NEW ZEALAND: GENERAL

New Zealand Tablet, Volume XXXI, Issue 18, 30 April 1903, Page 19

NEW ZEALAND : GENERAL

Mr W. T. L. Travers, father of the New Zealand Bar, died at the Hutt, near Wellington, on Monday morning from the injuries sustained at the Lower Hutt railway station on Saturday night. Deceased went to the station to see a friend off, and remained in the carriage till the train began to move. |In alighting on to the station platform he knocked against a guard who was keeping back bystanders, and fell between the platform and the train, sustaining injuries which resulted fatally. Mr. Travers was born at Castleview, Newcastle West, County Limerick, his father being Captain Boyle Travers, of the Rifle Brigade. The late Mr. Travers Was educated in France, served as lieutenant in the Second Lancers, fought in Spain under the Duke de Victoria, and after leaving the army was admitted to the Bar in London. He arrived in New Zealand in 3 849, and some years later was appointed District Judge in Nelson. For many years he took an active part in public affairs. Of late years he devoted his attention mainly to the practice of his profession in Wellington He was a man of varied scientific attainments, and was noted for his unvarying integrity and uprightness.

A presentation was made on the 17th inst. to the Rev. Father Maples, of Petone, by members of the Lower Hutt choir. Mr. E. D. Dunne referred to the untiring zeal and courtesy of the recipient during the years the choir was under his charge, and the sorrow felt by all classes of the community at his departure from amongst them. He asked Mr. McGuirk to make the presentation, which "consisted of an address and gentleman's companion case inscribed as follows : To Rev. F. Maples, from the members of the Lower Hutt choir, Easter 1903. Father Maples feelingly replied, and thanked the donors for their grift. The following is the address : — ' Dear Rev. Father, — We, the members of the Lower Hutt choir, cannot allow the occasion of your departure from amongst us to pass without expressing to you the sorrow we feel at parting with you. You have been so \intiring in your efforts to educate and assist us, that you have actuated our conductor to leave us and follow in your footsteps, and we feel we cannot thank you sufficiently for all you have done for us. We trust you will live long to continue the good work you are engaged in, and we ask you to accept this small present which we trust will remind you of the little choir you have done so much for.'

A meeting of the Catholic men of Newtown (writes a Wellington correspondent) was held on Sunday afternoon, April 19, in the Convent High School, Green street, for the purpose of considering a proposal to establish a branch of the Hibernian Society in the parish. The Key. Father Ainsworth occupied the chair, and in his opening address he impressed upon those present the necessity of belonging to such a grand Catholic society, not only on account of the benefits, which were equal to those given by any other friendly society, but more especially for the purpose of keeping Catholic young men together nnd to create a closer union amon-pst them. He assured the meeting that it would give him the greatest pleasure to have the branch formed, and the movement would have his heartiest cooperation. Bro. J. W. Calla^han, P.P., of the Wellington branch, was present, and at the request of the rev. chairman explained the constitution of the Society and the benefits to be derived by its members. He also dealt! with

its early history, showing how it had grown from a small Catholic Young Men's Society in 1862 to a huge Catholic Benefit Society in 1902, with branches in every State of the Commonwealth and in New Zealand, having 22,000 members and £120,000 accumulated fxmds. It was unanimously decided to form a branch of the H.A.C.B. Society at Newtown, and the N.Z. I'intrict Executive will be requisitioned immediately to sanction the opening of the new branch. Rev. Father O'Shea, chaplain of the Wellington branch, leaves on Monday 1o attend a similar meeting at Palmerston NTorth, vbtre there is every promise of a successful branch being fcimod simultaneously with the one at Newtown.

At both Masses and Vespers at St. Mary's Church yesterday (says the ' Nelson Colonist/ April 20) feeling reference was made to the late Dean Mahoney, and at the latter two services the Dead March from ' Saul ' was played. At Vespers Miss May Driscoll sang ' The man of sorrows,' and with her sister, Miss N. Driscoll, the duet, ' He wipes the tear from every eye.' Since the announcement of the death of Dean Mahoney a number of prominent citizens have called at the presbytery and tendered their sympathy, and telegrams conveying sympathy have also been received , including one from the Education Department.

The congregation of St. Patrick's Church (says the ' Hawke's Bay Herald,' April 20) was treated to a repetition of Mozart's Seventh Mass yesterday morning. The work throughout was rendered in a very efficient manner by the choir and orchestra, and perhaps went ibetter than on Easter morning. The soloists were Mrs. C. Allen (soprano), Miss Staunton (contralto), Mr. F. Hewitt (tenor), and Mr. F. Connor (bass), were all in good voice, and sang with excellent effect. The choruses were given with much spirit, the attack in every case being splendid. The 'best numbers were probably ' The Kyrie ' and ' Hosanna in Excelsis.' The orchestra, exceptionally strong and well balanced, did capital work, the accompaniments being a marked feature. Amongst the many enjoyable selections were ' Die Yacht Parade Kommte ' march. In the evening Mrs. Allen sang Mercadante's Salve Maria,' a solo well suited to a voice capable of executing its many difficulties. The trio and chorus, ' Salve Regina,' was also very enjoyable, the soloists being Mrs. Allen, and Messrs. C. Eagar and Connor. The ' Haec Dies,' with orchestral accompaniment, was given with great spirit. The whole work was produced, as on the first occasion, under the capable conductorship of Mr. C. Eagar. The Rev. Father Goggan preached eloquent sermons both morning and evening.