DIOCESE OF CHRISTCHURCH

New Zealand Tablet, 13 August 1908, Page 14

DIOCESE OF CHRISTCHURCH

(From Our Own Correspondent.) August 10. The Rev. Father Hills, _.S.M. .Le'eston, is at present conducting a retreat for the Sisters of Nazareth,' and was replaced at Leeston on Sunday by the Rev. Dr. Kennedy from the Cathedral. .

Hcrr Benno Scherck, who has accepted the position of choir-, master at the Cathedral, was formerly organist arid "'choirmaster of St.* Francis' Church, Melbourne," and will be remembered as being in charge of the musical arrangements at the opening of St. Joseph's Cathedral, Dunedin- " ' -

' The Living Floral Carnival, which opens in the Art Gallery for a season of twelve nights, and promoted with the object * of. clearing all existing liabilities on St. Mary's parish, as a spectacular display promises to equal any yet produced in the city. The carnival, which is ( - to be opened by Mr C. M. Gray, M.P.,: is under the direction of Mr. Win. Densem, but practicalty thewhole of the arrangements and preparator} r work are due to Mr. Fred. Wauchop. These include tuition in the central feature, a game of euchre with living' subjects, with pretty dances,, marches, and groupings. - • ' -

There was Solemn High Mass at ti o'clock in the Cathedral on ' Sunday last. His Lordship the Bishop was celebrant, the Very Rev. Dean Ginaty, S._M. , V.G., assistant priest, the Tlev. Fathers Hills, S.M. (Leeston), and O'Har_e_ deacon and suodeacon respectively of tha Mass, and .Very Rey. Father Price.-

Adm. mastsr of ceremonies. The impressive ceremony of con f erring Holy Order:; was presided over by his Lordship tli3 Bishop, when two young iihj.i were oidained subdeacons. On; Saturday next, the Feast of the Assumption, these with another will be ord&incd deacons, and on • the following Sunday they will "be raised to the priesthood. At Vespers his Lordship thu Bishop gave an instructive discourse on the subject of ordination to the priesthood, the significance of the ceremony, and responsi bilities and duties of those entering the sacred ministry.

The various of the Cathedral parish, controlled by the Sisters of the Missions, underwent the periodical inspection of the North Canterbury Board of Education inspectors .. recently, with satisfactory results on the whole. Under the new. system adopted the work of inspection and examination for promotion., of pupils is undertaken on different occasions, the.* examination' therefore is deferred to the end of the year. In his report ofSt. Joseph's Cathedral Girls' School the inspector, Mr. E. K. Mulgan, writes as follows (his remarks being necessarily sum-, niarised) : — ' The somewhat complex conditions accompanying the transition from old to new regulations have left their impress on much of the work, which it is felt cannot be judged by .normal standards. An appreciable number of pupils were promoted- in January last, with the result that a good deal of unevenness appeared in the subjects tested. On the whole, however, the classification of pupils and the promotions from class to class have been carefully determined, much of the written work was neatly set forth, and reading everywhere was highly commendable. The schemes of work submitted evidenced care and judgment ; the registers appear to be regularly and carefully marked.* In regard, to other phases of the work, there occur the remarks ' Satis- " factory,' ' In general satisfactory,' ' Good,' ' Provided for,' ' As approved,' etc. The number of pupils on the roll is given .as 303, and the number present 251. Mr Mulgan also inspected St. Anne's Catholic School at'Woolston, which, though of recent " existence, earned a very satisfactory- report. ' The pupils' (he states) have, been classified with- due regard for their intelligence and attainments, and promotions from class to class l.aye been faithfully determined. Examination tests revealed a satisfactory knowledge of the programmes presented, a capital spirit of work throughout, praiseworthy neatness in setting forth written, work, and a gratifying readiness in responding to questioning effort.The carefully-prepared forecast of the year's work submitted would have its value considerably increased" by the addition of brief teaching notes.' The general remarks include ' Good," 1 Satisfactory,' ' In general satisfactory,' ''Provided for,' « As ap- . proved,' etc. The number of pupiis on the- roll -is 35,. and present on the occasion 34. The reports treating of the Schools at Aldington, Halswell, and Marist Brothers' Boys' Schools'will be given next week.