Lyttelton

New Zealand Tablet, 4 January 1912, Page 25

Lyttelton

(From our Christchurch correspondent.) With the object of adding to the fund for the erection of a social hall and reading-room for seamen, the members of St. Joseph’s Conference, Society of St. Vincent de Paul, assisted by friends and members of St. Joseph s Catholic Church, Lyttelton, have organised a bazaar and art union, which was opened on Saturday evening, December 23, in . the Railway Social Hall. iQoV d6 f ° f erectln S the building was initiated in May, 1905, at a meeting of St. Joseph’s Conference Mission to Catholic Seamen, a branch of the St. Vincent de Paul Society s special works, known throughout the world for its efforts amongst seafarers. : During the past six and a half years members of the Conference have zealously carried on the work; amongst ? the seamen 1 visiting port and have exercised a remarkable 'influence for good. It has been felt that the work could' be better carried on if a hall were available where seamencould meet and spend a social hour or two It was at

first intended that the hall should be available ' to 1 : Catholic seamen?only; but it has been decided, in view ( of .the fact that seamen choose their friends irrespective of creed, to make the institution open to men of all denominations. Amongst those interested in the project are his Lordship Bishop Grimes and Rev. Father * P. J. Cooney, who is in charge of St. Joseph's parish, and spiritual director of the Conference. A plot of land in Winchester street, Lyttelton, has already been secured, and; it is anticipated that sufficient money, added to the funds already in hand, will be obtained ( from the bazaar to enable a start to be , made by the . end of January with the erection of the building, which will (cost about £BOO. ...:■(■,"(

In the course of some preliminary remarks, the Rev. Father Cooney referred to the object for which the bazaar and art union had been organised, and said that for the past six years- members of the St. Vincent de Paul Society had devoted much of their time to attending to the spiritual welfare of seamen visiting Lyttelton, and to the poor people in the parish, and .they found that their services were acceptable to a large number of people outside of the Catholic Church. In addition to providing a social hall for seamen, the proposed building would be available for parish purposes, so that young men and boys could meet for entertainments. Although the building would be under the control of the Catholic Church, it would be open to seamen of all creeds. Father Cooney thanked the ladies and gentlemen who had worked very energetically to make the'project a success, and in asking Mr. G. Laurenson, M.P., to open the bazaar, he referred ,to the valuable services rendered' by him, and to the fact that this was the fourth Catholic bazaar at which he had officiated during his twelve years’ service as the representative in Parliament of the Lyttelton electorate. Mr. Laurenson, before declaring the bazaar open, said that he was pleased to take part in such a function, the object of which was for elevating the life of seamen and, the young men of the country. He trusted that it would be a financial 'success.

The attendance at the opening, and on subsequent evenings has been very good, and excellent business has resulted.