DIOCESE OF AUCKLAND.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume XXIX, Issue 12, 21 March 1901, Page 5

DIOCESE OF AUCKLAND.

(From our own correspondent.)

March 14.

The Very Rev. Father Augustine left on Tuesday for Gisborne. After remaining there a week he will return to Auckland and give almission at Newmarket. The delegates of the Auckland branch of the H.A.C.6. Society speak in glowing terms of the treatment they received at the hands of their brother members in the South. Next Sunday (St. Patrick's Day) his Lordship Bishop Lenihan will celebrate Pontifical High Mass at the cathedral at eleven o'olook. In the evening the mission will be brought to a close, and on the following Monday the Rev. Fathers will leave for Sydney. The impressive ceremony of closing the mission, which had been conducted by the Rev. Fathers Augustine and Gregory at St. Benedict's, took place on Sunday night, when a sermon on ' perseverance ' was preached by the former to a very large congregation. After the sermon a renewal of baptismal vows took place. At the conclusion of the service his Lordship Bishop Lenihan expressed his thanks, on behalf of himself, and of the priests and people of St. Benedict's to the zealous missionaries for the great and good work fljey had done in the parish. ' On Monday evening St. Benedict's Hall was filled to overflowing by an audience which had assembled to hear the Rev. Father Augustine discourse on ' Ireland, the land of music and song.' The proceeds of the concert will be devoted to furnishing the new conTent school which has just been built. The entertainment was opened by a pianoforte overture by the Rev. Father Patterson ; and a patriotic action song by the convent pupils, three of whom were fittingly costumed to represent England, Ireland, and Scotland.

The Rev. Father Augustine then began his lecture. He did not claim that greatness and grandeur for Iri^h poetry which marked the efforts of the masters of other nation*, but lauded it on account of its simplicity, and the manner in which it stirred the hearts of all. Vocal items were contributed by the Misses Lorrigan (2), and Messrs. Hamilton, Hodges, and A. L. Edwards. Mrs. Weree played the accompaniments, and greatly contributed to the success of the entertainment. During an interval an address was read and a presentation made by the convent pupils to the Rev. Father Augustine. At the last weekly meeting of the St. Patrick's Old Boys' Club an entertainment was given in honor of a visit from the Rpv. fathers Gregory, Hilary and Benedict, who are engaged in mission work in the diocese. There were also present the Rpv Fathers Corcoran and Croke. Before the entertainment commenced the visitors and members of the club were photographed in the cathedral grounds, after which an adjournment waa made to the hall where Mr. J. Duffln, on behalf of the members, welcomed the rev. visitors, to whom an address was presented. The Rev. Father Hilary responded. Encouraging addresses were delivered by Fathers Croke and Corcoran. The Rev. Father Hilary presented each member of the club with a beautiful silver cross. Light refreshments were handed round, and musical items were contributed by the members of the club and others. Before the meeting closed Mr. G. Rice thanked Father Hilary for his presents, which he waa Bure would be preserved as a souvenir of his visit. [Our Auckland letter arrived too late for publication in our last issue.]