CATHOLIC SCHOOLS.

[The following addresses were forwarded to us for publication in yesterday's paper, hut wero crowded out from press of matter.] On Monday, 24th June, the feast of the nativity of St. John the "Baptist, and patron feast of the Eight Kev. Dr. Pompallier, mass was celebrated by his Lordship in the Cathedral. He was assisted on the occasion by the Very Bev. Dr. McDonald, Vicar-General, and Very Eev. Walter McDonald, Private Secretary ; the_ Eev. James A. Norris, of Opotiki, assisted also in the sanctuary. This festival afforded another opportunity to the Catholic children of this city and neighbourhood of wishing his Lordship many happy returns of his patron's least-day, and at the same time of expressing towards him their filial sentiments of affection and devotedness. Hence addresses from the pupils of the schools in Auckland and suburbs, were presented to hia Lordship on that day. The Bishop replied to these addresses in words conveying his paternal feelings of thanks and gratitude, and imparted his episcopal benediction to all the children and devoted teachers of these schools. The following were the addresses presented from very numerous children, who, according to Holy Scripture, may be often considered as giving fillial praises and truth. " Ont of the mouths of babes and sucklings thou hast perfected praise."—Psalm, viii, 3:-— Feast; of the Nativity of St. Jolin the Baptist, 1867-

My liord Bishop and Father,—Wo, your Lordship's affectionate pupils of St. Patrick's School, wish yons Lordship, from the bottom of our hearts, many happy returns of this day, your Lordship's patron feast. Our respected teacher, Mr. Francis Gibbons, joins ■with us in these grateful expressions of onr love and affection. Trusting that we may have many future opportunities of expressing our filial attachment to your Lordship, and our gratitude for the ever anxious solicitude shown by your Lordship in our religious and moral instruction; entreating your Lordship a holy benediction,—"We are, my Lord, your most dutiful children: _ • _, Siffned on behalf of the Pupils of Bt. Patrick's School, Cayanagh. • William Lhahx. To the Eight Eev. Dr. Pompallier, * Lord Bishop of Auokland.

Feast of St. John the Baptist, .._ . ; " June 24,1867. ' To the Eight Bsv. Dr. Pompallier, Bishop of Auckland. : '.My Lord,—We beg leave to approach your Lordalii'p in a . spirit ; q > profound t Tenerutioii . for^yO^-r

sacred office, in order to tender our respects to you en this festival of your holy patron, tho great forerunner of our Lord and Savour Jesus Christ. Wo trust your Lordship will continue for many years to enjoy your usual good health. We nlscxontreat your Lordship to impart to ua your holy benediction, that by tho blessing of God wo may make greater progross in our studies, and in every good work. That God may ponr his Holy Spirit abundantly upon you, and enable you for many years to conduct tho affairs Of this diocese, is tha humble prayer of your dutiful children in Christ. (Signed) Martin Maiier, On behalf of the pupils of St. Petor's School. Feast of St. John tho Baptist, 1867. To the Eight Her. Dr. Pompallier, Lord Bishop of Auckland. My Lord, —Will you kindly accept our sineoro congratulations to your Lordship on this joyful festival of St. John the Baptist ? we shall ever retain with feeling• of affection and gratitude tho remembrance of the deep interest, zeal, and devotion which your Lordship has ever shown to tho children of your diocese, humbly praying to Almighty God that ho Trill watch over and protect your Lordship from all danger, and begging your apostolio blossing and prayers that we may fulfil our duties. — We aro, &c., (Signed) Maby Gibbons, On behalf of the children of Drake-street School.

Feast of the Nativity of St. John the Baptist, 1867. Most Venerated and Beloved Bishop,—We feel deeply thankful for being allowed on this great festival of St John the Baptist to offer to your Lordship our filial and earnest wishes for your happiness. We understand what immense benefit God has bestowed upon us and on this island when, in His infinite tnercy, He has granted us such a pastor acoording to. His heart an the one we havo tho happiness to congratulate to-day. Yes, my Lord, the moat submissive, respeotful, and loving feelings shall always fill our hearts towards your Lordship, who is for us, by the election of God, the august dispenser of heavenly gifts and favours. We will endeavour by the grace of God to improve daily in virtue, sacred learning, and sciences, and fulfil our duties of Christian life, and give you consolation. We pray earnestly to God that He will bless your liordship, and give you for years and year 3 to come bealth and Btrength to labour for God's glory and the salvation of. souls, and lead to heaven with pastoral charity the faithful of your diocese. Please, my Lord, give us your episcopal benediction.—We have, &c., The Pijpils op the Institution op Nazabeth.

