DIOCESE OF AUCKLAND

New Zealand Tablet, 20 April 1911, Page 714

DIOCESE OF AUCKLAND

(By Telegraph from our own correspondent.)

April 17. -■'-. In connection with the visit of the Irish delegates to Auckland, communications have been sent out to Dargaville, Whangarei ? Waihi, Hamilton, and Gisborne, from which places replies are expected. A meeting will be called shortly in the city to make arrangements for the reception and public meeting. A representative gathering of Catholic University students, taking part in the N.Z. University Colleges' debating and athletic contests, participated in the outim* arranged by the Auckland branch of the Newman Society! A luncheon was given at the Mon Desir Hotel, and addresses were given by his Lordship Bishop Cleary, Rev. Father Edge, and Rev. Father Bartley (Wellington). The students were taken by launch to Rangitoto r and the outing concluded with a picnic tea at Milford Beach, Takapuna A special Mass was offered for the students, which was celebrated in the morning at the Catholic Orphanage Takapuna. '.'-''■ ■.:'■'.■ Roy. Brother George has received tho following letter from his Lordship the Bishop :—' Dear Brother George On my own behalf, and on the part of the Catholic community generally, I write to tender to you, and to all concerned f with you in the magnificent success* of the St. Patrick s Day displays, our deep sense of obligation to you and to them. The whole demonstration was a credit alike to your and their training and skill and organising capacity and there was no Catholic present but was proud of the children and their teachers and the Catholic schools on that day. Will you do me the kindness of convevin"the deep sense of my appreciation to all who were asso" ciated with you in that great triumph.' The office of Tenebrse was held at the Cathedral on the evenings of Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday. : On Ihiirsday Pontificial High Mass was celebrated at seven o clock, after which there was a procession of the Blessed Sacrament to the Altar of Repose. In the evening Rev. father Wright preached on the Blessed Eucharist. ; , On Good Friday the Mass of the Presanctified was celebrated by his Lordship Bishop Cleary, Rev. Father Holbrook being assistant priest, Rev. Fathers Ormond and Smiers b W-«? cn and sub-deacon respectively.. The devotion or the Stations of the Cross took place in the afternoon In the evening the sermon on the Passion was preached bv Rev J l t fe £ orme y- The choir > "»der Mr. ; Hiscocks, rendered the Tenebra 'music execllentlyV' The Masses on Easter Sunday were at 6,7, 9, and It o'clock. At the early; .Masses arge numbers approached'tho Holy Table Pontifical High Mass was celebrated by 'his Lordship %

Bishop at 11 o'clock, Rev. Father Ormond being deacon, Rev. Father O'Farrell sub-deacon, and Rev. Father Holbrook assistant priest. During the Mass Rev. Father Holbrook, on behalf of the Bishop, thanked choir, decorators of f the altars, collectors, altar boys, and Cathedral clergy for good and consistent work throughout the year, wishing them every blessing and happiness. He specially thanked the parishioners for their cordial support and co-operation. Pontifical Vespers and Benediction were given in the evening, when the church was crowded. His Lordship delivered an impressive discourse on the longevity and virility of the Church, and concluded with apt and telling quotations from Lord Macaulay and Father Benson. The .choir, both morning and evening, rendered admirable service, and. a word of praise is due to the conductor and members. The decorations of the high altar were in excellent taste, for which much credit is due to Sister Peter arid Miss Gough.

