DIOCESE OF AUCKLAND

New Zealand Tablet, Volume L, Issue 6, 8 February 1923, Page 31

DIOCESE OF AUCKLAND

(From our own correspondent.) February 2. The Right Rev. Dr. Liston (Coadjutor-Bishop) blessed and opened the school of the Good Shepherd parish, Dominion Road, on Sunday, January 28, after the Mass at 9 o’clock. The new presbytery was afterwards opened. Both buildings are constructed of brick, with rough-cast facing. The school, which will be conducted by the Sisters of St. Joseph, will have a roll number of nearly 200 pupils. In a brief address Bishop Liston paid a tribute to the self-sacrifice of the sisters who devoted their lives to teaching the children. They taught them that there were other things in life beside “money grubbing.” They taught them truth, obedience, reverence for God and love of their country. A debt of gratitude was owed them for the work they did. “What strikes me about the position is this, the Bishop said, “here are religious teachers doing the work of the State, and the State, which is supposed to care for everybody, gives them no support. That, to my mind, is an act of grave injustice. If the State did not take our Catholic money for the education of other children it would not be so bad.” In England, Scotland, Canada, and Holland the State gave assistance to Catholic schools. In Southern Ireland, where non-Catholics were only about one in 50, the framers of the Constitution provided that no religious body should ever be at a disadvantage compared with others as far as the schools were concerned. That was fair. If it could be done in England and Ireland,- why not in New Zealand? Things were very different here (continued the Bishop). Only last week two boys won senior national scholarships and a third Avon a junior national scholarship. The boys who won the senior national scholarships were placed second and third, so evidently the Catholic schools were able to hold their own with others. The boys were entitled to a free education and a money grant. But here was the point! They were Catholic boys and naturally their parents would like them to continue their education in Catholic schools. But the State said no, they must go to other schools. I trust some day a man with a big heart and fair vision, a man of the soil, born in New Zealand, will arise and sweep away this injustice. Our parents are paying education taxes, and have a right to say how the money shall be applied. For the sake of New Zealand justice should be done to us, and Christianity put into the schools of the country.”

On Sunday afternoon, January 28, the school and convent of the Sisters of Mercy at Avondale were opened by the Coadjutor-Bishop. Both buildings are in brick. The property of eight acres was bought last year at a cost of £2OOO, and the cost of 'the school building is £2OOO. When the school starts in February there will be an attendance of 100 children. Rev. Father Golgan is now in charge of the Avondale parish.

— The Famous Diggers During this month the “Famous Diggers/’ that popular company of cheerful entertainers (now. augmented by a number of clever and talented lady artists), who have for so long and so successfully given of their best to the people of this Dominion, are touring the West Coast towns of the North Island, and playing to the large audiences their show so well merits. The “Diggers” open at Palmerston North on Monday next, the 12th inst. on the 14th at Wanganui, and will then follow the itinerary as published in our advertising columns. For a good, clean, and artistic entertainment there is nothing better offering. at the present time .than that provided/by the “Diggers/*