Diocesan News.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume XXVIII, Issue 2, 11 January 1900, Page 5

Diocesan News.

ARCHDIOCESE OF WELLINGTON.

(From our own correspondent.)

January 6. The Very Rev. Canon Franklin has just passed through Wellington on his way to the Southern Lakes. He is taking the trip to the Sounds by the Waikare His health is already muoh benefited by his stay in New Zealand. He iB going to settle down in the diocese of Christchurch, taking charge of the pariah of Lyttelton in place of the Rev. Father Salvador, who is going to Europe. The Very Rev. Father Lewis, S.M., has been laid up for the past week with an attack of influenza. He ia now, however, muoh better and will be about again shortly. Rev. Brother John, Provincial of the Marist Brothers, arrived from Sydney on Wednesday and left on the following day to attend the retreat, which begins at Stoke, Nelson, this week. He was accompanied by the Brothers from the Wellington house. Miss Smith, of Pollard's Opera Company, Bang Luzzi's 'Aye Maria ' in a finished and devotional manner on last Sunday, at St. Joseph's Church. The choir had also the assistance of Miss Hiokling, a member of the same company. Yet another great honour has been gained by one of the local Convent pupils. Word was received by the Superioress that the gold medal given by the Royal Academy, London, for singing had been won by Miss Katie Connell. The medal is competed for by candidates from the whole of Australasia. This is the second occasion on which this distinction has been conferred on a Convent pupil, Miss Lottie MoDonald being the Buoceßsful candidate two years ago. Mr. Graham Moore, the examiner for the Royal College of Music and Royal Aoademy, writing to the Superioress of St. Mary'B Convent regarding Miss Connell, says he was very much pleased with her singing, and gives very high praise to the teaching,

which he says must be of extraordinary capacity, for without it it would be impossible to properly develop even the most perfect natural voice. He adds that he hae advised Miss Connell's relatives to allow her to remain at the Convent for another year, and should her voice still maintain its purity and freshness he strongly advises a course of study in England and the Continent under the best masters that oan be obtained, regardless of expense. Mr. Moore is of opinion that Miss Connell's voice is superior to Miss Amy Castles. Miss Connell, who is only 10, was born in Hawera.

The Very Rev. Father Bower, S.M., Hector of St. Patrick's College, joined the other members of the College « f aff in the Picton Sounds at the beginning of the week The Rev. Father Gannon, a Vinccntian Father, from the college in Bathurst, is at present on a visit to Wellington. The Rev. Father O'Shea, of To Aro parish, leaves on a holiday to the West Coast shortly. He intends visiting Greymouth, Hokitika, and Westport. The Sisters of Mercy here came out of retreat on Monday, and are now enjoying a well-earned vacation. Of those located in Wellington during last year some are visiting Christchuroh and Dunedin, while others have gone to the branch houses in Palmerston North and Blenheim for the remainder of their holidays.

It is with regret I have to record the death of Mr P. Giles, which occurred at his residence, Upper Tutaenui, Marton, after a long and painful illness, on the Bth ult. Hia funeral took place on the following Sunday at Turakina, where the services were conducted by the Rev. Father O'Sullivan, of Wanganui. Floral tributes were placed on the coffin from all parts of the district. The deceased was the youngest son of Mr Francis Giles, Claregalweney, County Galway. On arriving in New Zealand he settled in Riversdale, Otago, and later moved on to Marton, where by all he was held in the greatest esteem, and was a valued member of the County Council. He was a man in the prime of life, and until what proved his fatal illness could boast of not knowing what a day's sickness was. He leaves a wife and child to mourn their loss. — H.I.P.

The outing to Plimmerton, held by the Christian Doctrine Society on New Year's Day proved a most enjoyable one. Leaving by the 10 o'clock train, the party arrived at their destination a little after 11 o'clock. The day was spent in various amusements, the excursionists returning to town shortly after eight o'clock.

Dr. H. St. Leger Gnbben, whose success in his examinations at Edinburgh was recently recorded, is, I hear, attached to the Children's Hospital in Stirling.