DIOCESE OF AUCKLAND

New Zealand Tablet, 25 October 1906, Page 23

DIOCESE OF AUCKLAND

(From our oW correspondent.)

. October 19,

The Bishop at the time of writing is at Whaka-r tane, Bay of Plenty. '.-,,'-• ' The members of the Manst Brothers'" Old:' Boys'. Association are to .appioach the Holy Table -in a body at. St. Patrick's Oathedral on 28th inst. : , and will, afterwards, assemble for . breakfast >in the convent : schools, "Hobson street. , , \~_ r - .■> Last. Monday evening in the Royal Albert Hall an 'At home" was given by the Marist Brothers' Okl Boys' Association. There were -about- 150 persons" pre^ sent. Part of the evening was devoted to progressive euchre. A most enjoyable evening, was , spent. In the early part of the evening the Rev.' Fathers Holbrook, McMillan, and were present. ~ - - - Two old identities, in the persons of Mrs: Gough and Mrs. Edward McDonnell, -have, just passed -. away to the great majority. The former was well known in Catholic circles in the city, and was mourned .by a wide circle of friends.- One of her daughters," Miss Catherine Gough, lias for many years attended to the decorations of St. Patrick's altars. In her sad loss -widespread sympathy is shown". Airs. McDonnell was better known at the Thames. A few weeks ago she was brought to Auckland but never rallied, and died here this weei'i. Her remains were accompanied to the' Thames steamer, by r a.. large number- of friends. Thecheif n^unier was Dr. Alurphy, a nephew of-- deceased. The interment took place at" the Thames,, where 'the Right Rev. Mgr. O'Reilly, V.F., officiated.— R. l. P. Last Tuesday in the Orange Hall, umler the auspices of the Auckland District Grand Lodge, the -Rev. James Wilson .gave a lecture- on ' Protestant Heroes.' Amongst the galaxy' of 'heroes ' the lecturer sorted out three for special commendation, viz., Luther William the Silent of Change, and William 111. of "Eng--land. The first-named 'wasa noble character. He would like Orangemen to remember Luther's -toleration.' William the Silent was designated ' the soldier of the Reformation; to whom, and his" "son Maurice of Nassau the country .owed much.' William 111/ami' the Boyne came next, and the lecturer recommended the ' saffron sash ' fraternity to read ' the linest • account of - that - struggle written by a , Roman. Catholic, Frank. Hugh O'Donnell.'' And (graciously , added the' "rev. . gentleman), 'it was -a mfstake to think ' there were no' fairminded spirits in • the Church /of Rome.. He had met some grand characters in the.-Roman: Catholic Church.' Now, if Mr^- Wilson received a whack from .a— paving stone or an iron nut during the dog days in Belfast he would receive the best object lesson " in toleration as understood by the average Orangeman. - An interesting story,. in . connection -with - old St Patrick's has come to ligiit. Mr." T. -H. White J.P. district manager of the Kauri Timber Company, was many years ago in San Francisco, and there came in contact, very often with, a well known local architect and builder. J)nc day the "American showed -Mr. White a book of plans, and, stopping before one . sketched plan; asked the" New 'Zealander if he recognised it It was familiar, but Mr. White could not ' recall it. ' That,? said the Yankee, 'is the interior of- the roof of St. Patrick's in, your city : of -Auckland.-' I have travelled over a great portion, of the world, ai>d_ as • you see I -have the' plans of many buildinjrs in my journcyings. That ceiling 'for design 1 and 'workmanship struck me as far above the average, hence I brought away with me the plan of i£' -It should •here be mentioned that the. whole work was done lay the . late Mr. Mahqney, the well Iriiown architect, father

of the Rev. Father Mahbfiey', * and the late Mr. Mahony, father of Mr. B. Mahpnyr7so.lid.tor. 'Again it must be noted tha^. ? .th.e .work. ;wa,s^d6.Be,>in« v .<,he.tf aH; away forties,, when, the nieans at. the disposal of 'the craftsmen "w6re " of ' a primitive order." The" exigencies of the iimes; together with the/ ravages" of "wear, have-necessi-tated ' tfoe destruction of ' what' bur American friend declared was a rare and . first-class work, and which Mr. White- said 'the other, day, and with regret, was 'the 1 best piece of work in Auckland.'