NEW HEADFORD

New Zealand Tablet, Volume XXXV, Issue 48, 28 November 1907, Page 15

NEW HEADFORD

(From our Christchurch correspondent.) On Tuesday evening, November 19, the St. Patrick's branch of the H.A.C.B. Society, New Headford, celebrated the 25th anniversary of its opening in the . schoolroom at New, Headford, when there was a very large 'attendance, including visitors from other branches. Bro.-.M. F. Ryan (president) occupied the chair, and the Rev.. Father O-'Conriell • (chaplain of the Christchurch branch) and Rev. Father Mahony (Leeston) were " present.- An apology was received for the absence through illness of the Rev. Father Richards (chaplain of the branch). After justice had been done to the gooa things provided a toast list was proceeded' with. That of ' The Pope and King ' was proposed by the chairman. The Rev. Father O'Connell, in an eloquent speech, proposed the toast of the ' H.A.C.B. Society,' dwelling • on the good work it was doing, and making an ear- ' nest plea for more general support- for it from Catholic rreri, especially the young men. Bros.- Doolan, Dennehy, and Power (Christchurch) ; replied in appropriate speeches. .Bro. Sellars ' (Christchurch) proposed -'The New Headford branch,' which he said had a very creditable record, and then gave some interesting particulars regarding the early history of the Society in the Dominion. He informed the gathering that he had been appointed District Deputy for Canterbury, an announcement which was received with applause. The New Headford branch had been most fortunate, he said, in having at all times competent and energetic officers, " and, in passing, he mentioned the assistance given to the branch since its foundation, by the Ryan family— five members of which were present on that occasion. Bro. M. F. Ryan, in replying," said the branch was formed on Sunday, November 19, 1882, with a membership of 21. The speaker and Bro. Lloyd were the only original members who were living. Bro. Lloyd had journeyed from Kaiapoi to be present at the . gathering. The present membership of the branch was 30, and they had paid away in sick pay during the quarter of a century upwards of £357. The funds on hand and invested amounted to £276 odd.

Bro. McVeigh 'gave an interesting history 'of the branch and its.'members, and eulogised . the tact and ability of -the president. Bro. Doherty proposed 'Our Chaplains,' and spoke at some length of the good work done by them. The Rev. Father Mahony (Leeston). suitably replied. The visiting brethren ' was proposed by the president, anrt. responded to by Bro. N. Slattery (Leeston) ■ The oldest members ' by Bro. McVeigh, and responded so by Bros. Lloyd and Ryan. Both of these members .gave some -very interesting reminiscences of the founding of the branch and of its early days. A very pleasant evening was brought to a close by the singing of ' Auld lang syne.' During the evening songs were given by the Rev. Fathers Mahony and O'Connell, and Bros. Den-nehy, J. Ryan, Healy (Ashburton), Mr. Wilson, and others.