THE VERY REV FATHER O'CONNOR.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 5835, 31 March 1897, Page 3

THE VERY REV FATHER O'CONNOR.

The tolling of the passing bell at the Eangiora Catholic Church at aa early hour this morning announced to the people within hearing that the Veiy Rev Father O'Connor, who had been suffering a protracted illness from phthisis, had passed away. The Very Eev Father D. P. O'Connor was born at Liseltin, County Kerry, Ireland, on April 20. 1858, and had, therefore, all but completed the thirtyninth year of his age. He was educated for the priesthood at St John's College, Waterford, and came to the colony in 1882. His first cure was at Greymouth where he remained twelve months, and was then appointed to the charge of the Lyttelton parish. There he remained three years and on March IS, 1887, toot charge at Eangiora, where h e remained to the time of his death. The district under his care was a very large one, including Kaiapoi, Eangiora, Loburn, and Oxford, and necessitated much early and late travelling, and hard work, which was faiithfully and cheerfully carried out by Father O'Connor, with occasional assistance during ten years. Of late years his health occasionally" gave way. {md symptoms of the fell disease which terminated his life appeared. At the beginning of this year he had to cease duty, and it was evident to his friends that his days were numbered. Death supervened at four o'clock this morning, the Eev Father Tubman and the Sisters of St Joseph being with him in his last moments. Father O'Connor was indefatigable in his attentions to the interests of his Church, and won many friends outside his own congregation by his frank and genial nature. He took considerable interest in cricket, football, athletic sports and other recreations| of the people, and he was always a prominent and welcome attendant at the annual New Year's Day Sports, being, as a rule, one of the officers for the day. His remains will be interred in the cemetery attached to the Eangiora Church, the funeral probably taking place on Friday afternoon. ■-- '"■ ■ ■