DIOCESE OF AUCKLAND.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume XXX, Issue 12, 20 March 1902, Page 6

DIOCESE OF AUCKLAND.

From our own correspondent.) March 13. Our morning paper has briefly noticed the figures given by the Tablet of the inadequate proportion of Catholics in the Civil Service in Christcburch. The new church at Waihi is exy Aed to be blessed and opened by Bishop Lenihan on the third Su~ ay after Easter. Rev. Father Brodie, backed by his people and many of those outside of his flock, is strenuously at work to make the occasion a memorable one in the annals of this rising town in the Auckland province. The hand of death has been laid heavily upon the members of the Auckland branch of the H.A.C.B. Society lately. No less than three were stricken down within a fortnight — Bros. M. McKenna, James Ryan, and T. Neville, all of whom were old and respected members. — R.I.P. St. Patrick's Day will be celebrated with much enthusiasm. The prizes for the Art Union, thanks to the efforts of Father Patterson, are numerous and valuable. He also Becured a number of prizes for the sports. People from all the parishes are to tissemble at the Cathedral about 10 o'clock, and from there go in processional ordei, headed by the Hibernian Society, to tbe Domain. In the evening a national concert will be held in St. Benedict's Hall. The committee has worked long and assiduously to ensure success, and to win this, fine weather, proverbial here on bt. Patrick's Day, is all that is required. District Secretary, Bro. W. Kane, has been deputed by the District Executive to proceed to Gisborne next Saturday to open there a new branch of the H.A.C.B. Society on St. Patrick's Day. Hibernians throughout the New Zealand district will heartily welcome into their ranks this new branch of their Order. It is just possible the District Secretary may visit other branches in the North Island. His Lordship Bishop Lenihan returned from the Bay ot Plenty district last Monday afternoon, where he had been on a diocesan - visit and to administer the Sacrament of Confirmation. On last Sunday week at Opotiki the mission conducted by the Rev. Father Benedict, 0.P., was concluded in the presence of his Lordship, who expressed himself as greatly pleased with the good results. He also eulogißed the good work of the larish priest, Rev. Father O'Gallagher. With the order and neatness of the church, presbytery, and convent the Bishop was particularly struck. Confirmation was administered to nearly 50 candidates. At Whakatane laßt Wednesday week 20 were confirmed. Tauranga was to have been visited last Sunday, but owing to the detention of the steamer, which arrived there at 11 p.m. tbat day, his Lordship's programme was altered. It is now intended that the Right Rev. Dr. Leniban will go there about three weeks after Easter and administer Confirmation. The Bishop speaks in high terms of the treatment accorded him by Mr. Ranson, manager of the Northern S.S. Co., and his officers, who did all in their power to suit his_ convenience, thus enabling him to perform his widely-scattered visitations.