DIOCESE OF CHRISTCHURCH

New Zealand Tablet, 10 April 1913, Page 25

DIOCESE OF CHRISTCHURCH

(From our own correspondent.) --;; .'•-'v,'. / April 7. The Very Rev. Father Price, D.C., Adm., has received communications from his Lordship the Bishop at various stages of his homeward voyage, from all of which it may be inferred that his Lordship is in good health. There was Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament in the Cathedral from the 11 o'clock" Mass until after Vespers on Sunday last. Before Benediction there was the usual. procession, in which St. Patrick's (men's) division of the arch-confraternity of the Blessed Sacra- . ment participated, together with members of other societies and sodalities. - , > By the death of Mrs. Katerina Uru, at the residence of her son, Mr. Harry Uru, in Riccarton, last .'Thursday evening Tuahiwi lias lost one of its oldest and most respected residents. The deceased lady was over ninety years of age and was married seventy-five years ago to the late Mr. John Uru. She reared a family of twenty-one children, ail of whom she outlived except three sons—Messrs. Hopere, Harry, and Hape Uru, —and one daughter. Deceased was a well-known figure in the Canterbury district, and the large attendance at the funeral testified to the esteem in which she was held. The body was brought to the Tuahiwi Pa on Friday evening and laid in the Runanga Hall. The usual tangi.was iield and friends from the North and South Islands attended. The late Mrs. Uru was greatly respected by all who knew her, and was of a quiet, reserved nature. She was, during her long life, a faithful adherent of the Catholic Church, and the burial service was conducted by the Rev. Father Leen (Rangiora) in the absence of the Very Rev. Dean Hy land.—R.l. P. The ordinary fortnightly meeting of St. Patrick's branch of the H.A.C.B. Society was held on last Monday evening in the Hibernian Hail, Bro. R. O'Brien presiding over a large attendance of members. A considerable amount of business was transacted, and sick pay amounting to £l6 l'4s 8d was passed for those on the sick list, the visitors reporting them to be making good progress towards recovery. The president of the Greymouth branch was present at the meeting, and reported that the.society-was flourishing on the West Coast. A presentation of a beautiful set of silvermounted carvers was made, on behalf of the members, to Past-president Bro. M. J. O'Connor, on the occasion of his marriage. Past-president Bro. E. L. McKeon was presented with a P.P. collar, beautifully made by the Sisters of the Missions, and more than equal in every respect to the best imported. Both recipients cordially thanked the members for their generous and thoughtful presentations. Probably as an outcome of the eloquent advocacy of the society by the Marist Mis- * sioners during the recent mission, eight candidates were proposed at the meeting. The Sisters of the Missions and the numerous boarders at the Convent of the Sacred Heart, Lower High street, received a considerable shock shortly before 7 o'clock on last Saturday morning, when it was discovered that a corner of the third-floor apartments in . the north-east wing of the fine building was on fire. The fire evidently originated in one of the large wardrobes containing boarders' outfit. This, and its coni. tents, together with an adjoining department, containing spare blankets and bedding requisites, were entirely destroyed. So sudden and fierce was the outbreak that in the briefest time, the fire extended to the adjoining dormitory where a good deal of damage was done. All the inmates Were on the bottom floor at the time, the fire being seen by Mr. and Mrs. T. Cahill, who first heard falling glass and then saw the fire breaking through the roof. Mr. Cahill at once rang up the Fire Brigade, which was on the spot as soon as the Sisters discovered what had happened. The firemen speedily : had the outbreak in hand, but the loss occasioned by fire and water is fairly great, apart from what may be covered by insurance. All day messages

of sympathy and , offers of practical assistance poured in to the Sisters, an exceptional instance being that of one of the largest business firms in Christchurch gratuitously placing the whole resources of their works and warehouse at the service of the Sisters. '• The Marist Brothers' Old Boys' Association, realising that interests other than sport exclusively would tend to its advancement, organised some short while ago, a musical and dramatic section. Aided by some lady friends, and after some assiduous rehearsing, the members (or rather those who had not previously faced an audience) made a first appearance in the King's Theatre on last Thursday evening, with complete success. There was a large audience, and the efforts of the entertainers met with such acceptance that every individual item on a well-arranged and comprehensive programme received the compliment of a recall. The programme opened with a very creditably-performed selection by the M. 8.0.8. orchestra. Songs were contributed by Misses L. Main and Brick, Messrs. S. Jameson, R. Moloney, and Wordsdale. Miss E. Devereaux recited; Miss Remington's Estudiantina Band performed, and Mr. J. Budge gave a character song and dance. The second part consisted of a comedy, entitled Judge Justice,' which was provocative of much merriment. The characters were sustained by Messrs. S. Jameson, M. Twomey, W. J. Barnett, C. Baker, A. McDonald, J. Currey, J. Budge, J. McCarthy, and Master J. Marshall. A character sketch was given by Mr. Stanley Clarence, an Irish jig was splendidly danced by Miss Melba Sargison, and a sailor's hornpipe by Mr. J. Budge. The song and chorus, ' Here's a toast to Erin,' by Mrs. S. Jameson and M. 8.0.8. Company fittingly closed an excellent entertainment, most of which was of a national character. Miss N. Cronin was an efficient accompanist. The duties of stage manager were shared by Messrs. J. Main and H. Kennedy, and those of secretary by Messrs C. Baker and W. J. Barnett. During the evening the Rev. Father Murphy, 8.A., cordially thanked the performers and all who had assisted in promoting the entertainment, which will result in largely augmenting the association's funds.