Diocesan News

New Zealand Tablet, 8 July 1915, Page 26

Diocesan News

ARCHDIOCESE OF WELLINGTON (From our own correspondent.) July 3. Mr. C. J. O’Brien, of the Post anti Telegraph Department, Lower Hutt, and for many years secretary of the Lower Hutt branch of the Hibernian Society, has been transferred to the Chief Post Office, Wellington. He has, in consequence, resigned the secretaryship of the branch. Brother J. P. McGowan, 8.P., presided at the quarterly meeting of St. Patrick’s branch of the Hibernian Society at St. Patrick’s Hall. Nominations of officers for the ensuing half-year were received, and each office is being keenly contested. A vote of sympathy with Bishop Cleary in his illness was carried. The receipts for the evening amounted to £l5O. The Rev. Father Segrief, S.M., late chaplaincaptain of the Samoan Expeditionary Force, gave a very interesting lecture last Tuesday evening before the members of the sodality of the Children of Mary at St. Anne’s Hall. The subject was ‘ Samoa,’ and the rev. lecturer gave a graphic description of the country and its people, and its state during the time he had been with the garrison on that island.

The parishioners of St. Anne’s met at St. Anne’s Hall last Sunday evening, under the presidency of the Yen. Archdeacon Devoy, for the purpose of receiving the balance sheet and report of the committee for the parish debt extinction fund for the past twenty months. The report and balance sheet disclosed satisfactory results, but, at the same time, it was pointed out that there were many in the parish who were not shouldering their responsibilities as they should. A new committee for the next twenty months was elected, and votes of thanks were passed to the officers and members of the retiring committee. .

The quarterly meeting of the council of the H.A.C.B. Society took place last Wednesday evening at St. Patrick’s Hall, under the presidency of Bro. J. J. L. Burke. Representatives of the city, Newtown, Thorndon, ladies’, Petone, and Hutt branches were present. Bro. Hoskins gave a report of the annual meeting of the district, held in February. Various matters, affecting the progress of Hibernianism, were discussed, and a sub-committee was appointed to go through the rules for the purpose of making the society second to none in New Zealand.

At the conclusion of the parade'of the Wellington central branch of the National Reserve last evening, Captain Bowles, officer commanding, addressed the men, saying that one of their number, Corporal F. W. Crombie, was going into camp next week. He would be their first representative at Trentham. hfr. Crombie had not missed a parade since he joined their section,

and was one of their most enthusiastic members, and he wished him every success and a speedy return. Corporal Crombie is well known in Catholic circles. He is. an ex-student of St. Patrick’s College.

The hearing of a case of- considerable interest to religious bodies was commenced by Mr. D. G. A. Cooper, S.M., in the Magistrate’s Court the other day. The Miramar Borough Council proceeded against the Yen. Archdeacon DevOy, S.M., his Grace Archbishop O’Shea, and the Rev. John E. Ainsworth, S.M., as co-owners of a section of land at Miramar, to recover the sum of o£l2 15s 6d for rates due on the property. Defendants contended that the 'premises erected on the section were used for religious purposes, and were therefore exempt under the Rating Act. The council, however, contended that the premises did not come within the description of church or chapel, as, although services were held on Sundays, the premises were also used as a dwelling-house and as a private school conducted for profit. Mr. T. Neave appeared for the Borough Council, and Mr. P. J. O’Regan for the defendants. After argument as to what constitutes a church or chapel, the case was adjourned.

Last Thursday evening a concert party, under the auspices of the Catholic Federation, and organised by Miss Eileen Driscoll, journeyed to Trentham in motors, kindly supplied by Messrs. Martin Kennedy and Maurice O’Connor. The Catholic hall was crowded, and an excellent programme was contributed by the following ladies and gentlemen : —Misses Eileen Driscoll, Watkins, Marie Fix, and Lonsdale, Messrs. R. S. Allwright, L. Holloway, and Exton. The men deeply appreciated the kindness and thoughtfulness of Miss Driscoll and her party, and the Rev. Father Daly and Lieut. Christopher voiced their appreciation. The hall has proved a great boon to the men, and the action of the Federation in erecting it was truly praiseworthy. The men enjoy all the facilities for practising their religion without their esteemed chaplain (Father Daly) having to ask some other denomination for the use of a building to carry out his sacred duties. The hall is largely used by the men for writing to their relatives and friends, and also for musical evenings. Writing material is supplied by the Federation, whilst, through Father Daly’s efforts, plenty of opportunity is given the men for amusing themselves. Pianos have been generously loaned by the Bristol Piano' Company, but it is to bo regretted that our Catholic people, especially the wealthier ones, do not respond to the call for assistance in regard to the cost of erecting the hall and its upkeep. Sufficient money for this purpose has not yet been received. Donations should be forwarded, to the Rev. Father Hurley, S.M., Dominion treasurer of the Federation, who will acknowledge the same. Any good current literature will be thankfully received by the Rev. Father Daly, Trentham.