DIOCESE OF DUNEDIN.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume XXIX, Issue 3, 17 January 1901, Page 18

DIOCESE OF DUNEDIN.

The work of strengthening the foundations of St. Joseph's Cathedral is progreti-ing and will take some time to complete. The Dunedin branch of the Hibernian Society, at their last meeting, voted £2 2s fo the Mariat Brothers' Defence Fund. The Sinters of Mercy, South Dunedin, thankfully acknowledge receipt of the following sums in aid of St. Vincent de Paul's Orphanage : A Friend, Lawrence, £1 ; A Friend, 12s 6d. A very successful bazaar took place in Queenstown last week for the purpof-e of extinguishing the debt on the handsome new church dedicated to St. Joseph, which forms so interesting a land* mark in the pretty town on Lake Wakatip. The Rev. Father McCarthy, Inspector of Catholic Schools for the archdiocese of Melbourne, reached Dunedin on Friday last, via Sydney and Wellington, and left on the following afternoon by the Waikare on the trip to the West Coast Sounds. The annual retreat of the clergy of the Diocese of Dunedin opens in Holy Cross College, Mosgiel, on next Monday at 8 p.m. The diocesan synod will be held on the following morning and the" conference on the same day. On Monday evening a meeting was held in St. Joseph's Hall for the purpose of making arrangements for the annual pionic of the children attending the four Catholic primary schools in Dunedin, South Dunedin, and North East Valley. Rev. Father Murphy, Adm., was in the chair and there was a good attendanoe. It was decided to hold the picnic at Evanadale on Wednesday, 6th February. * On Monday afternoon the members of the honorary medical staff and the officers of the Dunedin Hospital assembled in the library of that institution for the purpose of making presentations to Dr. O'Neill, house surgeon, prior to his departure for Sou in Africa. There were present — Drs. Roberts Gordon Macdonald, Colquhoun, Closs, Batchelor, Lindo Ferguson. Barnett, De Lautour, G. Brown, and Evans, Mr. A. Burns (secretary) Mr. Cook (assistant-house surgeon), Mr. G. Hoffman (dispenser) and Mr. P. Miller (chairman of the Hospital Trustees). The first presentation was made by Dr. Roberts, ex-chairman of the hospital staff. It consisted of a handsome and valuable field glass, and was accompanied by words of warm encomium on Dr. O'Neill and of the high estimation in which he is held by all who know him. In the course of his reply, Dr. O'Neill referred to the period of his stay in the Dunedin Hospital as the pleaeantest of his life. The pleasure ha had experienced while there was due to the very kind treatment ho had received at the handß of the hospital staff. To one and all of

them he was deeply indebted for advice and assistance on many oooasions, He was launching out in a new line without knowing what wan before him, but he would go away fortified with the knowledge tkat he went with the best wishes of his fellow practitioners. He would always endeavor to do his duty, both as a practitioner and as a New Zealander. Mr. P. Miller, as chairman of the Hospital Trustees, and Dr. Batchelor, also spoke in terms of high eulogy of Dr. O'Neill. On behalf of the officers of the institution Mr. Burns presented Dr. O'Neill with a handsome spirit-flask ; and Mr. Miller, on behalf of the matron and nurses, with a combined pooket-book and oase-book. For both presentations the dootor returned suitable thanks. Dr. De Lautour said during the last two years while it had b«*pn his privilege to visit tho institution he had noticed the excellent work Dr. O'Neill had done, and aIBO the very great tact which he had displayed in the discharge of his duties. He was sure that the doctor would do as much credit to his profession in South Africa as he had done to himself in Dunedin. The proceedings were closed by the hearty drinking of the health of Dr. O'Neill, with musical honors. On Tuesday morning a handsome silver-mounted travelling case was presented to the popular young dootor by Mr. Morkane, on behalf of the medical students, some 60 ol whom were present. They, as well as his relatives and a large concourse of friends, were present at the railway station to bid him good-bye on his departure by the northern express on Tuesday morning. Hearty cheers were given for Dr. O'Neill as the train ■teamed out of the station.