NAPIER.

Thames Star, Volume XV, Issue 4905, 29 September 1884, Page 2

NAPIER.

This day

The Very Keyerend Father Forest died yesterday morning. The deceased gentleman, wba was in his 80th year, had been ailing for several years, but had always succeeded in performing his priestly duties until about six months ago, when he became completely incapacitated. Father Forest, who was a very old colonist, was born at Lyons, France, in 1804, was ordained a priest in 1830, and was one of the original founders of the Marist Order in 1834. He left London for New Zealand on the 9th of November, 1811, the salute announcing the birth of the Prince of Wales boing fired as the London packet was leaving the docks. Father Forest arrived at Wellington in April, 1842, accompanied by the Rev. Fathers Beignier (Meanee), Lampila (Kaikoura), and other Catholic missionaries. After some delays the party reached the Bay of Islands, and Father Forest was then appointed to the charge of the Auckland district,. where he re mained until 1859. During his stay in Auckland he built the Church of St. Patrick, the present Cathedral. On the appointment of Father Viard (afterwards Bishop) to the charge of Wellington district, Father Forest accompanied him, and remained in Wellington till 1868, when he was appointed parish priest of Napier, where (with the exception of two short periods, when he was administering the diocese lifter Bishop Yiard's death) he remained till his death yesterday. The remains of the deceased gentleman will be interred on Wednesday afternoon.