ARRIVAL OF THE RIGHT REV. DR MORAN.

Tuapeka Times, Volume III, Issue 159, 23 February 1871, Page 5

ARRIVAL OF THE RIGHT REV. DR MORAN.

The recently-created Roman Catholic Bishop of Dnnedin, the Right Rev. Dr. Moran, whose amval has for some time been looked forward to with great intreest by the Catholic body, arrived with his suite — comprising 10 nuns of the Dominican order, and the Rev. Father Coleman — on Saturday morning, a number of ladies and gentlemen met at the Octagon, and proceeded overland in coaches and buggies to await his arrival. Having arrived at the port, the cavalcade drew up in

George street, lining the street from Mr.. Kettle's store to the BankofOtago, making quite a lively and imposing appearance. A large number of residents turned out on the occasion, and several Catholics had interviews with the sisters and the rev. gentlemen before a start was made. In the first and second carriages, which were close, were four sisters in each, followed by an open barouche, with two sisters and two ladies from Dunedin. Mr. Griffen and others followed in buggies and pairs until the last, with the reverend gentlemen previously named brought up the rear, with Dr. O'Donoghue and another rider, whose name we were unable to obtain, riding on each side of the carriage. In this order the whole drove up from Port towards town, where they weie met by a number of citizens, who followed the procession to the Catholic Church. After the usual reception given to a Bishop entering on the charge of his Diocese, including the singing of the Te Deum and other religious services, the Very Rev. Father Moreau presented an address on behalf of himself and fullow-priosts within the new Diocese, and to which His Lordship replied in fitting terms. The Bishop and party proceeded to the schoolroom, where lie received the addresses of the various bodies of his flock. Mr. J. Griffen then pvesented the following addresses from the city congregation :—: — To the Eight Reverend Dr. Moran, Catholic Bishop of Dunedin. May it please your Lordship — "We. the Catholics of Dunedin, beg to offer your Lordship a respectful and most cordial welcome on your arrival amongst us, to congratulate you on the happy termination of a long voyage, and to express our heartfelt gratification and pride that a dignitary of such eminence in the Church should have been appointed to the see o? Duni'din. Though far removed from the field of your spiritual labours, we are not ignorant of the great services you have rendered to religion, your zealous and successful exerlions in promoting the spiritual welfare of those committed to your charge may well convey to us the assurance that the most beneficial results must attend your Lordship's ministrations here. By d utif ul obedience to your teaching, and faithful compliance with your directions, we may reasonably expect great moral advantage to ourselves and our children, and we sincerely hope that you may before long, in our religious and moral advancement, witness the qualifying effect of your Lordship's teaching. That the Almighty, by granting you health and length of yeaxs, may enable you to continue long the able •expounder of his word, the guide and the g'laidian of his people, and that your devotion to His service may meet its reward in the next life, is, we would be^ your Lordship to believe, our earnest prayer.

We hope your Lordship will allow us,, through you, to offer a most respectful welcome to the religious ladies who accompany you. We would endeavour to convey our deep sense of the blessing they bring to the Catholic community here, convinced that, like her noble Sisterhood throughout the world, they will be the consolers and comforters of the poor and the afflicted, the unequalled instructors of the young, and, in the saintly simplicity of their unsullied lives, an impressive example to all.

[Here follow the signatures of the Committee, on behalf of the Congregation .]

Addresses were also p resented by tlie Rev. Father Norris on behalf of the Catholics in the districts of Oamaru. and Mount Ida ; by Mr. Wood, from the Catholic Young Men's Society, welcoming the arrival of His Lordship. The Bishop snifablv replied to the various addrcasei, but begged to be excused from goino; into details till a future day, as he had only just arrived after a long sea voyage. A dejeuner was prepared by the reception committee at the Presbytery for his Lordship and party.