DEMISE OF FATHER COSTELLO.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1618, 9 December 1912, Page 7

DEMISE OF FATHER COSTELLO.

OTHER PARTICULARS.

OF PALMEHSTON. DISCOVERED DEAD IN BED. The Roman Catholic clergy of the Wellington diocese has sustained another severe loss by the death on Saturday of the Rev. Father Costello, parish priest at PalmoTston North, who was found dead in his bed at 4.30 'p.m. on Saturday. It appears that the Very Rev. Deans O'Shea and Holley, who were- passing through Palmerston North from Wanganui to Pahiatua, called at the residence of Father Costello to pay their respects. The housekeeper informed them that Father Costello had not been well, and then proceeding up to his room to inform him of the call, found- him dead in his bed. The sad discovery naturally gave the housekeeper and the visiting clergy a severe shock, as it was never suspected by anyone that he was even seriously ill. It appears that the deceased priest had been seized with influenza on Thursday last, but beyond a slight feverishness and depression oaused by the ailment, there was apparently nothing of a serious nature to be apprehended. On Friday he was visited by Bishop Grimes, of Christchurch, who advised him to call in a doctor, and it is understood that he was attended by a medical man on Saturday morning, still without discovery of any-, thing serious. It is supposed that the attack of influenza affected the heart, and that heart failure ensued. The Eev. Father Costello was well known in several parts of the Dominion. He came out from Ireland over a quarter of a century ago, and was for some time statioineu in the Auckland district. In the early 'nineties he was attached to the Thorndon parish; with the Hev. Fathers Dawson ondO'Mcara and had also officiated as parish priest at Westport and Marton. He had been at Palmerston for about six'years. The deceased was about 55 years of age. -. A touching reference to Ms death was made at the Basilica yesterday morning by the Rev. Father Hickson. '

Palmerston, December 8. The late Fatter Costelio was educated at the Catholic College of Innis, County Clare, -under Archbishop Erington, and was ordained by t.ho Bishop of Killaloa. Under medical advice he came to New Zealand as curate, under Bishop Luck, of Auckland. His first mission was Pukekohe, and afterwards he was administrator of St. Patrick's Cathedral, Auckland. Ho travelled in South America and Ireland in aid of the church funds, and while in Ireland suffered from a violent fever, and was ordered to return to New Zealand. He was appointed to Gisborno, and later was assistant priest at Wellington, and also at Greymoutk and ilarton, and finally at Palmerston, where he had successfully launched the schemo to build the new St. Patrick's College. He was exceedingly popular, especially with the young. "The funeral takes place on. Tuesday. , .