WELLINGTON.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume II, Issue 106, 8 May 1875, Page 8

WELLINGTON.

April 16, 1875. Since I last wrote to you several circumstances have come to pass here, which it would have been very -wrong to pass unnoticed, the more so, as most of your subscribers here keep their papers filed, the others get bound volumes at the end of the year, and they would naturally like to ; see some reference to those events which, at the time of their occurrence, they took a. deep interest in. Captain and Mrs. Sharp left on St. Patrick's Eve by the San Francisco branch mail steamer, and were accompanied to the wharf, despite the inclemency of the weather, by several of the leading citizens of Wellington, who testified their regard by many a God speed and cheers again and again repeated as the steamer left the wharf. At 11 o'clock the same morning, Mrs. Sharp was presented, at St. Joseph's School, with a beautiful address from the Catholics of Wellington, expressive of their appreciation of her "services to religion, education, suffering humanity, and a, watchful interest over the footsteps of the faltering of her sex." It was ab first intended to accompany the address with a presentation, but circumstances prevented this owing, in a great measure, to shortness of time. Charles Johnston, Esq., read the address, and during the reading thereof both Captain and Mrs. Sharp were much affected. Mrs. Sharp in replying 1 stated she had done nothing but what every Catholic was in duty bound to do. Captain Sharp said his work was simply taking a pardonable pride in "looking on" what Mrs. Sharp was doing. During the time Fathers O'Biley, Petit Jean, Kearney, and McCaughey were present. Before the proceedings terminated, Father O'Beilly announced that Charles Johnston, Esq., would, on. behalf of Mrs. Sharp, giv§ the annual Easter Monday pic-nic to the children. This event has since taken place, and was attended by about 180 children. St. Pateick's Day Was celebrated with a solemnity never before witnessed in Wellington, and so imposingly that we could scarcely hope for an improvement. Certainly his Lordship was not present, being on his visitation through the diocese at the time, but we had his sympathies. He is, in fact, " more Irish than the Irish themselves," being an Irishman by residence and sympathy, he chose St. Patrick's Day as the day on which he received the mitre, and he takes a great interest in the Hibernian Society, having become a member of our branch. We had early Mass, at 7 o'clock, celebrated by Father Kearney at the High Altar; simultaneously at the Blessed Virgin's Altar by Father Petit Jean ; and at St. Joseph's by Father Lardin. About 30 of the H.A.C.B. Society attended in their regalia, and about 20 received Holy Communion. The smallness of the number at Holy Communion was in a great measure owing perhaps to the fact that a great many of the H.A.C.B.S. members are also members of the Young Men's Society, and they were all at Holy Communion the Sunday previous. But that which was the crowning of the day, was the special service in the evening, at which the following clergymen were present : — Fathers Petit Jean, O'Eeilly, Yardin, Kearney, and M'Caughey. Father Kearney delivered one of the finest panegyrics on the life of our great Patron Saint that it has ever been my good fortune to hear. He spoke as one who knew his subject, as one who knowing was able to deliver, and knowing how to deliver, was able to impress Ms hearers. Place of birth, his slavery, his freedom and his call to the mission, his conversion of the family of his old master, his appearance before the Monarch Laeghaire at Tara, and the utterances of the arch Druid, his career through the insula sanctorum et doctortim, the deathbed scene, in which the glorious Saint said, "in futurity the fruit of his labours, and the colouring of the flock, his great grief thereat, and how through his great grief he had to withdraw his sight, how the Lord called on him to look again, and how he said the flock gradually assumed its former whiteness, and how he bestowed his episcopal benedition on those around e his bed." The Key. clergyman referred at length to the persecution whieli the Catholic Church endured for the last two hundred years, and that although the faith was planted in Ireland without a martyr's blood, it has been since nourished by the blood of thousands, and is at the present day the white flock vouchsafed to Patrick by God. Finally he exhorted his hearers to be true to that faith ; let it be their boast now, as it had been the boast of their fathers for ages past, and show by their practice of it that they were worthy of the name of Irishmen and Catholics. There were two in the church to 'whom the panegyric must bave been more than pleasing, one a brother, and the other a son to the great Saint. I allude to Father Petit Jean and Father O'Reilly, they came here more than 30 years ago on the same mission that took Patrick to Ireland, and found here "not where to lay their Lead." They have now two of the finest churches in the colonies, two schools, two convents, and are now making a noble effort to build a fitting residence for their Bishop. I may state while on this subject that the church was filled to overflowing, it was alsp on Good Friday, and throughout Holy Week. The greatest number ever seen at Holy Communion attended on Easter Sunday, both at the Cathedral, and at St. Mary's I have not ascertained the exact number, but it was surprisingly large. The people of Arrowtown have acquired the services of a good zealous Catholic teacher from here in Mr. Horan, who has just left with excellent testimonials from the clergy. The Hibernian Society, and the Catholic Young Men's Society have presented him with, an address and testimonial. At the last meeting of the Hibernian Society a circular (copy of which has already appeared in proceedings of Dunedin branch published in Tabl/Et) was received from Dunedin Branch, and on the motion of Brother Harley, seconded by Brother Breen, a resolution to the following effect was unanimously agreed to ; "That we cordially agree with the objects of the Circular, and that the Secretary be requested to reply to this effect."