CATHOLIC FEDERATION

New Zealand Tablet, 22 April 1915, Page 45

CATHOLIC FEDERATION

DUNOLLIE AND RUNANGA. \i. (From a correspondent.) The evening fixed for the visit of the general secretary of the Catholic Federation, Friday, March 26, was unfortunately also subsequently decided upon by the Co-operative Association for an important meeting of members, and contemplated changes in the system of management, which rendered the presence of all members a matter of urgency. Accordingly, when Mr. Girling-Butcher arrived in the afternoon, he was advised to postpone his address till a later date, and, under the circumstances, he readily complied with the request of those interested to give his lecture on Sunday, March 28. On that evening, after devotions, conducted by the Rev. Father Lacroix, the organiser spoke for an hour or so in a most interesting manner to a large attendance. A branch was formed, and officers elected, who intend to work diligently to further the membership of the branch, and excellent results are anticipated. KUMAR A. (From a correspondent.) April 6. Owing to the absence of the parish priest in Christchurch at the funeral of Bishop Grimes, and also to the difficulty of giving notice to settlers in the outlying districts, the attendance at the meeting to listen to the address given by Mr. Girling-Butcher, secretary of tlie Catholic Federation, on March 24, was not largely attended. However, Mr. Girling-Butcher kindly acceded to the wish of those present to repeat his address at a later date, and on the 31st nit. he re-visited Ivnmara and gave a most interesting lecture on the aims and objects of the Federation, its past, present, and future work, and the best methods of organising country branches. Rev. Father Creed presided, and urged the audience to work hard for the Federation. At the conclusion of the address, it was decided to hold a meeting on Sunday, April 11, when officers and a. committee will be elected, and a branch formed. BRUNNER TON. (From an occasional correspondent.) We had a visit from ‘the secretary and organiser of the Catholic Federation on March 25, accompanied by Mr. M. McGilligan, secretary of the Greymouth parish committee. A good audience attended in the schoolroom, and Mr. J. Creagh occupied the chair. The address given by Mr. Girling-Butcher showed us how little we had known of the excellent work the Federation is doing for the Church and faith. Rapidly the speaker told of the action of the governing body in regard to the Bible-in-schools proposals, immigration, labor bureaux, Catholic accommodation in the centres, literature, and very many other matters, nearly the whole of which items were new to the audience. He certainly made a very deep impression on his hearers; many expressed the wish that he had spoken at even greater length, and an enthusiastic vote of thanks was accorded to him. Then a branch was formed, with Mr. J. Creagh as vice-president, and a strong committee of ladies and gentlemen, Mr. P. Burke being elected treasurer, and Mr. P. Creagh as secretary. If enthusiasm and work can accomplish it, we shall soon have a creditable local branch of the Federation, for our members intend to show in a practical form their appreciation of the visit and address of the general secretary. ' PARISH OF AH AURA. (From an occasional correspondent.) * April 11. The visit of the organiser and secretary of the Catholic Federation to this parish took place last week, and

a most cordial reception was extended to Mr. GirlingButcher throughout the very scattered district.. Commencing on Tuesday evening at Blackball, a very successful meeting was held, the attendance, in view of the Easter holidays and the number of our men on night-shift at the mine, being larger than could have been anticipated. After a long and most interesting address, in which the aims and objects of the Federation were clearly and lucidly explained, the local branch committee was reformed, with Mr. G. Brady as secretary. v In the unavoidable absence, through indisposition, of the parish priest (Rev. Father O’Hare), the Rev. Father J. Riordan presided. The newly-elected committee and officers intend to commence a vigorous and thorough canvass of the district, and ere long it l is anticipated that every Catholic—adult and minorin the district will be enrolled. On Wednesday the (.organiser drove through Ngahere, where several families were interviewed, to Ahaura, and to the hospitable residence of Rev. Father O’Hare. Arrangements were then made fora meeting on Thursday evening at Nelson Creek, which place was reached by motor. Nearly every Catholic resident of the district was present at the meeting, or was represented, and Mr. GirlingButcher’s address was listened to with marked attention. At its conclusion the Rev. Father O’Hare suggested that the committee previously formed should retain office, and that vigorous efforts be at once made to increase the branch membership. This was agreed to, and the committee, of which Mr. P. O’Brien is secretary, will commence operations with renewed energy to secure adequate membership in this strongly Catholic district. Promises of strong support were evident from the statements of those present, and the prospects seem encouraging. On Friday, Mr. GirlingButcher spent the day in visiting numerous families at Totara Flat to announce the Federation meeting on Sunday. On that day the worthy pastor, Rev. Father OTTare, in addition to saying Mass at Ahaura, accompanied the organiser to ‘ the Flat ’ for last Mass at Totara. A meeting was also held at Ahaura in the afternoon. At each of these meetings officers and committees were elected, Mr. Connor being appointed secretary of the Totara Flat branch, and Miss Garth secretary at, Ahaura, the vice-presidents being Messrs. J. McDonald and J. O’Sullivan respectively. Thus, in this very large and scattered parish there are now four branches of the Federation, and it is anticipated that the friendly rivalry between them will eventually result in Ahaura being one of the greatest strongholds of the Federation in Westland. Some of the leading Catholics here are interesting themselves in the project, so dear to the heart of their parish priest, Father O’Hare—the erection of a Catholic school in some central part of the parish, a much needed establishment for the education of the many children of school age in the parish, who have now to attend the State schools. It is hoped that the project will shortly take a definite form, and that funds will be forthcoming to secure for the children of the parish the inestimable boon of Catholic education. ROSS AND RIMU. (From a correspondent.) Owing to the absence of the Rev. Father Cronin at the funeral of Bishop Grimes in Christchurch, the visit of the organising secretary of the Catholic Federation was postponed till Monday, March 29. However, an excellent meeting was held on that evening in the school. All the Catholic residents in the district were present or represented. A strong parish committee was formed, Mr. A. Sharky being elected as secretary. It is unfortunate that so many of our Catholic men have had to leave the district, owing to the temporary closing down of -the Deep Levels mine, but, nevertheless, it is confidently anticipated that the Ross branch will be a strong one, and include all the Catholics now resident in- the district. The re-opening of the mine,

which, is hoped for at no distant date, will materially increase the numerical strength of the local branch. On

the following day/ arrangements had been made- for Mr. Girling-Butcher to visit Eimu, and after visiting the school, over which the Sisters of Mercy from Hokitika preside, a meeting was held in the evening at which the attendance was gratifying. The Rev. Father Cronin, in introducing the speaker, alluded to the formation of the Catholic Federation in England, and referred to the good work it had accomplished in the parish of Salford, Manchester, in which city he was working at the time. The organiser’s address , was listened to with great attention, a marked feature being the interest evidenced by the elder school children, who were present in force, and whose excellent behaviour occasioned very favorable comment on all sides. Officers and a committee were elected, the secretary being Mr. Wm. Knowles. A systematic canvass of the district is to be immediately put in hand, and little doubt is felt but that every one of the old faith will become members of the Rimu branch.