OBITUARY

Wairarapa Times-Age, 12 October 1943, Page 2

OBITUARY

THE RT. REV. M. J. BRODIE. ROMAN CATHOLIC BISHOP OF CHRISTCHURCH. (By Telegraoh—Press Association.) WELLINGTON, October 11. Roman Catholic bishop of Christchurch for over 27 years, the Most Rev. Dr. Matthew Joseph Brodie, died at Christchurch last night, at the age of 72. His health recently had not been very good. He was born in Coromandel in 1871, his parents having gone to the goldfields there from the West Coast and Thames. He received his early education in New Zealand, but was trained for the priesthood at Manly College, Sydney. He was ordained by Bishop Lenihan at St. Patrick’s Cathedral, Auckland, in 1897. For some years he officiated at St. Benedict’s, Auckland, and then at the Bavarian settlement of Puhoi, North Auckland. Next he became priest in charge at Waihi, where he remained for a long period, in the course of which he served as a member of the Hospital and Charitable Aid Board. Returning to Auckland, he was in emerge of the parish of Parnell, and was appointed administrator of St. Patrick’s Cathedral and Vicar-General of the Auckland diocese. He was in office in Auckland when Bishop Grimes, the Roman Catholic Bishop of Christchurch, died in 1915, and towards the end of that year Dr. Brodie was appointed to the vacant see. His consecration and induction as bishop were carried out in February of the following year by the papal delegate to Australia. Archbishop Cerretti. In February, 1941, to mark the completion of 25 years as bishop—the first occasion of the kind for a New Zealandborn bishop — celebrations extending over three days took placb in Christchurch. Dr. Brodie received the congratulations of the Pope and had conferred upon him the dignity of BisiopAssistant to the Papal Throne. In 1922 Bishop Brodie paid a visit to Rome, and also travelled extensively on the Continent and in the British Isles. A Christchurch message states that the first Carmelite Nuns to come to New Zealand were introduced by Bishop Brodie to the Christchurch,Diocese. He was also responsible for "large extensions to Mt. Magdala, Lewisham Hospital. Nazareth House, and the Middleton Boys’ Farm, the opening of the White Orphanage, the new St. Bede’s College at Papanui. and the uniting of all the Sisters of Mercy in the diocese into one body. MR. C. F. M. LEACH. The death occurred suddenly at the Buchanan Home. Greytown, yesterday, of Mr. Charles Frederick Major Leach, of Dixon Street. Masterton, in his 93rd The late Nir. Leach, who was born at Plymouth. England, same to New Zealand 74 years ago. and lived for a time in Feliding and Palmerston North. He had resided in the Wairarapa for the past 40 years. In his earlier days he,was a bullock driver in the Forty Mile Bush. He was twice married, and is survived by a son. Mr. W. Leach tHawera) and two daughters. Mesdames L. Reiter (Masterton) and F. Knowles (Christchurch).

The funeral will take place tomorrow. leaving the chapel of Hyde's Funeal Service, Ltd., following a service at 3 p.m.. for the Masterton Cemetery.