ARCHDIOCESE OF WELLINGTON

New Zealand Tablet, Volume XXXVII, Issue 5, 4 February 1909, Page 173

ARCHDIOCESE OF WELLINGTON

(From our own correspondent.) January 30. The parish schools re-open on Monday. The annual retreat of the clergy of the archdiocese will liogin at St. Patrick's College on February 8. The Campbell family, of Karori, have offered a donation of £100 towards the building -of the proposed new church in Karori on the site donated by the Hon. C. J. Johnston. His Grace Archbishop Redwood and Rev. Father Hickson wore present on Monday at the Town Hall to hear the final lecture given by Lieutenant Knox on behalf of the Navy League. The annual picnic of St. Joseph's Church choir was held on January 22, Anniversary Day, at Nai Nai, when there were about fifty members of the choir and their friends present. On Wednesday Rev. .Father Gilmartin, of the Redemptorist Order, arrived in Wellington from Dundalk, County Louth, via Sydney. He will be stationed at Mount St. Gerard Monastery, Oriental Bay. His Grace Archbishop Redwood went to Blenheim on Friday to open the Father Lewis Memorial School — a building erected in memory of the late Very Rev. Father Lewis, S.M., who was at one time in charge of the parish of Blenheim. Plans have been prepared by Mr. J. S. Swan for a mew boys' school for the parish of Thorndon, -to be erected oir the site purchased in Hawkestone street last year. The drawings show, a building in brick of substantial design, with an equipment of the most up-to-date character. At St. Patrick's Church, Masterton, on Tuesday, Miss Mary Williams, daughter of Mr. E. G. Williams, of River road, was married to Mr. F. J. Lewin, of Masterton. Rev. Father Kelly performed the ceremony. In the afternoon a reception was held at the residence of the bride's parents. It is with sincere regret thab I record the death, at her residence, Adelaide road, of Mrs. Hannah Sheehan. The deceased lady was fifty-two years of age, and had by her kindness and sympathy endeared herself to all who knew her. The remains were conveyed to St. Joseph's Church,where a Requiem Mass was celebrated by Rev. Father s'. Mahony, S.M., who also officiated at the graveside at Mount Street Cemetery. R.I. P. . The many friends of Mr. Patrick Quinn, of Tory street, •will learn with regret ol his death, which occurred on January 27. - The deceased, who was thirty-four years of age, resided at one time in Palmerston North, and also on the West Coast. Very Rev. Father O'Shea, V.G., S.M , celebrated a Requiem Mass at St. Joseph's Church, and the Rev. Father S. Mahony officiated at the graveside at Karori Cemetery. — R.I.P.

The Vicar-General (Very Rev. Father O'Shea, S.M.) has informed me that at Aria, in the- northernmost part of the archdiocese of Wellington, almost on the boundary of the Auckland diocese (north of Taumarunui), and on the Main Trunk line, Si acres of land have been- purohased for a church, site, as the Catholics round about there are increasing in numbers. - • At the conference between - the '.-mejhbers of tha H.A.C.B. Society and the executive of the Wellington Catholic Club, held last week at St. Patrick's Hall, regarding the- arrangements for celebrating St. Patrick's Day, tho following officers" were elected: — -"Mr. J. W. Callaghan, president; Mr. M. O'Kane, treasurer; Messrs. P. D. Hoskins and H. McKeowen, joint secretaries. Among the winners' of the gold and silver medals offered by the Associated Board of the Royal Academy of Music and Royal College for highest honors marks in each grade for 1908 were the following pupils of St. Mary's Convent : — Intermediate grade : Gold medal for harmony — Annie L. Gibbs, 143 marks; Cecilia Dwyer,. 141 marks. Miss May Storey, A.S.C.L., gained 138 marks in the Advanced Grade, the highest given in the Dominion-. She would' consequently have gained the academy's gold medal had she competed. s. The Catholics of Wellington South have decided to hold a bazaar in the Skating Rink during Easter week, which will last from seven to ten days. There will be four fancy stalls and a refreshment stall. It has been agreed that the proceeds shall be devoted towards the cost of building the new church at Kilbirnie and to paying off the present indebtedness on the parish of Wellington South. A working committee has been formed to make the necessary arrangements, and Messrs. Robert W. Collins, J. J. Butler, and W. Frost have been appointed joint secretaries. Good progress is being made with the movement to build the Karori Catholic Church. At the meeting of tho building committee, held at Mr. Lissington's residence on Monday evening, Mr. W. Monaghan -presiding, a collection was taken up, and the. sum of £280 subscribed. In addition a considerable sum is already in hand, and several promises of further contributions have been made. -A series of entertainments are being organised, and it is anticipated that a start will soon be made with the erection of the church. It is to be built on a section of about an acre in extent, the gift of the Hon. C. J. Johnston, and will accommodate about 400 persons. The estimated cost is £1000. i At the S.M. Court, Feilding, on January 15, the action" brought by the Borough of Feilding against the Catholic authorities for rates alleged to be chargeable on certain property in Derby street was continued. The' point at issue was whether the vacant sections round the residence of Father O'Meara were used as a playground by the children attending the Convent School. ' Evidence was given—by Clarence Fisher and Thomas Ryan, boys attending the school, to the effect that they used the section for a playground. Reserved judgment was delivered by Mr. A. D. Thomson, S.M., in the Feilding Court on January 28. •Defendants claimed exemption from rates Hbecause Archbishop Redwood's property held the convent and a school, and Father O'Meara's was a playground. In Archbishop RedN wood's case, it was shown that the nuns used the convent in which to teach music and singing to other than pupils of the school. The Magistrate therefore ruled that the convent land was liable to pay rates. In Father O'Meara's case, where there were three sections, .--not ..divided by a~ fence, to which children had access, but "on which a cow - was * grazed, defendant was . ordered to pay rates on one section. -The action, was a friendly one brought forward to settle a legal question as to. payment of ratos. On Friday, January 22, Madame Crossley, accompanied by Mr. Jay Ryan and ' Mr. Harold Whittle, visited tho Sisters of Mercy at-Palmerston North, and delighted them by singing ' Ombra mai fui,' ' Mighty like _a rose,' and" 'Oh, that we two were maying!' Then, at njadame's request, Sister M. Cecilia, the "possessor of a beautiful voico, which the great contralto was most desirous to hear, sang ' Hush, little one,' and Gounod*s c \Ave Maria,' which served to show the remarkable range, flexibility, and quality of lier voice. Madame was most enthusiastic about it, and declared that the Sister had not only a splendid voice, but used it admirably, her phrasing and breathing being perfect, and that she was the most artistic singer she had heard on her tour. Madame Crossley also remarked how well' Sister M. Cecilia's voice was brought forward, and said that she (Madame Crossley) always had to guard against singing at the back. ' There is one passage there,' said, as she impulsively jumped up when the singer had ceased, and rapidly turned over the leaves of the music, 'that I couldn't do like that myself, and would that I could. There it is. Now, the ordinary singer would have to take breath there, and I listened for you to do

so, but, no; you sustained it right on.' On hearing that the Sister was a pupil of Sister M.Liguori, of .the Wellington Convent, Madame said that the latter was a splendid teacher, and that she regretted not having known sooner of her capabilities, as she had several times been asked to recommend a teacher. ,-.,