DIOCESE OF CHRISTCHURCH

New Zealand Tablet, 20 May 1915, Page 26

DIOCESE OF CHRISTCHURCH

(From our own correspondent.) May 17. The Rev. Father Foley, of Gore, returning from Ilanmer. Springs, was a guest of the Very Rev. Father Price, Adm., during last week, and left later for the North Island. The statement of accounts in connection with the national entertainment in celebration of St. Patrick's Day shows the net proceeds to be £74, which sum goes to help the Nursing Sisters of the Little Company of Mary in the erection of their new hospital wards. Baron and Baroness de Martin, distinguished visitors from Belgium, were guests of the Very Rev. Father Price, Adm., during part of their stay in Christchurch. They were charmed with the Cathedral, and -deeply interested in the Mount Magdala Institute, during their visits to which they were, accompanied by the Very Kev. Administrator. Altogether, they were greatly delighted with their visit to this city, and the two lectures, delivered by the Baron on the past and present state of poor, afflicted Belgium, attracted over-flowing audiences, the proceeds being in aid of the fund to assist the Belgians. At the usual fortnightly meeting of St. Patrick's branch of the H.A.C.B. Society, held on Monday evening last, one candidate was initiated, and sick pay, amounting to t £ls, was passed for payment. It was decided to establish an amateur dramatic club under the auspices of the society, and for the purpose of promoting social intercourse between branches of the society, it was arranged to hold smoke socials and card matches during the winter, to which the members of other branches are to be invited. The Corbett benefit entertainment committee reported that arrangements in connection with the concert, to be held on Wednesdays night, May 26, in the Hibernian Hall, were the services of some of the best local talent having been secured. ' - •'■ A marble slab, appropriately inscribed, and inserted in the floor of the Chapel of Holy Souls in the Cathedral, marks the resting place of the late .Bishop Grimes.

The work in connection with this memorial was recently completed, and, being immediately under the notice of the faithful whilst kneeling at the chapel railings, will be .a perpetual reminder of the beloved prelate "who,, during a long and arduous life, was ever mindful of both the living and the dead. The contract time has just elapsed for the sculpturing of the magnificent marble high altar for the Cathedral. The work has been done in Florence, Italy, and the altar is probably now ready for shipment. The tiles for the mosaic tessellated pavement, which are being manufactured in Sydney, are expected to be ready for completing the sanctuary floor, preparatory to the erection of the altar. The whole beautiful finish of the sanctuarya work the late Bishop had keenly at 'heart —will form a splendid memorial of him, and one no doubt the faithful will greatly desire to assist in by their contributions. It will be. of much interest to many in New Zealand, especially of Canterbury and Christchurch in particular, where the family were best known, to learn of the ordination to the priesthood of the Rev. Alan John Westby Perceval, third eldest son of Sir Westby Perceval, K.C.M.G., and Lady Perceval, formerly of Avonside, Christchurch. Sir Westby Perceval some years ago represented the Dominion as High Commissioner in London. The Rev. Father Perceval was educated at Stony hurst. College, being intended for the Jesuit Order (a resolution which, however, had to be relinquished owing to a breakdown in health), and at Oxford. His concluding course was taken at Collegio Beda, Rome. He received ordination on February 27 in the Lateran Basilica, and celebrated his first Mass on the following day at the Tomb of St. Peter. To help to meet the expense consequent on replacing and improving the Cathedral organ, a recital was given by Mr. Walter Handel Thorley on last Sunday evening, commencing at 8 o'clock, the usual devotions having taken place in the afternoon. There was a large audience, and at an interval a collection was made. The following programme was given:—'Toccata and fugue in D minor ' (J. S. Bach) ; ' Canzone pastorale ' (W. 11. Thorley) : ' Funeral march and hymn of seraphs ' (Guilmant) ; grand fantasia, ' The storm ' (Lemmens) : sacred song, ' Nazareth ' (Gounod) —arranged for organ by Mr. Thorley : ' gavotte ' (Ambroise Thomas) ; ' Andante ' (Batiste); 'Andante and allegro' (F. E. Bache). Interspersed with the organ selections were a song, ' There is a green hill far away ' (Gounod), by Mr. Scott, and a 'cello solo, ' Dreaming ' (Schumann), by Miss Hemus.

