Gisborne,

New Zealand Tablet, 11 March 1915, Page 47

Gisborne,

(From our own correspondent.) February 28, On Tuesday evening the Catholics of Gisborne met in St. Mary’s School to bid farewell to Rev. Father Golden, who has been acting as parish priest during the absence of Rev. Father Lane. Mr. D. J. Parker, chairman of the meeting, on behalf of the parishioners, expressed regret at having to say good-bye to a worthy priest who had endeared himself to every Catholic in Gisborne. The sick and distressed had been his especial care. Rev. Father Lane and Mr. Iloulahan also eulogised the departing priest. Mr. Parker then presented Father Golden with a purse of sovereigns and a travelling bag. Father Golden, in replying, thanked the people from his heart for their great kindness to him during his stay in Gisborne, and for their generosity on the occasion of his departure. However, he would not be outdone in generosity, and handed the purse of sovereigns back as a donation to the schools. Occasion was taken to give Rev. Father Lane a welcome home.' The school children had welcomed him earlier in the week with a musical entertainment. During the evening items were given by Misses Hale, Marooney, and Messrs. Downie and Howell. On Tuesday the Children of Mary gave a musical evening in honor of Rev. Father Golden. An address of farewell was read on behalf of the sodality by Miss Mary Hale, and Miss Lily Doyle made the presentation

of a silver-mounted umbrella. - ; Musical items were rendered by Misses Keaney, Parker, M. and J. Hale, recitations were given 'by ; Misses Mcßreen, Edwards, McCassin, and a piano duet by Misses Dower. Father Golden thanked them for the very pleasant evening they had given him, and also for their most useful present, which he should value very highly, v Father Golden left for Auckland on Wednesday. ' . • , ; \ Wanganui (From our own correspondent.) ' February 27. The fortnightly meeting of the H.A.C.B. Society was held on last Wednesday evening, when there was a fair number of members present. After the usual business was transacted, the committee of the St. Patrick’s Night entertainment met and discussed various matters in connection with the concert. , A week’s retreat for the Children of Mary was begun by the Rev. Father T. McCarthy, S.M., in St. Mary’s Church on the 16th inst. Although the retreat was only for members of the sodality, large numbers of others took advantage of the opportunity to attend the exercises. On the Sunday evening, when the retreat was brought to a close, a very fine procession was held. The Rev. Father McCarthy, S.M., preached a most impressive sermon on The ‘ Devotion to our Blesssed Lady.’ Ten aspirants were admitted into the sodality. Waimate (From an occasional correspondent.) February 23. At St. Patrick’s Hall last week a farewell social was tendered to the Rev. Father Dignan, who has been transferred to Napier. The following clergy were present —Rev. Fathers Aubry, Dignan, McDonald, Taylor, and Very Rev. Dr. Kennedy, of St. Patrick’s College. Although Father Dignan’s stay in Waimate was a short one, his departure was greatly regretted, and especially by the sick of the parish, to whom he was most attentive. Speeches were given by members of the different societies, and musical items by the following:— Songs — Misses Lawlor and Leonard, Messrs. Kane, Leonard, and O’Shea ; an instrumental trio by Miss Lawlor (piano), Rev. Father Dignan (’cello), and Rev. Father McDonald (violin) ; a ’cello solo by Very Rev. Dr. Kennedy, and violin solos by Father McDonald. The accompaniments were played by Misses A. Lawlor, L.A.8., and D. Delahunt, L.A.B. A welcome was tendered to Father McDonald, Father Dignan’s successor.