THE CATHOLIC FEDERATION

New Zealand Tablet, 18 September 1913, Page 36

THE CATHOLIC FEDERATION

WELLINGTON. (From our own correspondent.) The Dominion Executive met last Tuesday evening under the presidency of his Grace Archbishop O'Shea. Much business, arising out of a large amount of correspondence, was transacted. Through the kindness and generosity of Mr. Martin Kennedy, K.S.G., the Executive has been provided with an office in the Brunner Buildings, Lower Cuba street, rent free, and donations towards furnishing it have been received from Mrs. T. G. Macarthy and Messrs. L. Dwan and B. Doherty. It was decided to advertise in the Tablet, inviting applications for the office of Dominion secretary. Many parish committees do not appear to understand that remittances of tenpence per member should be sent to the secretary of their respective diocesan councils. Reports of the progress of the Federation in each parish should also be sent to the secretaries. The following are the names and addresses, of the secretaries : Wellington Archdiocese —Mr. R. H. Williams, 3 Patterson street, Wellington. Auckland Diocese—Mr. F. J. G. Temm, Pitt street, Ellerslie, Auckland. •Christchurch Diocese J. J. Wilson, 39 Hardwick street, Sumner, Christchurch. . Dunedin Diocese Miss Mary Callan, Leven street, Roslyn, Dunedin. CHRISTCHURCH. (From our own correspondent.) The executive of the Christchurch Diocesan Council met at the episcopal residence on last Wednesday evening. The Very Rev. Dean Hills, S.M., V.G., the Very Rev. Chancellor Price, Adm., and all the officers of the council were present. The president, Mr. W. Hayward, jun., presided. The secretary reported having replied to all communications, including those from the Catholic Federation in England, and the Superior Council of the Society of St. Vincent de Paul in Glasgow, having reference to matters effecting the interests of Catholic emigrants. A remit from St. Mary's parish committee, Christchurch North, advocating action being taken in a local matter, was considered, and it was decided that the president of the Council, after providing himself with specific instances of the treatment complained of, should act in conjunction with and on the advice of the ecclesiastical authorities. The question of forming a Catholic immigration committee was discussed, as suggested by the Dominion Executive, and a letter from the secretary

of the Wellington committee addressed to the Cathedral Confraternity of Ladies of Charity. It was resolved that the secretary arrange a meeting of the combined confraternities of Ladies of Charity of the, Cathedral and St. Mary's with, if possible, some resident ladies of Lyttelton to endeavor to arrange a workable scheme. "With regard to the setting up of a literature committee, it was deemed expedient to defer action until the next general meeting of the Diocesan Council, unless meanwhile the idea of holding district meetings of that body is acted upon, when this, amongst other important matters, could be brought up and settled in view of local conditions and requirements. The formation of a branch in the Ross parish was reported, thus perfecting the organisation of the Federation throughout Westland. It was also reported that subcommittees had been established at Hornby and Woolston, and that fifty additional members had been enrolled as the' first instalment from the renewed canvass at the Cathedral. Surprise was expressed that in a few parishes in Canterbury the Federation had not yet been established, and a renewed effort was advocated to endeavor to bring about a more desirable result. The secretary was instructed to urge upon parish committees to furnish without delay the number of enrolled members and also the amount of moneys due, so that a much-needed remittance could be sent to the Dominion Executive to assist in meeting the considerable liabilities that had to be incurred, and for which all parts of the Dominion are sharing in the beneficial results. ELLERSLIE. (From an occasional correspondent.) The Catholic Federation is now firmly established in this district, and the parish committee is leaving no stone unturned to have every Catholic enrolled in its ranks. MACRAES FLAT. (From an occasional correspondent.) A meeting was held after Mass on Sunday for the purpose of forming a branch of the Catholic Federation in Macraes Flat. About forty members were enrolled. The election of officers resulted as follows: President, Rev. Father Lynch; vice-presidents, Messrs. John Sheehy, sen., and W. Heffernan, sen.; treasurer, Mr. Andrew Phelan; secretary, Mr. Jas. O'Connell. The representatives of the parish societies are: —Mrs. McConnell (Sunday school), Mrs. Sheehy (Altar Society), and Miss Heffernan (choir). ST. BATHANS. (From an occasional correspondent.) A meeting of the St. Bathans branch of the Catholic Federation was held at St. Bathans on the 7th inst., when the following were elected a committee: Misses Webb, Gallagher, and Dillon, Mesdames Pyle and Enright, Messrs. P. Dillon, J. McDevitt, jun., S. O'Hara, G. O'Hara, John Dillon, P. McDevitt, and Dr. Griffen. The last mentioned was elected vice-presi-dent and secretary, and Mr. J. McDevitt, jun., treasurer.