HIBERNIAN AUSTRALASIAN CATHOLIC BENEFIT SOCIETY.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume IV, Issue 172, 14 July 1876, Page 14

HIBERNIAN AUSTRALASIAN CATHOLIC BENEFIT SOCIETY.

f rcZiZpry [To the Editor of the New Zealand Tablet.] Sib> — Since the funeral procession of the late lamented and much respected Father Norris, which took place on a Sunday in this city, when, exclusive of the general public, the members of the Grahamstown, Auckland, Onehunga, and Otahuhu Branches turned out in their splendid regalia, a more respectable and numerous concourse of friends have not followed the remains of a citizen to his last resting place, than was witnessed on last Sunday, the 25th inst., at the funeral of the late Michael Lynch, proprietor of the Clanricarde Hotel. The deceased was a member of the Auckland Branch of the above society, and the members to the number of 170, in craped regalia, followed the remains of their late brother to the Eoman Catholic Cemetery in Symonds-street. There were also in the procession the members of the Licensed Victuallers Association, of which the late Mr. Lynch was a member, and between 400 and 500 of the general public, besides a number of mourning carriages and. friends on horse back. The late Mr. Lynch was very much respected in this city, as the numbers present at the funeral on last Sunday fully testified; he was also well and respectably known on the "West Coast goldfields. Sir, it is a matter of general remark by many liberal and fair minded members of the other denomination in this city, how nobly the members of the Auckland Branch responded to the call of attending the funeral of a departed brother, besides the other friendly kindred societies of Auckland. Indeed, it was a most imposing sight to see the members marching two and two, with their green sashes, the mottoes of which were craped, and the past, and present officers of the Branch wearing the collars of their respective offices in deep crape also. lam aware that No. 73 Branch of your own city, is in full working order, and numerically and financially speaking is in a sound and prosperous condition ; but the Auckland Branch, considering the various changes of its members to other districts, and though not yet three yeais established, has now about 140 financial members, and is presided over by a president and other subordinate officers, who are working together in unity and brotherly love, and I have no doubt but that ere long the Auckland Branch will far eclipse any other Branch in the colony — the Dunedin Branch excepted. I may also state that No. 81, Auckland Branch, is very fortunate, in the scale of mortality, by having only two deaths in the space of three years. On another occasion I may have to trespass on the space in the columns of your well conducted paper, as to the numerical strength and financial position of the Auckland Branch, &c. — I am, &c, Auckland, June 26, 1876. T. J. F.