DIOCESE OF AUCKLAND.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume XXIV, Issue 2, 10 January 1901, Page 5

DIOCESE OF AUCKLAND.

(From our own correspondent.)

December 27.

During the eve of the Feast of the Nativity the priests in the city and suburban churches were kept busily employed ii the confessionals up to a late hour, and it was very edifying to see such large numbers approach the Holy Table at the early Masses on Christ mas Day. At St.. Patrick's Cathedral the earlier Masses were said by the Right Rev. Mgr. O'Reilly, and Rev. Father Corcoran celebrated Mass at nine o'clock, at which the children's choir sang very creditably. At 10 o'clock the Rev. Father Zainey, an Assyrian pried, said Mass according to the Eastern rite in presence of a large number of his countrymen. His Lordship the Right Rev. Dr. Lenihao was present at the Cathedral at 11 o'clock. The Right, Rev, Mgr. O'Reilly was celebrant of the Macs ; Rev. Father Hilla S.M. (Wellington), deacon ; Rev. Father Corcoran, eub-dnacon. After the first Gospel the Bishop briefly addressed the congregation, and in the course of a brief Bermon heartily thanked the priests of the Cathedral for their labors during the past year, and the people for their hearty co-operation, without which it would have been impossible to have attained success. The choir, who were at all times so willing to assist in making the services bright and attractive, and to the collectors for their great assiduity, he specially thanked. The choir rendered, in good style. Haydn's ' Imperial Mass,' under the baton of Mr. C. F, Hiscocks, Mr. Hartwell presiding at the organ. Vespers were Bung by the Rev. Father Hills, and the Right Rev. Mgr. O'Reilly preached on the ' Nativity.' Pontifical Benediction was given by his Lordship the Bishop,, Rev Fathers Corcoran and O'Carroll being deacon and sub-deacon respectively. The high altar was tastefully decorated under the supervision of Miss Gough. St. Patrick's choir was entertained in St. Patrick's Hall on Christmas evening by the Right Rev. Mgr. O'Reilly, the Bishop

