ARCHDIOCESE OF WELLINGTON

New Zealand Tablet, Volume XXXIII, Issue 31, 3 August 1905, Page 5

ARCHDIOCESE OF WELLINGTON

(From our own correspondent.)

July 29. A series of sermons on Christian Doctrine is being delivered e\ cry Sunday e\ening in the \arious parishes of the city. A meeting vva<- held on Tuesday e\ ening to consider arrangements for a monster social in aid of the schools of Te Aro parish. It is likely that the Town Hall will he 'secured for the occasion. During the week Mr. S. J. Moran, LL.B., was admitted as barrister and solicitor of the Supreme Court of New Zealand, on the motion of Mr. A. H. Casey, before his Honor Mr. Justice Cooper. Mr. Moran left on Tuesday for StratforS, to enter the firm of Messrs. Malonc, McVeagh, and Anderson. He carries with him the best wishes' of a large circle of friends for success in the profession he has chosen. On Sunday, August 6,, the new organ at the Sacred Heart Basilica will be formally opened. The, services of Mr. Cyril Towsey have been secured for the occasion,

and a fiine sacred concert has "been arranged for the evening, when a special discourse on music wil) be delivefled by his Grace the Archbishop. The organ is the finest of its kind here. It is constructed on the most modern improved tubular pneumatic principle. The contract) price for the erection of the organ, together with the electric motor and generators,, was £1100. The author-* ities in the Thorndon parish are to be commended for this undertaking, and the parishioners are to be con-» gratulated on their gcod fortune in having sudh a splendid organ. On Sunday week next the people will have an opportunity of judging for themselves, and it is of course likely that the accommodation of the Basilica will be found wanting on the occasion. The members of the Catholic Young Men's Literary and Debating Society entertained the executive of the Wellington Debating Societies' Union in St. Patrick's Hall on Mo'ndiay eveninig. The visitors were welcomed by Mr. A. H. Casey, who presided, in the absence of tha Rev. Father Kimbell, S.M. The first part of the even-* ing was devoted to a discussion as to the advisability of women entering parliament. The affirmative side ol the question was opened by Mr. J. Qtikilan, supported by Messrs. W, Ilealy and H. McKeowen. The opposition was led by Mr. C. Gamble, who had with )him Messrs. J. P. McGowan and Dixon. The debate was responsible for a great deal of amusement, and the speakers concerned are to be congratulated on the manner in which they dealt with the subject On the vote of the audience it was decidedi that women should not entef parliament. At the conclusion of the debate a musical j rogramnie was* provided, to which items were contri-> buted by Messrs. E. J. Healy, R. Sievers, T. F. Leihy, J. O'S.ullivan, A. McDonaldj and C. Gamble. The accompaniments in each case were tastefully played by Miss Lawless. An interesting exhibition, of sleigh't-of-hand tricks was given by Mr. Raymond. During the evening Mr. H. P. Richmond, a vice-president of the Union, delivered a short address on the objects sought •by a union of the various city societies, and the bene-* fits conferred by such societies. The members of the committee thoughtfully provided refreshments, and a most cmoyable evening was brought to a close, shortly before eleven o'clock. Mr. Morgan, of St. Peter's Club, briefly expressed the tTianks of the executive of the Union for the plea sing entertainment afforded in their honor. It is surprisingly easy for some people to remain ig-» norant of matters of common knowledge. An instance of this was furnished "by the Rev. Mr. Blamires at the last meeting of the self-styled Council of Churches. The reverend gentleman informed the Council that he had heard from a reliable source that the Catholic children of a certain suburb were carried on the railway free of charge to school, while Protestant children were refused, such a concession. As this matter has been made the subject of a question by Mr. Fisher in the House, it may be well to see what the real position is. The explanation of the matter is to be found on page 131 of the ordinary Railway Time Table for August, published for public information. Regulation No. 17 is as follows ■ — ' Free School Season Tickets. '17. Free second-class quarterly tickets may be issued to school-children not over fifteen years of age,— ' (a) To those attending the Government primary schools, from railway-stations where there is no primary school in the vicinity, and only to the! station in the vicinity of the nearest primary) school ; 1 (b) To those attending private schools for primary education.' Under the heading ' b ' come our Catholic scholars. Sup j posing for sake of example that a Catholic child resi-' ded at Kaiwarra. Such child in the absence of a Cath-« olic school at Kaiwarra would under the regulatiom b 6 entitled to a free pass to the Catholic schools in Wei' linqton. This concession would also apply to a child of a Pnotestant, desirous of attending a private school, but would not be extended to one desirous of attending a public school in the city. The regulation has been in existence for many years, but our friends, who com^ prise the Council of Churches, are rather eager in their desire to stir up religious feeling. More careful enquiry beforehand would prevent many discomfitures such as have befallen the reverend gentleman on this occasion-j