Feast of St. John the Baptist, 1867. From the native pupils of the Nazareth Institution. (Translated from the Maori.) Father and beloved Bishop,—We wish to convey to yon, on this your patron feast, our affectionate congratulations. We give thanks to Almighty God for all the edifying works performed by your Lordship with so much Christian abnegation for the saltation of souls. You, beloved Bishop, have oonveyed to us the knowledge of the true faith. We rejoice that all your works are blessed by the hand of feod. Your spiritual labours for the salvation of the Maori people have been, very great. Yes, my Lord, the great trials and hardships which, your Lordship has endured in planting the seed of our holy faith in this island will be. remembered with the deepest sense of gratitude by" generations yet unborn. You have, my Lord, caused that branch' of the Church in New Zealand to flourish and bring forth an hundredfold. We take this most pleasing opportunity of expressing to your Lcrdship our deepost sense of gratitude for the blessings of the Christian education which we now receive in this Institution. In these sentiments of filial gratitudo we humbly request your Lordship's holy benediction.—Wejhave, &c., (Signed) Hbra. Peata. (On behalf of the pupils of tho Institution of Nazareth.) St. Mary's College, Juno 24,1867.

My Lord Bishop,—This day, bping one of your Lordship's feast days, affords us (the orphans of St. Mary's College, North Shore) a very welcome opportunity of tendering to you our sincere thanks for tho many kind and fatherly favours which wo liavo received (through our devoted manager and teacher) from your Lordship's administration. Your repeated visits to us during the last twelve months, and your land offerings on those occasions, have left impressions on our young minds which fully convince us. of your zeal for our happiness, both spiritual and temporal. It is indeed for us a great blessing to know and experience the care which the Catholic Church (through her pastors) has for the fatherless children. Though deprived of our temporal parents, the loss is light ly felt by us while under the protection of your Lordship and the clergy whom you have appointed to have care of that institution. May St. John, whose feast we to-day celebrate, obtain for you many returns of this great festival, and may you with health and vigour be spared long to watch over the interests of God's Church, and when, at last, the Princo of pastors will call you to your rest, may our humblo prayers assist in obtaining for you a never-fading crown of glory. . Bequesting your Lordship's holy blessing,—We have, &c., (Signed on behalf of all the boys,) Jonir Donnahy, John Baptist, James Maouiee, The Bight Rev. Dr. Pompallier, Bishop of Auckland.

My Lord, —The feelings with which wo welcome you on tfcis happy day are those with which devoted children greet_ a loved parent, whose visits are to them the happiest moments of their childhood's years. As,Buch, yes, as more than a father, do we hail your liordship on the feast of the glorious precursor of our Lord. To Him have the first prayers of this Iheir happy day been offered, that he would present before the Throne of the Lamb our fervent petitions dictated by filial affection for our venerable Bishop's every blessing; and we have endeavoured to express to God our deep and sincere gratitude for His having given us a pastor and guide to prepare His ways, and make straight His paths.

liong had that light, which the Baptist preached, buraed to the ratives of the earth; long had that religion, with peace in her accents, and healing in her precepts, soothed the troubled spirit, in many a . clime ere the Most High looked on this bonightcd country, and in that look—all love and mercy—He Saw in the fnir land of Franca,' which had given birth to so many pillars of his Church, ono in whoso youthful soul were matured those virtues which rendered him, like the , Baptist,' d bright and shining lifibfc, to carr} hia name, and the glad tidings of redemption, among the nations who arc in darkness. That chosen one was marked for the deliverer of this new fair land. Tears have since flowed by, and still doeß that doctrine, pure aB the fountain source whence it flow', continue to guide the weary traveller—weary with vice and sin—to the refreshing waters of Hivine grace. Long may its hallowed :gounds breath the sweet words of peace and pardon, ere those lips whence they proceed be opened n unison with Heaven's inmates. Long may that jhand be lifted to bless thousands ere it holds the palm of victory in the heavenly Zion.