being also present. During the evening a nice gold bracelet waß presented to Mias Kate Lonergan for her long and faithful services to the choir, from which she was now reluctantly compelled to sever her connection. The prepent was richly deserved. Rev. Father Kehoe has come back from his short holiday, and has renamed duties in his parish of Parnell. Last Friday evening a presentation of a parse of sovereigns was made in St. Benedict's Schoolroom to the Misses Coffey, who have so long and so ably conducted the school. His Lordship the Bishop. Right Rev. Mgr. O'Reilly, and Rev. Fathers Oillan, Darby, and O'Hara, and a large gathering of the parishioners were present. An address was read by the hon. sec. of the Church Committee, Mr. J. J. Daly. His Lordship referred to the excellent work done by the Misses Coffey, and Father Gillan, in charge of the parish, highly eulogised them. At the request of the Bishop Mgr. O'Reilly responded on behalf of the Misses Coffey, and thanked tke generous donors for their handsome present and address. Widespread pleasure was expressed with the able leader in the Tablet of last week bearing upon the Stoke persecution. The advice tendered to the Catholics to organise in defence of what they possess is timely. No time should be lost in putting the plan into operation ; otherwise it will prove the old adage of locking the stable door after the steed hag been stolen. The collection now being made in St. Patrick's parish for the Stoke Defence Fund promises well. [This letter arrived too late for insertion in our last issue.] January 3. Pontifical High Mass was celebrated in St. Patrick's Cathedral by his Lordship the Bishop immediately after midnight on January 1, Rev. Father Hills, S.M. (Wellington), being deacon; Rev. Father O'Carroll, sub-deacon ; Right Rev. Mgr. O'Reilly, assißtant-priest ; Rev. Father Corcoran, master of ceremonies. The large church was filled with a devout congregation, and quite a large number received Holy Communion. The choir mustered in strong force, under Mr. P. F. Hiscockß, and performed ' Van Bree's Mass.' Mr. H. Hiscocks presided at the organ. His Lordship, addressing the congregation, said that at the express command of the Holy Father they had all assembled there at that early hour of the morning to assist at the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass, and to weloome the dawn of the new century. /It was a living proof of their faith which caused them to come in such large numbers at the hour of midnight. It was an old saying that charity commences at home, and in the saving of their bouls that charity was well extended. They should all promise that night to look back upon the past, and to blot out all that was not worthy and determine for the future to lead good and holy lives. Midnight Mass was also celebrated at St. Benedict's before a large congregation. Rev. Father Gillan was celebrant, Rev. Father Darby deacon, Rev. Father O'Hara sub-deacon. A very large number approached the Holy Table. The choir from St. John the Baptist's Church, Parnell, under Misa Annie Lorrigan, ably rendered 1 Weber's Mass in G. Last Monday at St. Mary's Convent Chapel a Solemn Requinn Masß was celebrated for the repose of the soul of the late Monsignor McDonald, it being the annivereay of his death. His Lordship the Bishop was celebrant, Rev. Father Purton, 0.5.8., deacon, Father Corcoran sub-deacon, Rev. Father O'Carroll master of ceremonies. There were also present Right Rev. Mgr O'Reilly, and Very Rev. Dr. Egan, OS 8., Rev. Fathers Hills, Darby, and O'Hara. Dr. Egan presided at the organ, and was assisted in the choir by several of the priests. The Sisters of Mercy and the children from St. Mary's Orphanage were also present. In consequence of the branches of the H.A.C.B. Society not being unanimous in holding the annual meeting in Dunedin one wek earlier the District Executive haa decided to hold it on the date previously arranged. The Right Rev. Mgr. O'Reilly presided at the annual distribution of prizes at St. Patrick's parochial schools, and presented the following for good attendance : — First, Mary Sheahan ; second, Margaret Holland ; third, May Greenan ; and fourth, Mary MoKenna. — The prizes won by the pupils at the High School, conducted by the Sisters of Mercy, were presented by the Right Rev. Dr. Linihan. There was a large gathering of parents and friends of the pupils, the schoolroom being crowded with visitors. The work dine by the pupils, under the direction of the Sisters, during the jea f was displayed in one of the claes-rooms. An amount of excellently executed fancy work was displayed, the styles including arrasene, applique, embroidery, point lace, and drawn thread work. Several oil paintings done by the pupils were also shown, land•wpe?, flowers, and birds having been painted by the pupils on canvas, wood, and tiles. The prizes this year were limited to a silver medal for the highest aggregate number of marks for all subjects, and the attendance prizes. The medal was won by Kate Rogers, of Standard VI., while the attendance prizes were won by Winifred Little, 1 ; Mabel Metcalfe, 2 ; Violet Locke, 3 ; Gladys Graham, 4 ; Lily Beeham, 5 ; Violet Speight, 6 ; and Madeline Forbes, 8. During the afternoon a number of musical items were rendered by the pupils, the following programme being gone through :—lnstrumental: — Instrumental duet, Misses Beehan, Rogers, Little, and Locke ; chorus, pupils ; addreßS to the Bishop, read by Mißs Gladys Foley; sextette, Misses Hartley, Metcalfe, McCabe, Brown, Foley, and Speight ; choruses, pupils ; recitation, Miss S. Graham ; quartette, Misses McMahon, Corley, Little, and Rogers ; vocal duet, Misses Quinn and Graham ; song, Misses Beehan (2), Rist, Graham (2), and Duffin ; recitation, Miss Ricketts ; gavotte, Misses Forbes, Foley, Little, Dunn, and Master White ; vocal duet and chorus, Misses Ormond, Beehan (2), Graham, Rist, and Duffin.

The MoCormiok Harvesting Machine Company built and sold 213,629 machines in the season of 1899. This is the greatest sale of harvesting machines ever made by one company. — m * m