Intercolonial

New Zealand Tablet, 30 March 1911, Page 595

Intercolonial

The Rev. Father Treacy, C.SS.R., was a passenger from Home by the Otway, which arrived in Sydney on March 16. At the quarterly meeting of the St. Vincent de Paul Society, Melbourne, a gratifying account of the work done by the brothers was read by the secretary. As many as 40,978 A.C.T. and other publications were distributed during the year. The large number of 6876 visits were paid and relief given in the majority of cases. The receipts were £2175 os 7d, expenditure £1603 4s lOd.

At St. Patrick’s Cathedral, Melbourne, on Sunday afternoon, March 12, the annual demonstration of the Catholic Total Abstinence League of the Cross was held, about 3000 children taking part. Nearly 2000 girls in white marched behind banners from the various districts, and were followed by over 1000 boys, each with the red ribbon of the league as a badge. The route was lined by thousands of people, who afterwards, to the number of over 8000, joined in the devotions.

The members of the city and suburban branches of the Hibernian Society, Melbourne, received Holy Communion in a body at St. Patrick’s Cathedral on Sunday, March 12. The Communion breakfast was held in the Cathedral Hall, and was attended by about 800 persons. Addresses were delivered by his Grace the Archbishop of Melbourne, Very Rev. Dean Phelan, V.G., Dr. Kenny, Mr. Frank Gavau Duffy, K.C., Mr. Benjamin Hoare, and others.

Interviewed while passing through Adelaide on his way to Perth, his Eminence Cardinal Moran (reports the Catholic Press) said that the Catholic Church was progressing in Australia by leaps and bounds. Thev welcomed immigrants from any .part of the world. He did not think sectarianism was growing in Australia, but that a spirit of justice seemed to be spreading more widely every day. Justice is all we ask for,’ ho said. ‘We don’t ask for patronage or any privilege, though politics are going on famously. lam wishing the referendum success. I will seek to make it successful. A great thing is to strengthen our central government. We must put in its hands great powers, and particularly that power to repel every foe, and to prepare all the equipment of peace, so that if an enemy assails us, no matter under what flag, we shall find Australia well armed to defend our shores.' Lady Dudley, in opening the Coronation Carnival at North Melbourne, said;—‘l need hardly say that it has given me the greatest personal pleasure to come amongst you to-day. I have been looking forward to this afternoon, but I confess that I hardly expected such a warm and cordial welcome as has awaited me. At the same time I was eager to come amongst you, because I was happy to give all the support I could to the cause for which we are gathered together this afternoon. 1 think that, perhaps, I am better qualified than most people to give, as I do this afternoon, the warmest and smccrest tribute to those noble ladies, the Sisters of Mercy, who in Ireland, here, and elsewhere, it has been my great privilege to watch carry out their noble educational and philanthropic work. I am addressing a gathering which is largely Catholic and also largely Irish, and so I count many amongst it my personal friends. Because of that may I be allowed to make a strong appeal to you all to join together this afternoon, and help forward this work, so that while we are enjoying our personal pleasures, those who do not take part in pleasure but who give their lives to works of charity, shall be able to do so unhampered by debt.’ His Eminence Cardinal Moran, his Grace Archbishop Redwood, of Wellington; his Lordship Dr. Gallagher, of Goulburn; his Lordship Dr. Norton, Bishop of Port Augusta; the Right Rev. Mgr. O’Haran, and the other ecclesiastics who are visiting Perth in connection with the consecration of the Bishop-elect of that See, had a great welcome on their arrival on Tuesday morning, March 14 (says the Catholic Press). On arrival in Perth his Eminence was met at the railway station by the private secretary of the Governor, and the Colonial Secretary, on behalf of the Government, the Mayor (Alderman Moiloy) and Senator Delargie, and was escorted in his Excellency’s carnage to the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception. Private carriages and motor cars were provided for the other visitors. The Irish War Pipe Band and the Hibernian Societies took part in the reception. They attended a civic reception in the Town Hall in the afternoon, and were, with the Premier, Mr. Wilson, the guests of Governor Strickland at dinner in the evening. In responding to the toast of his health, the Cardinal referred to the naval defence scheme of the Commonwealth. ‘No one,’ he said, ‘ rejoices more than I do in the great report,which I read _in this morning’s paper, of Admiral Henderson concerning the naval defence of this Australia of ours. He sets Fremantle on exactly the same footing as our own great and peerless harbor of Sydney. I am glad indeed to be with you to-day in this triumph of Fremantlea triumph which is not only one for you and your State, but when it is consummated will prove a triumph for all Australia *