May you, my Lord, live to soo those who in youth now welcome you' as their bost-loved Father, . shedding around th6m in matured years the gontle influence of that piety instilled by Mercy's own best •gifts. May some youthful hearts be gladdened by receiving from your Lordship's hands the medal for and study on thia day fifty years, is the fervent prayer of the pupils of tho school of St ITrancis de Sales. My Lord, I am quite unable to express my feelings On this joyful occasion—the festival of your Bordfihip's.first patron, the glorious St. John the Baptist. The great honour has been conferred on your •unworthy child of expressing on the part of my dear ; com panions our grateful sentiments to*day. How ' was the calling of Christ's precursor, who vas Ecl.jcted from amongst mankind to prepare the way for the Spotless Lamb, the latchet of who3s shoe 10 declared himself unworthy to loose. If his duty; «ras to prepare the people of Judea for the first -coming of the Redeemer, to your Lordship has been Contused the high destiny of preparing the people of this great; island for the second coming of Christ. "Oh! may the prayers ofyour faithfal and'grateful children.be this day heard onhigh. MayyourLordV ohiji'i call to Mlvation'be more successful' thanihat of the precursor. May your imitate tW'flrit

I Christians by devotedness to God,, to their faith, and to their pastors.. May that charity, through.the exorciso of which the sanctification of St.' John, wae wrought, ever subsist in full vigour in this diocese, so that there may bo but ono heart and one soul, as amongst the primitive Christians. May your Lordship's years be man} and happy, and, after bringing thousands to tho fold of Christ, may a glorious crown bo awarded you in] the Tealms of endless bliss. These are the sontiments of your dovoted children, Tub Pupils op St. Maby'S. My Lord, —What a happiness to seo your Lordship, our belovod first pastor, a»ongst his little ones this day, and by his cheering presonco to diffuse gladness around. How donr to our hearts is the festival of St. John tho Baptist, for it gives us an opportunity of seoing and congratulating our Bishop and father.

May this happiness bo conferred on us for a long series of years. Wo havo offered our best prayers, my Lord, for your every blessing, and also for what you earnestly desiro, tho peace and concord of this country. Allow us tho honour and happiness to he your Lordship's most humblo and dovoted children, Tiie Purns of St. Joseph's. My Lord, —W itli devotedness and heartfelt gratitude we beg to present, on this gloriocs festival, our warmest congratulations to your Lordship, our beloved and venoratod Bishop and Father; and fervently do we pray that tho great precursor of our Divine Saviour will obtain, through his powerful intercession for your Lordship, all the richcst favours of heaven. When wo look around this fine sohool-roomi with its refectory, dormitory, &c., we at onco recognise the holy and devoted pastor who has so much thought of, and provide for the religious, moral and literary training of the lambs of his flook; and who has caused the erection of these buildings, and conveyed our sacred teachers from tho British lales to impart to us religious teaching, literature, and accomplishments. Is it not, then, most gratifying to us to present our warmest feelings of. devotedness and love to that revered pastor who has done so much for our improvement, and who, notwithstanding all his arduous duties, has so frequently visited our schools, and condescended to give us his valuable advice and instruction ?

We have the honour to remain, my Lord, your Lordship's devoted children, The Pupils op St. Mart's School. Freeman's Bay, Juno 24, 1867. Nowton, Juno 24, 1867. To his Lordship. < . . . . ! Your Lordship,—We, the oliildrenof tho Newton Catholic School do heartily 'offer to your Lordship our warm congratulations on this your Lordship's patron feast, wishing that you may live long to enjoy, in good health, many more anniversaries of this holy day. Praying that your Lordship may give us your holy blessing, we have, &c., Ellen Wimis. OhAHIiOTTE BrCKIHY, On behalf of the Newton Catholio School.