Commonwealth Notes

New Zealand Tablet, 20 October 1921, Page 30

Commonwealth Notes

NEW SOUTH WALES. . There 'have been many historic ceremonies associated with the onward march of Catholicity in the flourishing diocese of Armidale, and the celebrations which marked the official opening of the new orphanage on Sunday stand high among them (says the Catholic Press, for October 6). For many years one of the dearest ambitions of the venerable Bishop of Armidale (Right Rev. Dr. O'Connor) has been the • establishment of an orphanage to supply the present and future needs of the whole of his great diocese. The successful accomplishment of that noble undertaking might well be recorded as the crowning achievement of Dr. O'Connor's life-work. The erection of the institution was a huge task. Seventeen thousand pounds was the sum required to meet the expense. The foundations were laid .less than two years ago, and on Sunday last, at the conclusion of the great meeting, his Lordship experienced the joy of announcing .< that the whole of the required amount was in hand, and with a margin to spare. The scene of enthusiasm that followed this gratifying announcement will not readily be forgotten by those who witnessed it. His Excellency the Apostolic Delegate (Most Rev. Dr. Cattaneo) journeyed from Sydney to officiate at the opening. He was accompanied by his Grace Archbishop Redwood (Wellington, N.Z.), Right Rev. Dr. Dwyer (Bishop of Wagga Wagga), Right Rev. Dr. O'Farrell (Bishop of Bathurst), and Rev. Dr. Farrelly (secretary to the Apostolic Delegation). At Maitland the disinguished party was joined by the Bishop, Right Rev. Dr. P. V. Dwyer. A grand procession had been arranged to be held through the streets of Armidale on the arrival of his Excellency, but, unfortunately, owing to a fierce rain storm, and the fact that the train was some hours late, the programme was disorganised to some extent. VICTORIA. On a recent Sunday afternoon Ms Grace Archbishop Mannix laid the foundation-stone of a new school, which will also be used as a church on Sundays:, in West Footscray. There were several thousand people present. Referring to the remarks of the Rev. Father J. P. Carney (parish priest) regarding the refusal of the Mayor and the council to allow a procession of the H.A.C.B. Society, Irish National Forresters, and Catholic Young Men societies to escort Archbishop Mannix from the railway station to the new school, Dr. Mannix said that while he was listening to Father Carney he was looking at the two flags and he noticed that one of the flags was floating very proudly to the breeze, and that the other was hanging very limp. He was wondering what was the cause? That flag must be ashamed of the Mayor of Footscray. (Laughter and applause.) He had no doubt that the Mayor was a very excellent man, but, unfortunately, he (Dr. Mannix) had not the (pleasure of knowing anything i about him. His action was only a misapprehension. The Mayor did not advert to the fact that the Catholic people of Footscray, like those of other parishes, had put up that school whilst they contributed to the cost of the education of the Mayor's children, if he had any, and to the education of the councillors' children of Footscray. The Mayor forgot that Catholics all over Australia were paying for the education of other people's children in the State schools. , The Catholic people of Footscray were building the new school at a cost of £6OOO, without one penny of expense to the Mayor, who must have forgotten the obligation he was under to the people of the Catholic Church in Footscray. They had no ill-will to the Mayor. Those small people Catholics could afford to disregard. That'was one of the largest meetings he had attended, and the fact that the people Had come in such large numbers that afternoon should make it evident to the Mayor of Footscray that he should think twice before he took up such an attitude again. (Applause.)" That demonstration was made not only by Catholics, but by many non-Catholics. On the motion or ex-Councillor Safe, a. vote of censure was passed on the Mayor and councillors of Footscray.

Touching on Irish affairs while addressing a recent gathering, his Grace Archbishop Mannix said: The kernel

of the trouble in Ireland is that the Irish people consider that they have a right to their own place among' the nations of the world, and that place is outside the British Empire. Mr. Lloyd George, on the other hand, says that they may have a right to some place on the map of the world, but' it is within the British Empire. That is the real question at issue between Mr. Lloyd George and President de Valera. Ido not say what the issue of the negotiations will be if both enter the council chamber without surrendering their own point of view in advance, but I think both should enter the' council chamber unpledged and untrammelled, and hammer out the peace for which both countries are longing. As President de Valera does not ask Mr. Lloyd George to surrender his point of view in advance, so Mr. Lloyd George should not ask President de Valera to surrender his principles. I hope Mr. Lloyd George will be prepared to follow President de Valera's example. Even the London Times has given Mr. Lloyd George a salutary hint, and told him that the time has icome to give up discussing technicalities and make peace.. It is Mr. Lloyd George's business, to satisfy President de Valera and the Irish people. I cannot say if he will be able to induce the Irish people to accept;a place within the British Empire, but I am certain that he will not win the acceptance of the Irish people to a place in the Empire by any offer that has yet been publicly made. Mr. Lloyd George should enter the conference and put his cards on the table and it would then rest with President de Valera to say if he is satisfied, or not. All we can do is to hope and pray that the truce will continue, and that a real and lasting peace will be the outcome of the negotiations. (Applause.) QUEENSLAND. • The last Sunday in September was a distinctly memorable one in the history of the Catholic community of Rockhampton, for that day witnessed the realisation of a longfelt wantthe opening of a convent boarders' residence, costing some thousands of pounds, in the Range Convent grounds. The ceremony performed by Bishop Shiel, assisted by Archbishop Duhig of Brisbane, and Dr. Dwyer, Bishop of Wagga Wagga, attracted an enormous crowd. It was with sheer delight that everybody inspected the new premises, which will give much-needed accommodation, not only for the boarders, but also for the Sisters of Mercy, who', for want of room, have been carrying on their work under much difficulty. The residence is, perhaps, the finest of its kind in Queensland, and subscriptions, from 5s to £IOO, poured in, until the total reached £I4OO, which is a good achievement for Rockhampton, coming on top of £I6OO subscribed at the blessing of the foundationstone by Dr., Duhig, in the absence of Bishop Shiel abroad, last year. Bishop Shiel was intensely delighted with the way in which the Catholic people recognised the valuable work of the Sisters in the cause of education in Rockhampton, as was also his Grace, who is always highly pleased to be back in Rockhampton . amongst so many friends while Dr. Dwyer seemed to be in his element, although 1500 miles away from his own people. With events still fresh in-their minds, the large crowd gave the Bishop of Wagga Wagga a very flattering reception, breaking into cheers as his Lordship, after their own beloved Bishop and Archbishop, rose to speak. Always interesting on any subject, especially when the subject is Catholic education, Archbishop Duhig's speech was followed with the closest attention. His Grace paid a well-deserved tribute to the Sisters of Mercy as the pioneer religious Order in Australia, and a very striking tribute to the value of the'' education imparted at the Convent High School in Rockhampton.