THE RIGHT REV. DR. CROKE.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume II, Issue 68, 15 August 1874, Page 9

THE RIGHT REV. DR. CROKE.

Feom tho ' Cork Examiner ' we take the followin account of the reception of the Lord Bishop of Auckland at Charleville :—: — When it win announced a few days since that the Most Rev. Dr Croke, Bish op of Auckland, had arrived in Queenstown there were few, if any, amongst his many friendly acquaintances in the county, that received the intelligence with more satisfaction than the people of Charleville. They have ever regarded his lordship as their own, for it was there he spent many of tho earliest; years of his life; here he received the elementary part of his education ; here ho formed the first of those numerous friendships which it has been his happiness to make, and the friends of his youth lie hae never forgotten. Nor could they ever forget him. Helms been ever loved and respected by all creeds and classes in the town and neighborhood, for his generous genial disposition made him beloved by all who had the honor and p'easure of his acquaintance, whilst his tnlent* and abilities commanded their respoct. Some three years since, when the Supreme Pontiff had selected him as a worthy administrator of the See of Auckland, the people of Charleville heard the news with pleasurable regret. They rejoiced to see him promoted to such a distinguished position in the Church, but they regretted that the field of his future labors was to be as far distant from them as poDsible. They cherished the hope, however, of seeing him again in their midst and of giving him a warm welcome in the old town so dear to his heart. His lordship arrived in Charleville by the midday train. Young aud old congregated in the street to give him a nittiug reception. All the houses wore ornamented with festoons of dowers and evergreens, and from many of the windows banners waved bearing the motto " Cead Mille Failthe." Three arches of admirable design were erected id the Main-street on which were inscribed appropriate words of welcome. W hen the Bishop entered the town the people surrounded the carriage, and, being unprepared for such a demorstration, he could not restrain his tears. A deputation of the principal townsmen met bis lordship at the Catholic Church and Mr John Daly of the Munster Bank read the address of welcome.' His Lordship replied to the address in his usual happy manner. After sunset the town was brilliantly illuminated On Friday, about 11 o'clock, it became known that Bishop Croke was coming to Doneruile and would actually arrive about 12 o'clock. Immediately all was in for the wished-for visit, and in one hour theie were four triumphal arches erected, with mottoes in green and gold — " Cend Millo Failthe," witb a cross and harp, second, "Welcome to Ei in," cross and harp, tiiird, "Welcome to the Land of Saints," all got up like magic. The entire town was one mass of foliage. The carriers had their horses decked with boughs and flowers and even the beugars decked themselves for the occasion. In the evening great bonfires were lighted through the town, together with plenty of tar-barrels, and the fiery cross of rejoicing was taken up from the celebrated Castlepooke to the Galtee Mountains.