of religious instruction info the s fliool syllabus is not desirable.' From this it'is clear that the State school teachers are not in sympathy with the League's proposals, and their decision in this matter should carry much weight with all right-thinUns; men.