DIOCESE OF CHRISTCHURCH

New Zealand Tablet, Volume XXXII, Issue 34, 25 August 1904, Page 6

DIOCESE OF CHRISTCHURCH

(From our own correspondent.)

August 22

The events of ' Grand National ' week drew thousands of (visitors to the city from all parts of the Colony. Among the few who had the right of private entree at the Governor's levee in the Provincial Council Chambers were the Right Rev. Bishop Grimes, S.M., D.D , and the Very Rev. Father Le Menant des Chesnais, S.M., V G. The Mali si Brothers' boys, with an unbeaten record throughout the season, ha!\e won the primary sthools' football competition flasr, scoring JSB points to 3. Mr. George Dobbs coached the team, and to him the young fellows feel particularly grateful for the distinction he so ably aided the mi to attain-

Among the various self-imposed duties undertaken by his Excellency the Governor during his short stay in Chnstchurch were visits to the principal schools. Although it i^ understood the Catholic schools were not included in the programme mapped out foj him, Lord Plunket arranged on his own initiative the extension of his viceregal compliments so as to include at least one of owr scholastic institutions. From Waltham the viceregal party drove to the Convent of the Sacred Heart, where they were received by his Lordship Bishop Grimes the Very Rev. Father Le Menajnt des Chesfoais, V.G., and Fathers O'Connell and Mahony, who conducted them U> the Uige class-room, in. which the pupils of the Convent School were assembled. His Excellency was greeted with .the ' National Anthem ' and a bong of welcome both, very well sung by the children. A violin solo, witib. piano, harp and organ accompaniment, was played by one of the girls, and another sang ' The' Vale of Avoca " very prettily. A bouquet of flowers was pre* scnted to his Excellency. Bishop Grimes said that, in the name, of the teachers and pupils, he wished to thank ins Excellency for the honor he had done them in coming tio visit them. They had been surprised when they heard of his Excellency's desire t,o visit the school, and the notice had been so short that they could not prepare an elaborate programme, but they had endeavored to show something of what was taught there. He could assure his Excellency that the deVoted teachers at the school did a ggreat deal for the children in helping them to train their minds, and in all their teaching they wcic reminded of the loyalty due from tihem to the King and to his representative in the Colony, anjd of the necessity for the feeling of patriotism which had recently been .so much in evidence throughout the Empire. His Excellency sard that it had given him the greatest possible pleasure to visit the Cotivent School. The impromptu programme the pupils had given was a verypleasing one, and he appreciated the delicate compliment to himself in the singing of the f Vale of Avoca. 1 He hoped that his first visit to the Convent School would not be his last Prior to their departure for the South Ins Excellency's secretary wrote to his Lordship the Bishop on behalf of Lady Plunket most cordially thanking the Sisters and children ior their handsome bouquet, and hoped at a later date to personally meet the Sisters and visit the convents and schools, a visit which would afford her the greatest possible pleasure. Notwithstanding manifold adversities and cruel persecution in their own land, it is clear the faith is firmly implanted in the hearts of the French people. Referrmg to the barque ' Boiedieu, 1 now in Lyttelkm harbor, and recently picked up at sea disabled, the local papers remarked that yesterday (Monday the 15th) being the Feast of the Assumption, no work was done ' on board the vessel.'