CATHOLIC AFFAIRS AT LYTTELTON.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume XIX, Issue 18, 30 January 1891, Page 13

CATHOLIC AFFAIRS AT LYTTELTON.

(From an occasional Correspondent.)

It hap now developed into a custom for Lyttelton to number amongst its New dear's Day at. Factions a baziar in aid ot Home one of 1 s religions denominations This year Father Laverty and his congregation have had their turn— and right good use they seem to nave made of it. 1 doLt know whether it is that St. .Josephs congregation cm command a better supply of those mg.edients known us soft smiles hnd winning words that can p.-nenate even the cru'-t on Ue h.art of the most hard-headed Scotchman who ever held on io a bawbee; however it i-, the result of tht ir laoours generally .« mocessful to « decree that gives them tmt place amongst the cmmuuities of 1',,,,. And who .hat has watched f.e zeal ot th» pc .pie a-d their priest for the preceding si\ or c »ht months colleciu g fundn, pr. paring the material, and w>,rkn g up "be many b.Mut.lul art.cl.-H »hie. th y di^play^d-maoy of Hum w,,ks ofartof noiinannu-iit— butwmM cay ihty deserved succ^s ? At the best of times they work uqder a disadvantage as compared with

the wealthier co 'grvgatinns around them, but this year they h<w« just paf-spd through has been a peculiarly distressing one. Th • strike, which dieorganis-d things in so tnary places, was felt witu keen severi'y in Lyttelton, and amongst no section of the p«opl j more so, nor as much, as in tbe Catholic, whhh numbers so many o' thp sons of toil amongst its congregation. To have carried out theiproject. then, showed a ronu heait in their c«iu»e, aad they are to be congratulated upon th-ir rewaid of having taken the reipectabh amount of £30*. To hnve ensured this, trY organisers, with Father Laveny mutt have woiked bard wnile it was open in keeping up the supply f f huipy vie ims, on whom the ladies— <»nd they were numerous ; I don't know all their names— were to ply their gentle art. The stalls were pre-ided over— No. 1, by Misses O'Brien and Mabar ; No. 2, Mesdampß O'Connell, Hariiairton, and Kenny ; No. A. Mesdarnes Harron. Moynihao, and Sctmotich ; No. 4, Mesdames Kirhy, Devereux, and Lober Were I skilled in the art of describing shade, colour, style, etc., I should have bal a very good opportunity in tbe variety of pretty and tasteful dresses which were to be seen flitting to and fro, giving a cheerful and pleasant aspect to the large throng which crowded the fancy fair, and making stern-looking fellows break their resolve to spend do more as often as they made it and cut with another shilling and look pleasant. I f^ncy it some of the sour-faced f Iks who air their little virtues and ample bigotry in denouncing brzaars and art-unions would only allow themselves to be a little human and witness the pleasant operation of extracting a shilling for a raffle, an 1 then follow with their mmd's eye the direction of that khilling— the uses to which it is put, building and maintaining churches amongst poor congregations, keepmy amongst them a minister of religion who would give consolation in their time of sickness, or whose sympathy could lignten the sorrow of the prematurely old age of over k- v " ° r> a 2 ain « helpiDg to keep open the doors of their Bcbool which for conscience sake; they promised to maintain from their scanty earnings, to educate children to be good citizens of a State which rewards their zeal by doubly taxing them to educate other peoples' children. The Catholics of Lyttelton in the matter of school- work htTe made noble efforts in the past, and they row have what they long looked for, a religious body— the Sisters of Bt. Joseph— to train and educate theirchildren. That they a D pn.ciate this blessing is evidenced by the manner in which they rolled up for the New Year's Day feU. Their expenses will bb t >, I believe, comparatively small ; and though I cmnot, as I don't know them, fiom a hasty passing through, chronicle the names of th<- men who worked for that end, yet I could not help noticing the untiring txeitions of Mr. M. O'Connell, who acted, 1 believe, as peer tary to ibtt occasion. I must not forget to mention that Father Laverty rt cognises, ai,d is grateful for the gen.rous matur.nl a-sistance h- received from large numbers outsidu his own congregation. Indeed. L\ tv lt>.n is remarkable for the absence of sectarian bus o . sucn occasions, and well followed the le»d of its worthy Niavorand Mis. Milsom, who opeutd the Bazaar. We do n>c foiget Mi. Mils- m a h .vmg had the courage of his c invidious in tiie preser cc of an opiosition which made other people taper off from their promises, ami bend tbe knte to bigotry 1 refer to the occaaiou of Mr 'Ihomas Esmond ' 8 vwt, and the tak.ng ot tbe chair at .he Irish di-lfga es'ine-ting.