BISHOP REDWOOD’S VISIT.

Kumara Times, Issue 2947, 10 April 1886, Page 2

BISHOP REDWOOD’S VISIT.

ST. PATRICK’S SCHOOL. Shortly after ten o’clock yesterday morning, his Lordship Bishop Redwood, of Wellington, who is on a visit to this part of his diocese, paid a visit to St. Pati ick s School. His Lordship was accompanied by the Rev. Fathers Walshe and Brown, and, after two or three introductions, took his seat at a table. On the word being given, Miss Maggie Hannan, accompanied by two little girls, each bearing a small bouquet, stopped up to the table, and the elder, named, read the following address to his Lordship : Address of the Pupils of St, Patrick’s School to his Lordship Dr. Redwood, Bishop op Wellington. May it please your Lordship— It is with feelings of the most intense happiness that we, the pupils of St. Patrick’s School, hail the advent of this yonr Lordship’s visit to Kmnara. We beg to assure your Lordship of oar appreciation of your untiring zeal in the cause of Christian education and to thank you for providing us with the good and pious fathers our priests, through whoso energy and perseverance we, as you behold to-day, possess a school-room, furniture, and teachers second to none in this part of vour We have no doubt that your Lordship’s present visit will further ■stimulate education amongst us, and foitify, not only those who are prepared to receive the Holy Sacrament of Confirmation at your Lordship’s hands, but those of the whole school in the tenets of our holy religion. In conclusion, we beg to assure your Lordship of our devotion and attachment to our Holy Father the Pope, whom you so worthily represent; and for the purpose of strengthening us in that direction, as we grow up, we humbly ask your Lordship’s blessing, (signed on behalf of the pupils)— Maggie Hannan, Florence Davies, Edward Mulvihill, William Gilbert.

The address was then handed to his Lordship, and the three presented their bouquets to his reverence. The addtess, we may mention, was excellently written by Miss Mary Galbraith. “ G™ l h) ess you !” said his Lordship, His Lordship then stood up, and, addressing the scholars generally as My dear Children, said he was very grateful for their address. He was happy to S‘-e so fine a school. He admonished them to be attentive to their duties and regular in their attendance, for, he said, the best masters cannot get on well unless children come regularly to school, H e was pleased to observe the order they were in; the school was a credit to the diocese ; and it was a pleasure to the clergy and to their pa2-ent.s to see that they had a good education for after life; for they must know that they had duties to perform to man as well as to God. In a spiritual light he regarded the present system of State education as a man with only one eye; it was part of the child t en’s education left out, and put them in no condition for eternity. He hoped to see many of them at the Sacrament of Confinnaraation, as to have it administered to them it would enable them to overcome temptation in after life.

His Lordship then said he would like to hear some of the children read. The head teacher, Mr B. Haniill, then called out. a class of boys and girls, and some tluee or four in each read several sentences before the Bishop. Then one or t'.vo wen- called out to give a recitation. His Lordship expressed himself

well gratified with the general efficiency and good conduct of the children, and, after taking a vote as to whether they would like a holiday or not, which of course was given in the affirmative, left the building, and the school was closed for the rest of the day.