ARCHDIOCESE OF WELLINGTON

New Zealand Tablet, Volume XXXVI, Issue 23, 11 June 1908, Page 14

ARCHDIOCESE OF WELLINGTON

(From our own correspondent.) June 6. The Sisters of Mercy intend using the premises in Sussex Square, recently purchased from Mr. Bannister, for -a school almost immediately. The Very Rev. Father Clune, C.SS.R., is expected to return to the city on Tuesday.- The Rev. Father Lowham will' leave that day for Dunediri to conduct retreats. The Rev. Father Ureagh will leave for the West Coast on a similar mission. Of the thirty-four candidates who sat for the law examinations in May, only one was successful. That one is Mr. James Joseph Butler, of Wellington South, an ex-pupil of St. Patrick's College. The result is quite unique, aad adds yet another gem to the college crown. The mission at South Wellington, conducted by the Redemptorist Fathers, was brought to a close on Sunday. In the morning there was a general Communion of the merir The sight at the 7.30 Mass was a most edifying one, nearly the whole of the congregation approaching the Holy Table. The large number of men present was particularly gratifying. In the evening an impressive sermon was preached by Father Lowham. On Sunday evening a largely attended meeting - of men was held in St. Anne's schoolroom, South Wellington, to form a Catholic club. The meeting was addressed by the Yen. Archdeacon Devoy and Rev. Father Lowham. It was unanimously decided to form a club ; nearly 80 members were enrolled, and a provisional committee elected. It is intended to take over the club rooms at present under the control of the . Hibernian Society. The mission at Kilbirnic, conducted by the Rev. Father Lowham, C.SS.R., was most successful. The Catholics there have decided to build a temporary -church and at a meeting held last evening there were sufficient guarantors found' to ensure the necessary building being erected within six months. Island Bay, where the Rev. Father Creagh, C.SS.R., has been working during the past week, has also had a very successful mission in the little church recently erected. The meeting of ex-pupils of Sister Francis Xavier at Seatoun last Saturday afternoon was a most interesting gathering. It must have been most gratifying to Sister Francis to find that, after many years of unceasing effort as a teacher, so many of her former pujoils had assembled to show their appreciation of what she had done for them. That is one of the pleasures that a teacher loves to experience. On Saturday the home that Sister Francis has oi recent years founded at the seaside was filled with ladies who had received their education from her. They had come to show Sister Francis that her efforts for them were not forgotten, and that on the eve of her leaving New Zealand to spend her remaining days in England she was leaving behind her pupils that were grateful. Mrs. Smith handed the Sister, on behalf of the gathering, a substantial purse of sovereigns that were tendered as a mark, and not by any means the measure, of their gratitude. Sister Francis was too touched by the kindness displayed to attempt to reply. A pleasant hour or so. was spent in the renewal of old friendships.

- (From an occasional correspondent.) June 5. Mother Mary Aubert visited Shannon last -Monday with the object of obtaining roots of native trees and shrubs for the Home of Compaesion at Island -Bay. A complimentary social was tendered to the lady stallholders and their assistants, who worked £o assiduously at the recent Dominion Bazaar in aid o"f the Basilica, Thorndon. The gathering was held in the Sydney, street schoolroom on Tuesday pvening, • whenthere was a large attendance. The hall was tastefully decorated with palms and pot plants, and the stage was furnished as a drawing-room. The N.Z.- Industries' Week started on Thursday last and will close on the 10th, and is creating a great amount of enthusiasm among the leading firms of the city- Among the exhibits displayed there is a fine ex-. ample of N.Z. made cabinet work on view in Mr. Linley's shop, and is greatly admired by the passers-by. It is a large altar for the Newtown convent, built of English and American • oak, and made in Gothic style with vine "foliage design in the panel carvings worked

by the Sisters of Mercy. It measures 9ft 6in by 7ft 6in.