DIOCESE OF AUCKLAND.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume XXXI, Issue 34, 20 August 1903, Page 5

DIOCESE OF AUCKLAND.

(From our own correspondent.) August 13. His Lordship the Bishop, who was accompanied by the Rev. Father Patterson, Adm., St. Patrick's, left last Saturday for Huntly in order to lay the foundation stone of a new church. The ceremony took place on Sunday, when there was a large gathering of people from all parts of the district. His Lordship was assisted by Rev. Father Patterson and Rev. Father O'Gallagher, the resident priest of Huntly. His Lordship spoke with difliculty, having a very bad cold. He praised the good people of Huntly for their enterprise and strong; desire to have a beautiful new church in their midst. He mentioned the good work done by Messrs. Ralph and Harris in assisting so materially the building of the church. He also referred to their pastor for his energy and goodwill in the work. He eulogised the previous pastors, Fathers Luck and Croke, who spent themselves in serving their people. Father Patterson also spoke a few words of encouragement, and exhorted them to be generous in laying their alms upon the stone as an act of gratitude for all Providence had done for them. Father O'Gallagher also addressed the gathering. The collection amounted to the handsome sum of £120. His Lordship

thanked the people for their very generous offering and complimented the Catholics and many non-Catholics who f»o very heartily participated in the building of the new church for Huntly. Mr. Baily thanked the Bishop on behalf of the pe/ople of Huntly for his address. Mr. W J Ralph gave £50 on the foundation stone.. A social in honor of Bishop Lenihan was given in Huntly on Monday evening, August 10. It was a very successful affair. There was a crowded attendance, amongst those present being his Lordship (who on entering the hall, was received with rounds of applause), the Key. Mr. Mason (Vicar in charge of Huntly), the Hey Father Patterson, and Rev Father O'Gallagher and Rev. Father King (of Pukekohe). A very enjoyable concert was given, opening with sections on a powerful gramophone. Songs were given by Miss K. Harris Mr Melville, Miss Harris, Miss Rainger, Mr. Arthur Miss Patterson, v and Miss L. Ralph, while Mr. J. Donqvan gave a recitation. Mr. Edward Ralph played in a masterly manner the accompaniments. His Lordship then gave a very excellent address, ift which he thanked the audience for the very royal reception they had given him He was pleased to see the Rev. Mr. Mason amongst them, and he complimented their good parish priest on the good work he had in hand at Huntly. He was also pleased to see before him so many members of other denominations, and was proud to do all he could to encourage this good and kindly spirit of friendliness amongst all. The Rev. Mr Mason said it was an honor to meet so many together. He was indeed grateful to his Lordship for the very kind words said in his favor The Rev. Father O'Gallagher thanked the Bishop and clergy for their presence, and also the people. The Rev. Father Patterson ga\e a very humerous speech, and the evening passed too quickly. Preaching at St. Mary's, Paeroa, on Sunday evening, August 9, the Very Rev. Dean Hackett gave a most interesting discourse on the new Pope. Having applied to Leo XIII. the words of his text, ' He is as if he were not dead, for he hath left one behind him that is like himself ;. a defender of his house against his enemies, one that will requite kindness to his friends,' the Dean went on to say that the world would soon recognise in Pius X. another Leo XIII., for as Bishop, Patriarch, and Cardinal, he had already dispJayed the very qualities that distinguished his illustrious predecessor on the Papal throne. Guiseppe Sarto, now Pius the Tenth, was born of very poor but pious parents, and his youth was spent in great poverty until his early piety and love for •-eligious knowledge attracted attention. In 1850 his parents, who could ill afford to dispense with his help, ga\e him ungrudgingly to God's service During the recent Papal election the cables flashed to this Colony one of the silliest of the many absurd statements made. New Zealanders were informed that certain Cardinals would not be elected to the Papal throne by their fellowCardinals on account of their humble origin. The ejection of Cardinal Sarto proved the falsity of the statement. The College of Cardinals, continued the Dean, was the most learned and democratic body in the \Korld. Its doors were open to men of conspicuous merit in the Church, iirespective of origin. In its council halls the son of a wharf laborer wielded the same power and wore the same princely purple as his fellow-Cardinals of patrician blood. This was as it should be. Two working men revolutionised the pagan world, namely, Peter the fisherman, of Galilee, and Paul, the wea\er of Tarsus In fact, some of the greatest intellects that adorned the Church of God and shed lustre on the Papal throne arose from the obscure and fiuitful bosom of the toiling masses In Pius X the poor and swarming millions of the world of labor would find another father with the heart of Leo XIII.

The plastering of the interior of St. Benedict's Church is nearly completed, and then it will rank amongst the finest churches in the Colony.

At St. Patrick's the stained-glass window, presented by Mr. Michael Walsh, has been erected. It is said to be one of the finest ever seen here.