HIBERNIAN AUSTRALIAN CATHOLIC BENEFIT SOCIETY,

Tuapeka Times, Volume VIII, Issue 479, 21 July 1875, Page 2

HIBERNIAN AUSTRALIAN CATHOLIC BENEFIT SOCIETY,

The members assembled in the Town Hall, on Monday night last, at six p.m., to establish a brauch of the above Society, the delegate (Mr. Edward Carroll, of Dunedin)occupying thechair. Onhisright sat the officers ; the members, numbering between forty and fifty, taking their places on the platform. The proceedings having been opened in the usual manner, Mr Wood (President of the local branch) read the permission for opening, together" with Mr. Cantwell's (Secretary of Dunedin branch) apology for having been absent ewing to \m3ines3 engagements. The delegate then delivered an impressive opening address, and the dispensation having been read, the deputy declared the branch duly opened. After examination of the members' certificates, the delegate proceeded to initiate members and install the officers, after which (the President in the chair) the meeting adjourned for a fortnight. The ceremony was open to any person who wished to attend, and a large assemblage availed themselves of the opportunity of witnessing the proceedings, the officers in full regalia presenting an imposing appearance.

j At 8 o'clock, the members and their ! friends sat down to dinner numbering about 150, the chair being occupied by | the. Rev. Father Larkin ; and the vicechair by Mr. Michael Whe'lan. The hall was artistically decorated with flowers, evergreens, and flags of all nations, not excepting the Chinese ; the Irish fl*<{ occupying a conspicuous place at the head of the room. On the platform wdre raised' illuminations, with the words " Erin-go- Bragh," and " Cead mills failthe ; " over which, in lar-^e gold letters on a green ground, wera placed the letters " H.A.C.B.S ; " surmounting these was hung the dispensation of the Society handsomely framed in gold. Messrs. Hamilton, Lawler, and Monaghan were the gentlemen *vho so creditably managed the decorative department, the latter of whom having bestowed his time for tb.9 past few days in trying to make the inauguration a success.

Dinner over, the rev. Chairman said : Ladies and gentlemen, — I have gratefully accepted the honor you have conferred upon me, and .like many in that position consoled myself with the idea that my part would be a very easy one in the success that has attended: your assemblage this evening ; but though I was determined to keep my place and leave to others the duty of bearing testimony to^ the gratitude we owe to those who have honored us with their presence to-night, I have had to submit to a trying ordeal in the shape of a temptation to break my resolution, and was constrained to submit. When I look upon this vast gathering, composed of the elite and the bone and sinew of our rising township and district, in this beautiful edifice — a credit and an honor not only to ourselves, but to the government of our adopted country — I have resolved that T must pay you all a compliment, and it will consist in this : I can read in your faces that you are determined to keep pace with the occasion, and enjoy yourselves to your hearts' content. That I therefore may be no drawback to this praiseworthy resolution, lam happy to announce that the toasts will be few and short. I therefore call upon Mr. J. J. Woods to propose the success of the H.A.C.B.S.— ("Applause.)

Mr. Wood said : I have much pleasure in proposing the first toast, and as a member of the Hibernian Australian Catholic Benefit Society, the formal opening of which we have met here this evening to to celebrate, I trust that a few remarks relative to its objects and benefits may not be deemed out of place. In the first place its objects as a Catholic Society is to instil into the minds of its members the true principles of religion, and to inculcate among them a spirit of temperance, prudence, and economy, in order that they may edify their co-religonista as Catholics, be a credit; to their fellowcolonists as citizens, and ever ready to extend the right hand of friendship and brotherly love, not only to those who are immediately connected with the Society, but whenever suffering humanity makes an appeal to their charity. In answer to those persons who are erroneously under the impression that it is in some way a party-association, I can only state they are altogether mistaken, the {Society having been registered under the Friendly Societies' Act, after a most careful and rigid examination by the RegistrarGeneral, and i 3 now flourishing throughout the whole of the colonies of Australasia and New Zealand. I shall now mention, a few of the statistics which will give you an idea cf the success that has attended the foundation and progress of this most important Society to the present time. It has only been established in its present amalgamated form since 1871, and now contains over 600Q members, comprising 110 branches, — 2q of these being represented in New Zealand — the total amount of cash to its. credit j being pver J4§ t OQO. From $J9

