VISITOR IMPRESSED.

Auckland Star, Volume LXIX, Issue 128, 2 June 1938, Page 23

VISITOR IMPRESSED.

.CATHOLIC CENTENARY.

DOMINION CELEBRATIONS.

» The Catholic centenary celebrations in New , Zealand hfive undoubtedly impressed churchmen ' from overseas very writes ; a London correspondent. W. ; A.: H.Tayaitf profeesor in scholastic philosophy ;«t Queen's University, 3elfast, who has just returned from the Dominion, was quite as enthusiastic over the organisation of : the; event ae was Archbishop. of Tuam, Dr. JI. p. Gilmarton, whq , arrived back a week ••earliflr.**;. '^';-'j:'l r v^1 "I' expected 'gr*at things from the ?eeifl, "bufe"' the ■brilliance pf<%ne functions andL thre'-yoßaerfuJi organisation of the wholei :eent«nafcry far surpassed anything "I any'still amazed at how much the Catholics of Australia and New Zealand have done for the faith, having regard to their small numbers. In New Zealand, for example, there are only 200,000 Catholics out of a total population of about 1,500,000. Yet in the Sacred Heart Convent School in Auckland and in the Marist Brothers' Secondary School in the same city they have two of the finest secondary school* I have ever visited.

"I was a little apprehensive about certain aspects of New Zealand life, but I was delighted that my feare proved to be unfounded. I found a splendid spirit of toleration and sympathy everywhere. The chief State and civic officials, from the Governor-General down, showed a very friendly interest in the centenary celebrations."

He paid a, tribute to the Australian and New Zealand aiid the excellent servfceVof overeeai news provided. Despite /their "distance from' Europe, they gave as full a supply of European news as the ; best London ' and their comments on. overseas events were welland?.Spund. Catholic papers atop f«aeh. a high, standard.

Reffer|"fngi to.Bishon Liston, ."Catholic Bishop ;ofc--4url<lajrtcl, Jlr. Ryanrsaid: "I have\" r met a more thoughtmlf |p«n a' , ' Setter organiser." He aleog epoke -i yerj. .highly of the organising 'ability!.' of Dr. Buxton, administrator of St. Tatrick's Cathedral, Auckland.