Oamaru

New Zealand Tablet, 12 June 1913, Page 27

Oamaru

(From our own correspondent.) . - ' June 9. The second of the series of socials in St. Patrick’s Hall, under the auspices of a committee of the Hibernian Society, was quite a success and the means of passing a very pleasant evening. The correspondence appearing in the Tablet dealing with Dean Darby’s proposal for the formation of a New Zealand Catholic Benefit Society has created some interest. The general opinion, however, of members of the H.A.C.B. Society and others is that it would be a most inopportune time for a division of forces, when all the combined energies and interests should be most strongly welded in union. There does not seem to be room in a sparsely populated country like ours to have two Catholic Benefit Societies, and unless they can both prosper, better by far to retain undivided the splendid one we have in our midst. At the last Mass yesterday, Rev. Father Lynch gave an instructive address on the Bible-in-Schools question, dealing with the matter in an able manner. In view of the disappointment caused locally by the passing of H.M.S. New Zealand without calling at Gamaru, parents were glad that facilities were offered their children to see the battleship at Lyttelton during her stay there. The local parish schools sent a strong contingent to the northern port, the boys being in charge of Mr. Frank Cooney, and the girls in the care of Misses Cooney and Cagney.