DIOCESE OF CHRISTCHURCH.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume XXVII, Issue 48, 30 November 1899, Page 6

DIOCESE OF CHRISTCHURCH.

(From our own correspondent.) November 27. The Rev. Father Coffey, of South Dunedin, is the guest of the Very Rev. Father In Menant des Chewiai9 at the Presbytery, during a brief visit to this city. He celebrated the 9.30 a.m. Mass in the Pro-Cathedral on Sunday, and was afterwards drived to Mount Magdala. With characteristic astuteness the Prohibition party have prominently trected opposite a leading brewery, a signboard, on which is inscribed in capitals, a notable utterance of Archbishop Ireland, delivered by this eminent prelate at Cork during a recent visit there. This clearly shows that our would-be latter-day reformers fully realise the importance and influence of pronouncements emanating from Catholic ecclesiastical leaders on the drink question, as well as upon other matters of vital interest. After concluding his mission at Little River and Akaroa, where conjointly, the Cathedral Building Fund was increased by over £200, his Lordship the Bishop, early last week, mad 3an episcopal visitation to Lyttelton and with the Very Rev. Dean Foley, conducted a mission, which was terminated on Sunday evening. Each day Mass, followed by a sermon, was celebrated at 6 30 a.m , and each evening there was Rosary with a sermon by the Bishop and Benediction of the Blessed Sacrament. At the early Mass celebrated by the B.slop on Sunday there were about 200 communicants. At the last Mass his Lordship administered the Sacrament of Confirmation. The services throughout the mission wt-re very largely attended, and £160 was contributed to tho Cathedral Building Fund, which sum is expected to be considerably augmented.

The ladies' Cathedral bazaar committee held a meeting on Thursday afternoon last at which his Lordship the Bishop presided, and the Very Rev. Vicar-General was present. Satisfactory reports in connection with the undertaking were made, and various details discussed. In the evening a well-attended meeting of the Cathedral building committee and others interested, was held, the Bishojir again presiding. A favourable reply was read from his Grace the Archbishop of Melbourne in response to an invitation to be present at the laying of the foundation stone, Offers of assistance towards raising funds were received from several quarters. After some discussion it was decided to advertise in the leading papers of New Zealand, Sydney, and Melbourne, for competitive designs, etc., for a cathedral, a substantial bonus to be offered. This cours9 was decided upon for various reasons, prominent among which was to allow an opportunity to non-Catholic architects to compete, having regard for the way all denominations are, unsolicited, contributing considerable amounts to the building fund.