DIOCESE OF CHRISTCHURCH

New Zealand Tablet, Volume XXXV, Issue 10, 7 March 1907, Page 14

DIOCESE OF CHRISTCHURCH

(From our own correspondent.) _ March 4. The new convent at -Atoaroa, erected for the Sisters of Mercy, recently blessed and opened' by the 'Very Rev. Vicar-General, is situated on the church grounds near St. Patrick's Church and the Catholic schools It is> described as a large, compact building erected at a cost of about £6000. Of this sum two-thirds has already been subscribed, and the balance is. expected to be realised by means of a bazaar to bo opened at Easter. The Very Rev. Vicar-general in the course of his address to the assembled parishioners, aoid general public, eulogised the goofl work done <hy the Sisters of* Mercy in the parish and in educational matters.

A, feature of the illuminations on the evening of his Lordship Bishop Grimes' s return was the fine search light from the turret of the Adams Cycle Co.'s building in High street, which, through -One kindness of the proprietary, was trained during about two hours on the Cathedral and grounds, with remarkably good ettect. I also inadvertently omitted to mention last weeic -^the valued services rendered 'by a -.party of ''the H.A.C.B. Society, who took charge of -the gate and controlled the grounds. Tjhey also lined the main entrance to the episcopal residence as a guard of honor. His Lordship -the Bishop, accompanied by a number of visiting and resident .clergy,' was present at a welcome reception and charming entertainment tendered by the Sisters of the iviissioins and their pupils -on last Monday, afternoon at the Cdnvent of the Sacred Heart iJarbadoes street. - His Lordships was presented with a magnancent banner representing St.- Joseph and the Infant Jesus, worked toy the Sisters for the Cathedral, and also a 'beautifully, engrossed mounted and suitably framed address containing few but "appror priate words. His . Lordship expressed his sincere gratitude for the . warmth of - the welcome accorded ' him, and the .accompanying gifts, which he would 'greatly prize. Afcer complimenting the children on" their excellent rendition ' of the programme, his Lordship interested them by> recounting ' some experiences and adventures of his recent journeyings. Mrs. Arthur Mead made her first 'appearance on the concert platform, since her return from England, last week, .being the selected vocalist, in a high-class programme at the Exhibition concert hall.. She made- a most smccessful debut, and met with a very gratifying reception. Of her singing the ' Press ' says c This lady- has a soprano voice, which, though not powerful, is of imiuch sweetness, and is also admirably trained. Mrs. Mead sang Sullivan's "pretty song, ' Orpheus with his lute,' "with much artistic effect. At times the orchestral accompaniment was somewhat too heavy. Mrs. Mead was encored and repeated the item. In her , second solo, the more florid ' Should" he upbraid,' an opportunity was afforded Mrs. Mead -"to display the flexibility of her voice. The runs'- were taken with accuracy and decision, and 'the "solo as a whole -was sung with a sweetness of tone and general finish "that made it exceedingly successful. On the day following his, return the ' Lyttelton Times ' had the following complimentary editorial on his Lordship Bishop Grimes :— The whole-hearted spontaneity with which . his people have welcomed Bishop G rimes , on his return from an extended visit to the Old World will appeal more to his Lordship "than will their substantial token -of goodwill. The , ordinary man, like Charles Kingsley, ' hates overdoing anything, especially religion,' but -last night's gathering was much more a social demonstration -than a religious one. As a ■ people, the' Roman "Catholics have a singularly strong quality of thoroughness in all their ■doings, and this characteristic of their . creed is reflected in their social and political life. Bishop Grimes has been so long a broad-minded and open-<handed worker in Christchurch that his people have grown not only to esteem' him in common with the rest of the community, but also .' to love him, .and the spirit which induced them to voluntarily elect to make his 'home-cotriing. the -occasion for ' ah enthusiastic reception was simply an expression of their estimate of- his personal worth. It - is, .of course -the proper -thing nowadays for meniibers of the .various professions to pay periodical visits to the "centres of civilisation for the purpose of revising their standards of criticism and their standards of performance, and there is* no doubt _t<hat Bishop ttnimes, duriite Ms tour, has heard and seen much that will be "of- benefit to the members of his flock. Whilst the reception last night was confined to the people of his own Ohurchi, ajnid was- mot in a>ny- sense a- measure of his widespread popularity, the' whole community will share in the igratification at his return and in the recognition of his disinterested services to the city and the province. • .

We have pleasure in drawing attention to Messrs. S. Kirkpatncksand Co.'s advertisement announcing that the new season 'X ' Jam and Preserves are no ready. Messrs., S. Kirfcpatrick and Co. claim that if every housewife could visit &« •K. • Factory an a personally follow each of the simple homelike, cleanly details of preparing ' X ' Preserves there would be no room to question, why they possess 'that fine fruity flavor ' why they, are the goods to buy. Nelson is noted as the pleading fruit-growing centre, and with abundant superfine .orchard fruitage at their command, Messrs S. Kirkpatrick and Co. are enabled to' manufacture Jams and Preserves of the highest quality