DIOCESE OF AUCKLAND

New Zealand Tablet, 20 December 1906, Page 23

DIOCESE OF AUCKLAND

(From our own correspondent.) December 14

Rev. Father O'Connor, "who. made- a short visit to Auckland, returned last Saturday by the '"Sierra ' to Sydney en route to Bolivia, South America. St. Benedict's new convent" is -to be blessed and opened next Sunday afternoon" Jby ;his t Lordship the Bishop. The building is a handsome one, and '-the Sisters of St. Joseph and the prie.sts. and people of St. Benedict's parish' are to. be heartily congratulated on this last addition to their parochial 1 property. At the time of " writing 'no information; is to hand when Mr. Devlin will arrive iir Auckland, inconseauence of which nothing has been done. ' Efforts'- without avail have been made to obtain the desired information. — That he will be in Auckland well- after the holidays is. welcome news. Within the next few days the question should, be "set at rest, when all" will, set to work in order to bring A uckland " into line with the South in its desire to "help on the cause of Ireland. The 'Auckland Star"' ia an editorial • article last night dealing with the crisis in' France" sakl': MWmay fairly describe it as ..a . conflict between a national democracy and ' a foreign theocracy.' Again he says : 'But we fail lo see in -the anticlerical laws ,' any sipu of that " persecution for righteousness' sake, "etc." ' Of course he doesn't. " But stiil .'" the editor - "cannot refrain from saying : %v Nor2js it possible 1o withhold admiration and sympathy for ' the courage that inspires tnesc devoted sons of the Church and the sacrifices they are prepared to make iv her cause.'

A concert and dramatic entertainment ; given'by the pupils of the Convent Schools and their friends in St. Bonaventure's Hall, Parnell, last Thursday evening, were largely attended, and the programme" evoked much appreciative applause. A musical sketch, ' The Daric*ing Lesson, 1 was vefy^ well _ done, ;as were a .number .of dancing items by pUpiis'of "Miss Knight. The programme included a vocal duet,' La Serenata,' by the , Misses Topp and Atkins; instrumental solo, by Miss M. Anderson , duet, ' Martha,', by Misses O'Sullivan and Spim'.-:s ; vocal quartette, \iy Misses Topp, Reardon, Atkaiis, and Nolan ; recitation by Miss E. Topp ; and ' instrumental solo by Miss E. McDonald. The second part of • ihe entertainment was a dramatic piece, "The Gipsy Girl.' " _ „ ilis Lordship the Bishop returned 'from his' trip South last AVedncsday. Owing to the "Rarawa ' mis- , sing a trip on Tuesday, the Bishop was detained one day, ' and in consequence _ missed the opportunity of presiding at the Sacred Heart College entertainment at St. Benedict's Hall that evening. From Hawera, however, he sent Rev. Brother Justin, Superior of the college, a telegram in which he expressed his deep regret at not being present, to" hand the . prizes to the successful students. • He promised in the ." wire to offer, for ' next year a prize for the student who excelled in Esperanto. The Bishop said he intended, if present, 'to refer to Mr. Joseph Devlin's visit to Auckland and to ask his people to rally around and heartily support the member for West Belfast. The Right Rev. Mgr. O'Reilly, who -presided, in the absence of the Bishop, informed the large audience of the intention of the Bishop, and on his behalf spoke ; in support of Mr. Devlin and his mission, and hoped | that every Irishman and Irishwoman would rally rounld - Mr. Devlin and make Ms visit the success it so^fichly.^ deserved. Mr. M. J . Sheahan, who moved a vote of thanks to the Monsignor for presiding, prefaced his remarks by urging all to attend Mr. Devlin's meeting.