DIOCESE OF CHRISTCHURCH.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume XXX, Issue 26, 26 June 1902, Page 19

DIOCESE OF CHRISTCHURCH.

(From our own correspondent.)

June 23rd

Anticipating the patronal feast of his Lordship the Bishop, that of St. John the Baptist, which is also the patroual feast of the diocese, and occurs on Tuesday, the Sisters of Our Lady of Missions arranged a very nice entertainment in honor of the event. Owing to the fact that the Bishop would be absent on the actual day itself the entertainment, originally fixed for to-day (Monday), was given on Thursday afternoon last. The large class room at the monastery of the Sacred Heart, Barbadoes Btreet, was filled with frienda of the Sisters, and parentß and acquaintances of the pupils. Besides the guest of the occasion there were present tbe Very Rev. Father Le Menant des Chesnais, V.G., Rev. Fathers Marnane, Cooney, Richards, and McDonnell. The following programme was most creditably rendered, much to the enjoyment of the audience :— Duet (two pianos and organ), Mieees G. Bell. O. Worthington. I. Arenas, E. Perkins (organ), Miss L. Brick ; festal song, the pupils ; duet (two pianos), ' Sparkling sunbeams,' Misses V, Barker, G. Barker, D. Peachy, E. Poff ; recitation, 'A little girl's best friend,' Misses C. Nelson and N. O'Malley ; song (with instrumental accompaniment), ' The promise of a king,' Miss K. Picken (piano), Miss L. Brick (organ), Miss N. O'Malley ; instrumental selection, ' March, of the Troubadours,' Misses O'Connor, L. Barker, N. O'Malley, N. Dunn (violins). Misses O'Malley, Burnip, K. Guiney, D. Holmes (organ), Miss L. Brick ; recitation, ' A piece of wedding cake,' junior ipupils ; trio, 'Joyous life,' (harp), Miss K. Picken, (piano), Miss I. Arenas, (organ), Miss L Brick ; song (with instrumental accompaniment), 'Sweet vale of Avoca,' Miss M. O'Malley (violin), Miss Burnip (piano), Miss L. Brick ; farcical sketch, 'The persecuted policemen,' Misses X Picken, N. O'Malley, O'Halloran and Tate, Old lady Miss A. O'Halloran, Driver Mids Maggie O'Malley, Mother Miss Ella Harris, Child Miss Queenie Neeley, Elderly lady Miss Gladys Bell, Old lady Mibs L. Lawrence, Six pedestrians Miss L. Sim, I. Arenas, N. G. O'Connor, C. Caesiiy, M. Bourke, K. Guiney. At a convenient interval a deputation of four 'wee tots,' very prettily presented the Bishop with a floral tribute, and Miss M. O'Malley read the following address on behalf of the pupils : — My Lord, — It seems but a short time since Holy Church invited us to join with her in celebrating the feast of her great Precursor, St. John the Baptist, under whose special protection Divine Providence has been pleased to place you, yet a year has rolled by and once again we, your devoted children, the pupils of the convent schools, have the happiness of being united to offer your Lordship our sincere wishes for a very holy and happy feast. More favored than on the last occasion, we feel happy to have your Lordship in our midst, and we thank you and the devoted priests for your presence hereto-day. May we be permitted hete also to thank your LordBhip for your unwearying efforts on our behalf, and more particularly for those made to raise for us a cathedral wortliy of the city, and as worthy &i possible of Him Who is to dwell in it. We see with feelings of pride nnd joy alrtady a beautiful structure, and we look forward with eagerness to its completion. To this end we shall assist your Lcrdchip by our prayers, ki owing that God will not refuse to hear us in su noble a cause, and now to show our gratitude in a practical way. however emali, we beg your Lordship to be pleased to i>cc<pt this Cappa Magna hoping that you may be long spared to wear it, and that each time enrobed you may a^-k Our Lord to bless your children. Again thanking you for your presence, and trutting 1 you will be pleased with our htt:e efforts to entertain jou we repeat once more with love and gratitude ' A holy and a happy feast.' His Lordship <xp c ;el warm gratitude to the Sisters for their thougbtfulne a in arrang.ng sU'jh an enjoyable enUrtamment and musical tnat and especially fur tbe costly gift made as a tribute of their kir.d regard, although in all huiniin probability it may not be worn ty him very frequently. A Cappa M .gna, continued his Lordship, is never worn by a Bishop outH.de liih own diocese ai d comparatn ely seldom within it. Even at thu opening and consecration of the new Cathedral he would not likely be m enrobed, hoping as he did to have a fjreat number of higher dignitaries than himbelf on tbe occasion. He would, how cvi r, treasuie their gift with grateful affection, and be mindful of the childien's behest in their nicely worded address After complimenting the young performers on their really admirable entertainment, and congratulating the Sisters on their remaikable buccess in the teaching profession, especially in the musical department, his Lordship referred to the Coronation holidays approaching, and at the request of the Superior granted a few special omsin honor of the present pleasing event. The Catholic Coronatkn celebrations on Thursday are to inolude Mass at 9 o'clock in the Pro-Cathedral to implore the Divine blessing on their Majesties the King and Queen, and for a peaceful reign, and at 10 o'clock the ceremonial erection in the new Cathedral of a commemoration column in honor of the same great e\ont. On Wednesday the children attending the Catholic Schools will take part in a gigantic children's festival at Canterbury Hall, A Te Deum is to be sung at Benediction next Sunday. There was a large attendance of members and friends of the Christchurch Catholic Hub at tho rooms on Tuesday evening, when the Very Rrfv. Father Le Menant des Chesnuia delivered a most entertaining and instructive lecture on ' Liberty.' His Lordship

the Right Rev. Dr. Grimes presided, and ac the conclusion complimented the lecturer, who treated the subject largely on the lines defined by our Holy Father the Tote in recent Encyclicals. J Dr. Frengley, whose knowledge of sanitary science is so well appreciated here, especially in regard to the plague, its treatment and prevention, is now acting-health officer at Auckland. It is stated that Dr. Frengley is likely to make a visit of inspection in connection with the Public Health Department to the Cook group of islands, and afterwards take up a permanent appointment in one of the principal centres. The followiug extract ib from a lo< al paper : ' Corporal Burke (son of Mr P. Burke, of Tatten-all's Hotel), who went to South Africa with the Eighth Cuiitiiigeut, as assistant to Surgeon -Captnin Baucbop, rendered threat assistmce in connection with the railway accident at Mochavie. The wounded were got away to the hospital with much greater celerity than would have been the case had not Surgeon Bauchop had an assistant who had been previously trained in a bearer corps. Corporal Burke was for several years a member of the Christchurch Bearer Corps.