Methven— Rakaia (From an occasional correspondent.) . The devotion of the Forty Hours' Adoration will be held in the Rakaia portion of the parish on May 23. Rev. J. Ainsworth, S.M., will be the preacher on the occasion. The devotion will be held in Methven on May 30, the preacher being the Very Rev. T. W. Price, of the Cathedral, Christchurch. " Mr. Girling-Butcher, organising secretary of the Catholic Federation, visited Rakaia on May 9 V and Methven on May 16, addressing on both occasions representative and enthusiastic gatherings of the parishioners. He explained at some length the objects and aims of the Federation, and exhorted his audiences to help themselves by joining its ranks. He certainly made a very deep impression on his hearers. Many expressed the wish he had spoken at even greater length, and an enthusiastic vote of thanks, moved by Mr. T. Twomey and seconded by Mr. James McKendry, was accorded to

him. ■>.. A'.strong parish committee was re-formed, Mr. James, Poff > being elected secretary. ..;,., '■> " " -, A farewell social, presided over by' Rev. Dr. Kennedy, was tendered on : Saturday last by the parishioners of Rakaia, to Mrs and the Misses Muller, who are about to leave that parish for Patea, where Mr. A. J. Muller has been appointed postmaster. A large and representative gathering assembled in the Catholic schoolroom, which was for the occasion arranged as a drawing-room. Musical items were contributed by some of those present, and Dr. Kennedy, on behalf of the parishioners, made a presentation of a magnificent gold pendant to Mrs. Muller, a handsome dressing-case to Miss Monica Muller, a silver-mounted brush and comb to Miss Cicely Muller, and a manicure set to Miss Margot Muller. After the presentation, Rev. Dr. Kennedy feelingly referred to the many and varied services rendered to the parish by Mrs. and the Misses Muller, also to the valuable assistance they always gave in the choir, from which they will be long missed. Dr. Kennedy went on to say that, whilst all regretted their departure from Rakaia, still they joined with him in congratulating Mr. Muller on his promotion. Huntly (By telegraph, from our own correspondent.) May 17. A committee is very busy preparing for the social, which is to take place at Taupiri on May 27, in aid of the convent school. The long-expected electric lighting scheme for the illumination of Huntly is at last to become an accomplished fact, as the Town Board have been successful in obtaining a loan of £6OOO with which to carry out the installation. The bazaar at Ngaruawahia was an unqualified success, and resulted in a net profit of £2OO. The debt on the new church has been reduced from £IOOO to £6OO within the past four months. This result is very satisfactory, and reflects much credit on the parishioners for their zeal and devotion. During the week Mr. George Monaghan, one of tho members of the local branch of the H.A.C.B. Society received news of the tragic death of his father, who was killed by a passing train. At both the Hibernian and St. Vincent de Paul meetings last night, a vote of condolence with Mr. Monaghan was passed. The young men of the parish are eagerly looking forward to the realisation of their hopes of having a clubroom of their own. Arrangements are being made for the erection of the building, and final negotiations are proceeding with a view of obtaining the deeds of the site. The building, which will be of handsome design, will provide accommodation for a library, gymnasium, billiard and meeting room. A quiet but pretty wedding took place in St. Anthony's Church, Huntly, on May 5, the contracting parties being Mr. James Harduck, only son of the late Mr. Eric Harduck (mine manager), of Milton, Dunedin, and Miss Mary Agnes Foy, third daughter of the. late Mr. John Foy, of Wigan, Lancashire, England, also first cousin of Mrs. George Crosby, late of the Royal Mail Hotel, Paeroa. The bride looked charming in a neat costume of navy blue with picture hat to match. After the ceremony (which was performed by the Rev. Father O'Doherty), the happy couple proceeded to their future home at Huntly East, where the wedding breakfast took place.