Diocesan News ARCHDIOCESE OF WELLINGTON

New Zealand Tablet, Volume XXXIII, Issue 30, 27 July 1905, Page 4

Diocesan News ARCHDIOCESE OF WELLINGTON

(From our own correspondent.)

July 22.

The meinboia of the tennis club in connection with the Catholic Young Men's Club met on Wednesday evening, and decided to hold a social in the Alexandra Hall early next month. A committee was set up, with Mr. Maurice O'Connor as secretary.

The social in aid of the Thorndon Catholic school was held in the Sydney street schoolroom on Wednesday. There was a very fair attendance, and a pleasant evening was spent. Several vocal items were contubuted by the Rev. Father Moloney, Miss Twohill, and Messrs. Carr and Gamble, and were much appreciated. The arrangements, which were most satisfactory, were in the hands of an energetic committee, with Mr. H. O'Leary as secretary.

His Excellency the G^ernor has offered to endow the Victoria College Debating Society with a gold medal as a yoarly prize for oratory. In connection with Trinity College, Dublin, there is a similar medal in memoly of the first Lord Plun-ket, a\nd his Eixccllency desires to establish a link between one of the oldest and one of the youngest universities in the Empire. Needless to say the students have accepted the offer, and have asked his Excellency to be present at the meeting when the competition for the medal will take place. The half-yearly meeting of the St. Alojsius branch of the H.A.C.B. Society was held on Tuesday evening. The following officers were elected an f l installed :—President, Bro. E. J. Fitzgibbon ; a ice-president, Bro. J. Ryan ; secretary, Bro. J. J. Casey ; treasurer, Bro. J. Chambers ; warden, Bro J. Murphy ; guardian, Bro. A. Guthrie ; sick visitors, Bros. S. Philpott and D. O'Mara ; trustees, Bros. S. Philpott, P. Guthrie, and R. W. Collins. The congratulations of the members were extended to the retiring president, Bro. James Delaney,, who was recently maimed" to Miss Nellie Carrig, eldest daughter of the late Patrick Carrig.

The accommodation of the Victoria Hall was taxed to its utmost on Wednesday evening last, the occasion being a social to provide funds for the election of a shelter she.l for the pupils of the Wellington South Convent school. Tlie first part of the e\ining was de\oted to a highly enjoyable concert piogramme. The social from every point of -view was the best e\er held in the parish, and the commit lee and Father Ains worth are desening of great ciedit for the success achieved The ladies Df the parish were as usual to the fore in the prodding of refreshments The secretaij.al duties were ably discharged by Mr. R. W. Collins.

A portion of Mr. Millar's icmarks during the debate on the second reading of the Bible-in-schools Referendum Bill are well worthy of production Commenting on the clrrical agitation for the introduction of the Bible into schools ho said that if the clergy supporting the measure had expended on the religious instruction of the childien one-tenth of Ihe energy they had expended on an endeavor to make the school teachers impart religious insi ruction, thousands of those whom they now designated as ' godless ' woukl be beyond the rdach of that reproach. Mr. Fisher also showed himself a strong opponent of the measure, and referred to the question of the Catholic schools.

The debating tournament organised by the Wellington Debating Societies' Union was opened on M'omlay e\erving by a contest between the Catholic Young Men's Club and St. Teller's Anglican Chtb, held in the former's rooms, Boulcott street. The chair was occupied by Mr. J. J. Devine The representatives of the Catholic Young Men's Club, Messrs. A. 11. Casey, F. McDonald, arid P. J. Moran, had to affirm that ' The operations o\ commercial trusts are conducive to the general welfare of mankind.' Tlhey argiued that the tendency of the trust system was to benefit producers, consumers, and workers, and that -with propc legislative control the evils existing under the American system would disappear. The opposing side, Messrs. G. T. Hall, R Low, and H,unt, regarded the motion as affirming the beneficial operation jf existing combinations, and argued accordingly. The judge, Mr. J. W. Blaok, awarded' pride of place to St. Peter's Club He experienced much difficulty in coming to a decision, and finally allotted the poinits as follow : St. Peter's Club, 233, and Catholic Young Men's Club, 229. The officers of the Debating Union will be entertained T>y the members of the Catholic Club on Monday evening.