Diocesan News

New Zealand Tablet, 6 March 1919, Page 19

Diocesan News

ARCHDIOCESE OF WELLINGTON

(From our own correspondent.) March 1. Father Ainsworth, S.M., who has been preaching missions in Australia, returned by the Riverina yesterday. Mr. J. Mulvey, of St. Anne’s parish, has been elected representative of the rank and file of the service on the Post and Telegraph Promotion Board, beating his opponent by 3000 votes. Mr. P. Verschaffelt, of the Thorndon parish, who has occupied the position of secretary to the Public Service Commissioners for some years, has been promoted to the position of Controller of the Wills and Trusts Division of the Public Trust Department. On Sunday, March 16, according to their annual custom, the members of the Hibernian Society will approach the Holy Table in a body, at the Sacred Heart Basilica, Hill Street, preparatory to the feast of the Apostle of Ireland. After Mass they will assemble for the annual Communion breakfast.' Mr. T. Buckley, director of telephone services in the Post and Telegraph Department, has just retired on superannuation after having completed 40 years in the service. Mr. Buckley is a brother of Father Buckley, of the Dunedin diocese, and father of the Rev. W. J. Buckley, S.M., of St. Patrick’s College professorial staff. On the advice of his medical man, Mr. J. J. McGrath, the well-known Wellington barrister and solicitor, has entered a private hospital to undergo treatment and obtain a much-needed rest. Mr. McGrath has not been well for the past three or four months. As chairman of the Oriental Bay-Roseneath Epidemic Committee he did a tremendous amount of work. His motor car was in constant use during the prevalence of the scourge, and he never spared himself in the effort to alleviate the distress of the stricken people in his district. The result has been an impairment of his health, and he has been ordered to relinquish business for some weeks. His many friends will wish him an early recovery. Arrangements for the St. Patrick’s Day celebrations are well in hand. The day celebrations will be held on Monday, March 17. A number of the members of the committee were in favor of holding the sports on the Saturday, on account of the general halfholiday, but the majority held the view that they would not be worthy representatives of the national cause were they to allow the chance of financial profit to outweigh the celebration of St. Patrick’s Day on any date but the festival day itself. The motto of the Wellington committee is to celebrate the day on the proper date, with the hope that in the near future it will be observed by all classes as a general holiday. At present it is a Government, bank, and insurance holiday, and a municipal half-holiday, and, with an energetic and influential committee, there is no reason why the general holiday should not be gradually attained'. The Rev. Brother Eusebius has arrangements well in hand for the spectacular drill and figure display by 1100 children, and the procession, which will be on the same lines as last year, will contain several pretty tableaux. The national dancing competition is certain to attract a large number of entries. For this class no less than 29 trophies will be presented. The tea kiosk will be under the management of Mesdames M. Keogh and Moloney, assisted by the Children of Mary, Newtown. The concert programme will maintain the high standard already attained ; such artists appearing as Mr. Farquhar Young (Christchurch), Signor Cesaroni (the eminent: Italian operatic basso), Mr. Wood (tenor), Mr.

Kevin Dillon, Misses Teresa McEnroe, Violet Lamacroft, and Annie Sullivan affords sufficient guarantee in tine regard. '