DIOCESE OF CHRISTCHURCH.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume XXX, Issue 10, 6 March 1902, Page 4

DIOCESE OF CHRISTCHURCH.

(From our own correspondent.) March 2. The Rev. Father Regnault, of Waimate, is at present btaying at the Hammer Springs for the benefit of his health. The following pupils of the Sisters of the Missions, attending the Sacred Heart Convent High School, Barbados b reet, passed the Junior Civil Service examination : — Elizabeth Brick, Mary Gabml O'Connor, Rose Amelia Hynes, aid Catherine There a Jones.

Delegates representing various Oatholio Young Men's Oluba and Societies in the Colony are arranging to meet in Christchurch during the Easter holidays to discuss matters of interest, and of mutual and general importance. Miss Gertrude Smith, pupil of the Snter » of Mercy, St. Mary's Collegiate High School, Colombo street, paeeed the recent Junior Civil Service examination, and also obtained the soiioitors' general knowledge pass j*t the last matriculation examination. At five o'clock on Thursday evening the temperature on board one of the direct liners lying at the Lyttelton wharf was 84, or two degrees higher than hud been reuorued on the Bame steairer when paasiug through the tropicß. Posters setting out the numerous attractions of the local St. £atnok a Day celebrations meet the eye in all parts of the city. The movement is much talked about by all classes of the "community, and the object, appealing as it does to every one. appears to be fully recognised and approved of. , Prom three o'clock next Sunday afternoon the Cathedral building, now in course of erection, is to be thrown open for inspection, to which the general public are invited. The ' plans will be explained, and the collecting committee will improve' the occasion by reminding some of their promise* and persuading others to contribute towards the good work. Already the entire walla are about half completed and a good idea may be obtained of the complete design. *- " A special general meeting of the Christohuroh Catholio Club was held on last Thursday evening, when it was decided not to renew the ordinary weekly meetings until after St. Patrick's Day so as to allow the Celebration Committee undisturbed use of the' rooms in the interval. Many of the Club members are on the subcommittees. Vacancies in the executive committee, consequent on the resignation of the secretary and treasurer, were filled by the election of Mr. G. Dobbs to the former, and Mr. W. Hay ward, jar to the latter office, Mr. R. 0. Duncan was elected vice-president in place of Mr. G. Dobbs. At the meeting of the Christohurch Catholio Club, held on Thursday, after several members had spoken on the subject, it was unanimously resolved to place on record the following : That this Club desires to express its great admiration of the magnificent manner in which the editor of the N.Z, Tablet has refuted the venemous charges raised against the Catholics of this Colony during the past few years, especially the spirited way in which the absurd outory of ' stuffing ' the Civil Service has been, met, and exposed, and our appreciation of the Tablet as the vindicator of the Catholic people. A meeting of the St. Patrick's Day Celebrations' executive committee was held in the parochial library on Tuesday evening. His Lordship the Bishop was present, and Mr. W. Hoban presided. R«pl es were leueived to invitations sent to the inmateu af the Burnham Industrial Sohool, and the Sumner Deaf and Dumb Institution to attend the sports. It was resolved to communicate with the various city and suburban school committees regarding granting a holiday on March 17. The tender of Mr. Rattray, con-fectioat-r, was accepted for the right of providing refreshments, fruit, etc., on the sports' ground. The sub-uommhtee, appointed to interview the principal business firms with reference to changing the (statutory weekly half-holiday from Thursday to Monday (St. Patrick's Day), reported bo favorably that the holiday is practically assured, The concert committee reported favorably on tha arrangement of the musical programme. Among leading vocalists who have consented to contribute items are Mrs. Burns, Mrs. liarlow, and Miss J. Moir. On Sunday afternoon a general meeting of all sub-committees was held when the work already done was stated, and thau for the intervening period outlined. The Pro-Cathedral was crowded on Sunday evening at Vespers when His Lordship delivered the first of his discourse* on the 'Intolerance of the Church: Outside her fold, no salvation,' many of those present being non-Catholic. Taking his texts from the Epistles of St. Paul to Timothy and to the Colossians, the Bishop treated his subject in a masterful, and, to those in search of enlightenment, in a most convincing manner. After the sermon there was the usual monthly procession of the Most Blessed Sacrament.