CORONATION BAZAAR, AUCKLAND. The grand Coronation Bazaar in aid of the Mater Miseriordiao Hospital was successfully opened in the Princes' Rink by his Excellency the Governor, Lord Islington, on Saturday afternoon. Lady Islington accompanied his Excellency, who was attended by Captain Boscawen. The Sacred Heart College Cadets formed a guard of honor to their Excellencies, who were received by his Lordship Bishop Cleary, and conducted to a platform* in the middle of the hall, where a number of representative citizens, including his Worship the Mayor (Mr. L. J. Bagnall), were assembled. Despite the inclement weather there was a good attendance. The decorations in the hall were much admired, and the arrangement of the various stalls added to the attractiveness of the display. In a happy speech Bishop Cleary welcomed their Excellencies, and briefly stated the object of the bazaar, which was to raise funds to make an addition to the hospital. His • Excellency, who was received with prolonged applause, spoke of the pleasure with which Lady Islington and himself had accepted the invitation to lend assistance to a movement tlrat was worthy of all encouragement, and of all the support that one could give to it. The Sisters of Mercy Order had a long and honorable record in the Catholic annals of Auckland: its institution dated back to the first Bishop of Auckland, to the early days of settlement in New Zealand. In those early days the primary aim of. the Sisterhood was the advancement of education and religion, though they were ever ready to alleviate the sufferings of the sick. Recruits were enlisted from the Sisterhood of those days to go to the Crimea and work with the devoted nurses under Florence Nightingale. The present hospital was established ten years ago, and for some time it had been realised that with the increase and development of the city, the building accommodation of the hospital to-day was inadequate to cope, with the increasing demands made upon it. It was desired to erect a new and up-to-date building, fitted with all modern hospital appliances, to enable the Sisters to carry on the work of attending to the sick and suffering. The hospital hoped to be able to work beyond the city of Auckland itself. It could not, therefore, be regarded in the strictest sense as a local or parochial institution, but should be the object of support of all residents throughout the Auckland province; neither could it be regarded as a purely denominational institution, because it would be open to sufferers of all denominations. It might be said they were developing a superfluity, in view of the admirable general hospital Auckland possesses, but Auckland was a growing and developing city, and therefore with that growth and. that development a corresponding demand of the sick and suffering, will continually be made. His Excellency made a strong appeal for support to the bazaar, stating that it was for an object calculated to be of such benefit to Auckland that those interested in the city will do their utmost to erect at the earliest possible date an adequate addition to the hospital. .- ... The Mayor (Mr. L. J. Bagnall), on behalf of the citizens and himself, extended his sympathy to the objects of the bazaar. What his Excellency had said with regard to the value of the Mater Misericordiae Hospital was warranted and quite correct. The hospital treated many cases which could not go to the general hospital, and there was ample room for it in the city. The good Sisters were doing an estimable work, and had earned an everlasting debt of gratitude from those who had been objects of their care and attention.

Dr. Tracy Inglis (vice-president of the British Medical Association) extended his heartiest congratulations to the Sisters for, the commendable object they had in view, and wished them every succeses. Provision (he said) would be made in the 'new annexe for the accommodation of the sick poor, and this was a most deserving object of charity. He thought these free wards would be the first of 'the kind in the city of Auckland, if not in. the Dominion. The attention at the hospital was excellent, and rich and poor were treated alike. '" '; Dr. Lowe returned thanks on behalf of the hospital staff, and thanked in an especial manner the members of the Marist Brothers' Old Boys' Club, who had done everything possible to help the bazaar along. ;" ; Mr. A. M. Myers, M.P., also spoke, and expressed th» pleasure it gave him to associate himself with the objects of the bazaar, and said that it was his experience that when suffering humanity called for aid. the Catholic Church knew no creed. * '"'

Mr. J. J. 0 Brien, one of the promoters of the bazaar expressed appreciation and thanks on behalf of the Sisters tor the kindly remarks of the speakers, and all who had taken an interest in the bazaar. Cheers were then given for Lord and Lady Islington. J lieJ bazaar will be continued throughout the ensuing fortNo trouble or time has been spared to make the bazaar successful and the Princes' Rink has been transformed into a veritable fairyland. All the stallholders appear in picturesque costumes typical of various countries; A variety of ornamental and useful goods are for sale, and already excellent business has resulted. Though the weather was unfavorable a sum of £IOO was taken on the first night . Features of the bazaar are the drill and fancy dancing exhibitions given every evening by 150 trained ladies undo? the direction of Miss Daphne Knight, and the schoolscompetitions, which will also be held nightly