PALMERSTON NORTH

New Zealand Tablet, Volume XXXIV, Issue 4, 25 January 1906, Page 20

PALMERSTON NORTH

(From our own correspondent.) January 14. The Friendly Societies' annual picnic was held at Foxton on New Year's Day, and proved a great success, the H.A.C.B. Society's local branch being much in evidence on the grounds. It has become known that we are about to lose the services of our much respected priests, the Rev. Fathers P. Tymons and Bowden, which will take place, amongst other probable changes in the diocese, after the retreat, which begins on February 7, in Wellington. The leading gentlemen of the parish held a meeting on Tuesday evening with a view to making arrangements for a testimonial to our respected pastors on their leaving the parish. A strong committee was formed with Mr. W. Ryan as secretary and Mr. O'Connor (of Messrs. O'Connor and Tydeman) as treasurer, when it was decided to make a presentation of a purse ol sovereigns at an early date. The choir is about to lose the services of its able conductor and organist, Mr. P. Tombs, who will take up his residence at Hastings. Mr. Tombs, who has had charge of the choir for a number of years, is a great musical enthusiast and a prominent player in the local Orchestral Society, and moreover leader of the Palmerston North Military Brass Band. He will be a great loss to the district. The half-yearly meeting of the Hibernian Society was held on Tuesday last, when the following officers were elected and duly installed by the outgoing president, Bro. A. McWilliam :— President, Bro. Thos. O'Reilly ; vice-president, Bro. S. J. Barry ; secretary, Bro. A. J. Rickard ; treasurer, Bro. Thos. Norris ; warden, Bro. F. O'Donnell ; guardian, Bro. McLean; auditors, Bros. Burns' and McKewen. The secretary, Bro. A. J. Rickard, was appointed as delegate to Auckland for the half-yearly district meeting in Fe/bruary. The balance sheet, .which was adopted, showed satisfactory progress. The United Friendly Societies' part in the programme for Hospital Sunday, on the 24th ult., had to be postpostponed indefinitely owing to an unusually heavy downpour of rain. The II A.C B. Society met in great force under President McWilliam, and got as far as the Square, when like others they had to beat a hasty retreat. The Christmas holidays passed by very quietly in town. The Masses were as usual at midnight, at 9, and 11 o'clock, all being well attended St. Patrick's choir, under the conductorship of Mr. P. Tombs, gave Gounod's ' Messe Solennelle ' both at midnight and 11 o'clock. The choir was greatly assisted by their old conductor, Mr. W Gamble, and Mr. Gamble, sen. (Wellington), also by Mr. Thos. Rodgers and Mr. Stevens.