brief statement you will learn the Society has been a success not only numerically but financially, and I have no hesitation in saying i*» benefits will compare favor- j ably with any Society in the colonies. Thte unqualified success is unprecedented in the history of Colonial Benefit Societies, but can hardly bo a surprise to us when we consider that this is the only means of soci il intercourse open to Irishmen in this tin* antipodes of 'their dear native land. The Irish race, as we all know, is scattered over the length and breadth of the globe, and Irishmen in New Zealand to-day cherish the warmest love and undying devotion for the land of their birth, and when the rising generation shall stand in the places obcupied by us to-night, they will have a 'warm corner in their hearts for "dear old Ireland" the land of their forefathers, and in the words of the Irish maiden exclaim : — For their dear sakes 1 love thee, Mavourneen, tho' unseen ; Bright be the skies above thee, ■. * The shamrock ever green; May evil ne'er distress thee, Nor darken nor defile, Bat Heaven for ever bless thee, My own green isle. With reference to the meetings of the members, I might mention that neither religious nor political discussions are permitted thereat, and the representatives of the press are allowed at all times to attend the meetings of the society. The thanks of the members are due to our delegate (Mr. E." Carroll), and I am sure there is not a member in the room but is deeply grateful for the high honor he has conferred upon them to-night, and for his kindness in responding to the call made upon him in the interest of the Society, by travelling so great a distance at a very short notice in order to perform the duties devolving upon him as representative of so noble an institution as the Hibernian - Australian Catholic Benefit Society. I take this opportunity also of bearing testimony to the punctuality and efficiency of that worlhy and indefatigable officer of the society, Mr. Austin John Templeton (Corresponding Secretary at Melbourne), who, amidst the other multitudiou3 duties of his office is ever zealous in aiding the formation of new branches of the society ; and on behalf of the members I desire most cordially to thank MrJohn Cantwell (secretary of the Dunedin branch) for the valuable assistance he has given us in his official capacity : and 1 might state, although this gentleman is absent owing to a pressure of business, he is present with us in spirit, and was engaged doing our work till between two and three o'clock this morning, that being the time of his closing communication. I shall now request you to charge your glasses and drink "Health, prosperity, and success to the Hibernian- Australian Catholic Benefit Society " The toast having been drunk with the warmest enthusiasm, Mr. Ford sang "The harp that once through Tara's hall " in an effective and feeling manner, for which he was vociferously applauded. The Delegate (Mr. E. Carroll), on . rising to respond, said : I sincerely thank' you for the honor you have done me in . associating my name with the society which it is my pleasing duty to represent this evening, and I might say that honor is considerably enhanced when I consider the favorable auspices under which your local branch has been established. 1 was a comparative stranger among you a few days ago, but since that time I have made a host of friends, whom I shall always remember with gratitude and affection, and I shall always be glad to hear of the continued success and prosperity of this flourishing town of Lawrence. I stand here to-night in the proud position of representative of over COOO brothers, and I am sure there is not one of that number but will feel proud of the successful inauguration of another link to the chain of successes that are daily being added to our cause. Your worthy President (Mr. Wood) has anticipated me in placing the benefits and objects of the society before you in so favorable a manner, and were I to occupy your time for an hour, 1 could not add anything to what he has already stated in that respect. Mrs. James Con way then sang " Old Ireland," which was encored and responded to. Mrs. Needham, who sang " Her bright smile haunts me still," appeared to be in excellent voice, and was applauded to the echo. Mr. E. Carroll briefly proposed " Prosperity to the Lawrence Branch," which was responded to by Mr. J. J. Lawler (Secretary,), who spoke in a humorous strain'; and, after complimenting the officers said that we had reason to be pleased with the appointment of our medical attendant (Dr. Halley)— a gentleman in whom the members had every confidence. In conclusion, he said : lam proud to think that I was the originator of the Lawrence branch of the Society, and hope it will continue its career as successfully as commenced. Mr. Hamilton then 'sang, with concertina accompaniment, "The White Squall," which was received with great applause. A vote of thanks having been passed to the rev. Chairman, that gentleman in responding said : I assure you, ladies and gentlemen, with all the sincerity I can command, that I feel highly honored and grateful for the compliment conferred on me, more especially as it was received by you with such generous enthusiasm. Though I nave had the honor of residing amongst you for over four years, I must candidly confess there has been no occasion in my career of usefulness that has given me greater pleasure than to preside at the festivities of this evening. I see before me to-night representatives of every Christian community, in our town and district ; some of those present having travelled a distance of over 20 miles to attend this evening, and creditably - indeed are you all performing your part in most chaidtably carrying out that social unity which I trust will be the proud boast of each and every one of you to possess. The members of the Society, now happily established among youj are, I am sure, grateful for the honor yon confer on them, and I have - only to express the hope that the branch - so instituted to-night may henceforth do honor to the tree of Christian integrity to which it is united. The rev. Chairman took his seat amidst the enthusiastic cheering of the large assemblage, who seemed to appreciate the great interest he has taken in the establishment and successful inauguration of the Society. Dancing was then entered iuto with a will, in true Irish style, many of those present exhibiting a more than ordinary . knowledge of the laws that govern " The poetry of motion." Great credit is due to the hostess (Mrs. Donovan, of the Shamrock Hotel,) for the able manner in which she carried out the arrangement intrusted to her charge, more especially when it is considered nearly four times as many persons sat down to dinner as were expected by the prompters at the beginning.

our cause.