OBITUARY.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXXII, Issue 816, 24 February 1910, Page 2

OBITUARY.

BISHOP BENIHAN

Auckland, Feb. 22

Bishop Benihan, head of the Roman Catholic province of Auckland, was found dead in bed at WhaugareiDr. Darby, his medical attendant, states the cause of death was syncope.

The announcement of the death of Bishop Benihan was received with widespread regret. He was in the Dominion on the opening day of the Australian-Auckland cricket match. His intimate frends knew he had been suffering lately, but as usual he was jovial and hearty in manner. Many were ignorant of the fact that he had been warned by his medical adviser that his end might come at any time.

Whangarki, Feb. 22

Bishop Lenihan was on a visit to Whangarei, and was staying at the Roman Catholic Presbytery. The Bishop arrived here on Saturday from Auckland, and conducted the opening of the Convent Boarding School on Sunday and a confirmation service and mass.

Yesterday he visited Waungakaramea and held a confirmation service, and last night a social gathering in his honour was held at the Presbytery, dispersing at io. 30.

During the evening the Bishop complained of ill-health, but there was nothing to indicate that he was in such a serious state.

The Right Rev, George Michael Eenihan, Roman Catholic Bishop ot Auckland, was one of Auckland’s most familiar figures. He was a comparatively young man, being but 52. A native of London, where he was born in 1858, he was educated at the Benedictine Monastery, Ramsgate, England, and the English College, Valladolid, Spain. He was ordained in 1882, and rapidly made progress in the church. Accompanying Bishop Duck to Auckland, he became curate of St. Patrick’s Cathedral. Subsequently he held charges at the Sacred Heart, Ponsonby, and St. John’s, Parnell, being eventually appointed manager of St, Mary’s Orphanage at Ponsonby. In 1897 he succeeded Bishop Luck, and was consecrated in November of that year. In 1907 he visited Rome, and on his return in February last was welcomed by a large public gathering. The Bishop’s sudden death will be sincerely mourned, not only in Auckland, but in other parts of the Dominion, where he was esteemed.

The local school cadets numbering 45, under Captain Gabites* were entrained for the Kitchener camp at Hutt Park yesterday morning. Before leaving the school grounds the headmaster, Mr Jackson, spoke a few parting words. As the lads swung along Main Street to the tune of the bugles and drum, they made a fine spectacle and looked spic and span in their neat uniforms. At the station a large crowd of parents and friends were present to see them off. As the train moved out of the station some detonators were exploded to mark the event. The lads arrived safely at their destination last evening. They will be inspected by Bord Kitchener to-morrow and return on Saturday.