CATHOLIC FEDERATION

New Zealand Tablet, 13 May 1915, Page 27

CATHOLIC FEDERATION

WELLINGTON DIOCESAN COUNCIL. - The monthly meeting of the executive committee was held on Friday, May 7. Mr. B. Ellis (hon. treasurer) occupied the chair, and Messrs. Corry, Parsonage, Smyth, and the secretary (Mr. W. F. Johnson) were present. The Right Rev. Mgr. McKenna, V.G., wrote regretting his inability to attend on account of illness, and the secretary was directed to convey to Monsignor McKenna the sincere sympathy of the executive, and to express its earnest wish for his speedy recovery. The secretary reported that the returns for the March quarter were coming to hand in a most satisfactory manner, and that the receipts for the month of April exceeded those of any previous month in the history of the council. Three new committees had been reported—Eketahuna, Hamua, and Pungarehu,—and altogether, the outlook for the Federation in the country portions of the archdiocese were most encouraging. In the city parishes, the committees reported that the renewals of subscriptions for the year 1915-16 were quite up to expectation, and that many new members had been enrolled. The executive expressed its sincere appreciation of the work of the parish secretaries, and it is already evident that the Wellington archdiocese will retain the position it has'occupied in the past, in point of membership. Arrangements were made for the annual meeting of the council, which will be held on July 15, and it was resolved to entertain the delegates at luncheon upon the occasion. The secretary was directed to invite parish committees to submit subjects for discussion at the meeting, and the hope was expressed that the committees will freely avail themselves of the opportunity to bring their desires under the notice of the council. Parish committees are advised to send in their remits to the secretary of the council as early as possible, so that they may occupy a good place on the order paper. The secretary reported that in company with members of the Dominion Executive, to which body he had recently been elected, he visited the Catholic Soldiers' Institute, erected by the Federation at Trentham Camp. The building was a credit to al] concerned, and the money had been well spent, while the building itself was an absolute necessity. Great credit was due to the Rev. Father Daly, under whose direction the building had been erected, and it was very evident that the Rev. Father's untiring labors on behalf of the men were fully appreciated by them. The meeting closed with a vote of thanks to Mr. Ellis for his services in the chair. - c TEMUKA. (From our own correspondent.) Mr. G. Girling-Butcher, organiser for the. Catholic Federation, arrived in Temuka on Tuesday afternoon, and addressed a meeting in the local clubrooms in the evening, Rev. Father Kerley, S.M., presiding. Owing to the very short notice given of the visit, great difficulty was experienced in notifying the parishioners, consequently the meeting was not as largely attended as it' otherwise would have been. The address dealt with the aims and objects of the Federation, and the good work which it has done. At the conclusion of the address a hearty vote of thanks was accorded the lecturer, on the motion of Rev. Father Kerley, supported by Mr. T. Downes. On Wednesday evening Mr. Girling-Butcher journeyed to Pleasant Point, where the short notice received

was again responsible for -a very small attendance of parishioners. Rev. Father Ainsworth, S.M., introduced the lecturer, and the chair was occupied by Mr. M.'Friel. The address was similar to that given at Temuka, and at the conclusion the usual compliment to the speaker was carried by acclamation. Mr. GirlingButcher left for Rakaia on Thursday.