WELL KNOWN CLERIC

Auckland Star, Volume LXXII, Issue 114, 16 May 1941, Page 10

WELL KNOWN CLERIC

DEATH OF DEAN DARBY 111 lI,T < HI lt< II AT HAMILTON The death of the Very 1 !ev. Joseph Croke Darby, one time parish priest at Hamilton, is announced. Sixtynine years of age. Dean Darby had been ill in a private hospital, where his death occurred. The son of the late Dr. Walter Darby, one of the best known of the early medical practitioners of Auckland. he wa ; burn on August 27. 1872. He made his first studies at the MarUt Brothers' school. Auckland. and afterwards went to St. Patrick's College. Manly. Svdney. where l:e completed hi-; theological studies for the priesthood. * On December 1!'. iV),. he was ordained priest bv the late Bishop Lenihan. llis first appointment was to Thames where, as curate, he had charge of the Ohinemuri district ("or one'year.

At the end of IS9S Father Darbv was appointed to St. Benedict's. Newton. as curate, and at the end of 1001 he was appointed parish priest at Hamilton. At that time Hamilton included Frankton and Cambric"".—, but under Father Darby's administration the parish so developed that

both were separated as distinct parishes. During his term in Hamilton Father Darby built the Church of Our Lady of the Holy Rosary, which stands as bus monument, and also the presbytery. Appointed Dean In recognition of his services, he was appointed Dean of the Waikato. in 191 G. and was appointed by the late Bishop Cleary as a member of the Diocesan Council, on which he served for some years. In 1922. Dean Darby retired from active parish work, and afterwards lived in Ponsonby, where he was well-known to the parishioners of Sacred Heart Church, in which he said his daily private Mass. More recently he lived on the North Shore. Brothers of the late Dean Darby are Messrs. Patrick Thomas. Edward and Walter, all of Auckland. Mrs. Maekay, of Howick. is a sister. In the absence of Bishop Liston. funeral arrangements have not been completed.