DIOCESE OF CHRISTCHURCH.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume XXXI, Issue 15, 9 April 1903, Page 5

DIOCESE OF CHRISTCHURCH.

(From our own correspondent.)

April 6. Rev. Father Rouillac, S.M\, Is at present visiting South Canterbury. The Rev. Father Melu, S.M., reports the condition of the Catholic Maoris at the settlements he has visited in tho South Island to be very satisfactory. At Kaikoura they are building a new church. He is at present among the natives at Little River.

His Lordship the Right Rev. Dr. Verdon, Bishop of Dunedin, is (at time of writing) the guest of the Right Rev. Dr. Grimes at the Episcopal "residence. Bishop Verdon arrived at Lyttelton on Sunday evening, and tho Very Rev. Vicar-General had a carriage awaiting him at tho Christchurch railway station. We are all pleased to know through his Lordship that his Eminence Cardinal Monan looks remarkably well and is in vigorous health. At the Pro-Cathedral on Palm Sunday, the palms were blessed and distributed at the 11 o'clock Mass by the Rev. Father O'Connell. Owing to an accident which unfortunately befell his Lordship the Bishop recently, thereby temporarily incapacitating him, the customary impressive ceremonial of the occasion was somewhat interfered with.

There was the usual distribution of palms at St. Mary's, Manchester street, and in the evening, instead of the ordinary Vespers service, a strong choir, with orchestra under the conductorship of Mr. W. H. Corrigan, gave a fine rendering of Rossini's ' Stabat Mater.'