Diocesan News

New Zealand Tablet, 13 March 1919, Page 19

Diocesan News

ARCHDIOCESE .OF WELLINGTON (From our own correspondent.) March 8. There are now over one hundred boarding students, in addition to the day students, at St. Patrick's College. The annual picnic of St. Anne's Choir was held last week at the Upper Hutt, and proved a most enjoyable outing. The Ven. Archdeacon Devoy, S.M., of St. Anne's, celebrated his feast day yesterday, and was the recipient ot many congratulatory messages. The students of St. Patrick's College held a picnio at Days Bay last Monday. His Grace Archbishop U Shea and a number of the clergy were present. His Grace Archbishop Redwood arrived during the week after an extended absence in Australia. His Grace will officiate at the opening ceremony of the new church at Pictou on Sunday next. Good progress is being made with the erection of new Catholic girls' school in Buckle Street, and given fine weather, there is every prospect of the building being ready for opening after Easter. The Right Rev. Dr. Cleary, Bishop of Auckland, and the Right Rev. Dr. Brodie, Bishop of Christchurch, were in this city on Wednesday, March 5, for the purpose of attending a meeting of the New Zealand Hierarchy. Father Herbert, S.M., late of Timaru, and formerly of this city, left this week by the Riverina for Sydney for the purpose of joining the N.Z. Marist Missionary Fathers, who are at present conducting missions in Australia. Last Sunday evening St. Anne's Choir journeyed to the Upper Hutt, and rendered the music for the evening devotions. There was a large congregation, and at the conclusion of his sermon, Father Daly thanked the choir for its kind assistance. The St. Patrick's Day Celebration Committee met at. the Catholic Federation rooms last Thursday evening. Mr. J. P. McGowan presided. Reports from the various sub-committees were received, and disclosed that arrangements were well in hand. It only requires good weather to ensure the success of the celebrations. At the last meeting of St. Patrick's branch of the Hibernian Society the deaths of two soldier members were reported—Bro. Thos. Graham, a returned soldier (from influenza), and Bro. P. T. Kinsella, in England. Feeling references were made to both members, and a motion of condolence with the relatives was carried in respectful silence.—R.l.P. The many friends of Mr. W. 11. Giles, secretary of St. Aloysius' branch of the Hibernian Society, and of St. Anne's Parish Committee of the Catholic Federation, will be glad to learn that he has recovered sufficiently from his serious illness caused by the after effects of influenza, to resume his ordinary occupation, after being laid aside for three months. An old resident of Wellington, in the person of Mr. Michael Fitzgerald, passed away at his residence, 30 Murphy Street, on last Wednesday. The interment took place to-day. Three of his sons (Messrs. J. J., M. D., and E. Fitzgerald) are members of the Hibernian Society, and to them and to their mother the deepest sympathy of a large circle of friends is extended.— R. LP. Arrangements are well in hand for a bazaar to be held by the parishioners of the combined districts of Karori, Northland, Kelburn, and Wadestown, in the Sydney Street Hall during the last week in April. Father Smyth, S.M., Administrator of Thorndon, is directing operations, and in addition is arranging a tug-of-war on up-to-date lines, to be run in conjunction with the bazaar.

'.Napier " ■ * (From our own correspondent.) March 10. The Clive Catholic Church has recentlyundergone a complete renovation and painting, a decided improvement being effected. The Taradale and Meeanee district parishioners will hold their annual social in the Taradale Town Hall on St. Patrick's Night. An energetic committee, headed by Father Hickson, are now hard at work. Mr. A. J. Curtayne, formerly of the Napier Postal staff, has severed his connection therewith and taken up a position with the National Provident Fund Office at Christchurch. Mr. Curtayne's services will be greatly missed by St, Patrick's Choir, of which he was a member. In the recent examination held by the Associated Board of the Royal Academy, and the Royal College of Music, London, two pupils of the Convent'of the Sisters of St. Joseph, Hastings, passed in Division 1., grammar of music, and two pupils of Miss E. Rogers passed in rudiments of music. Among the Napier soldiers recently returned from the front are the following Marist old boys :—Sergeant Joe Sheehan, son of Mr. M. Sheehan, Port Ahuriri; Corporal E. Ryan, son of Mr. W. Ryan, Port Ahuriri, and Gunner P. Moroney, son of Mr. J. Moroney, Napier. All three left with early reinforcements. Mr. B. J. Dolan, of Napier, who defended Cumings and O'Ryan in the Green- Pay case at Duncdin, frequently referred in the course of his argument to an article which appeared in the Contemporary Review in March, 1918, from the* pen of Mr. Hugh Law, M.P., entitled A Plea for Irish History. Mr. Dolaiv communicated with Mr. Law with reference to the Dunedin case, and has received a reply, in the course of which the writer says: "I am very far from sharing some of the views which seem to have been expressed in these articles, but I must say I have seen very much worse things published, both here and in Ireland, without any action being taken by the authorities." Mr. Law has represented West Donegal in Parliament since 1902. He is an Oxford man and son of the late Irish Lord Chancellor. In connection with the St. Patrick's Day celebrations and concert an enthusiastic meeting was held at St. Patrick's Hall last Tuesday, Mr. W. G. McGrath presiding. The chairman announced that they intended to "hold a day's carnival as well as the entertainment at night, and although this meant additional expense, he hoped that every Irishman in Hawke's Bay would come forward to make the celebration an overwhelming success. A big programme had been drawn up by the sub-committees, and it was intended to make the tug-of-war one of the special features. He hoped all true Irishmen would assemble at the Technical College on the morning of St. Patrick's Day, and march to Nelson Park, where they hoped to hold one of the biggest gatherings ever held in Napier. A splendid programme has been drawn up for the concert in the evening, and the performers will include Mr. and Mrs. Spillane, two well-known artists from Wanganui, who will make their first appearance in Napier. The Marist Brothers' and Convent pupils will also take part in the concert. Palmerston North —. j (From our own correspondent.) March 8. A meeting of parishioners was held on Sunday afternoon last in the Zealandia Hall, at which the site for the proposed new church and ■ other details were discussed. Mr. C. A. Loughnan presided, and the attendance was greater than is usual at parish meetings. In explaining the position in regard to the new church, father McManus did not directly advocate cither site,

but the position resolved itself into one of sentiment versus finance. The majority favored the old site in Broad Street for sentimental reasons, but when the proposition of financing the building of a new structure there was put forward, it was found hedged about by insuperable obstacles. ■ By building on: the new leasehold site in Fitchett Street (off Grey Street), on the block of land containing the convent schools, the Broad Street properties could be disposed of, and so eventually liquidate the debt incurred in building the new church and presbytery. After some discussion, the decision of the meeting was unanimously in. favor of the new site. A further resolution was passed recommending that the work be proceeded with immediately, after the sanction of the Archbishop has been obtained. A committee was set up to further the proposition for an immediate commencement of the work. The sum in hand for the new church is £5275. Following on the decision to commence the erection of the building at once, Mrs. 11. N. Watson sent a cheque for £SOO. It was also decided to hold an annual meeting of parishioners, at which a complete statement of parish affairs and finance will be made, during April of each year. Private T. O’Carroll, who was a familiar figure here during his months of training in the ambulance camp at Awapuni, leaves for Sydney on Saturday, where he is assured of a position with the J. C. Williamson Company. Private O’Carroll’s dancing was an attractive item on many concert programmes.