"GREATEST DERBY IN HISTORY"

Press, Volume LXXIV, Issue 22308, 24 January 1938, Page 5

"GREATEST DERBY IN HISTORY"

SETTLING OF OKLAHOMA CATHOLIC BISHOP PASSES THROUGH AUCKLAND (THE PRESS Special Service.] AUCKLAND, Januarv 22. A native of Prince Edward Island, Canada, but for most of his life an American resident, Bishop Francis Cle/ment Kelley, of Oklahoma City, was a through passenger for Sydney by tiie Monterey. Bishpp Kelley, who will return to Auckland next month for the Catholic centenary celebrations, said he had been requested by the Board of Catholic Bishops of the United States to represent them at the celebrations. Archbishop Murray, of St. Paul, Minnesota, was also to have attended, but had been unable to make the journey. Bishop Kelley described himself as a real northerner, as Prince Edward Island, where he was born, lies from 45deg to 47deg north. All he knew about New Zealand was what he had learned at school, "that it was shaped like a boot." Though he had met many Australian bishops and priests, he had no recollection of ever having met any from New Zealand.

"My diocese of Oklahoma was originally set aside for a place where In-1 dians could gather, and was divided I into two territories," said Bishop Kelley. "Oklahoma means 'Land of the Red People,' and the State was later opened for settlement by whites, the ! Government buying land from the Indians. The settlement of the land was determined by the greatest Derby in history. One night there were only Government surveyors in the city, and next day there were 10,000 people from four sides of the city. At the firing of a gun a great Derby began and those who were first to put down their stakes on the land claimed it. They became known as 'sooners' as they got there sooner than the others. So I am the Bishop of 'sooners.'" Accompanying Bishop Kelley was the Rev. Father Reardon, of Minnesota. H© visited the Dominion three years ago and. toured the scenic resorts, beginning at Bluff and finishing at Auckland.