HIBERNIAN SOCIETY.

Evening Post, Volume LXXX, Issue 113, 9 November 1910, Page 2

HIBERNIAN SOCIETY.

ST. PATRICK'S BRANCH. TWO PIONEERS HONOURED Last evening at St. Patrick's Hall, Bouloott-stiHet, the membois of the St. Patrick's branch, No. 96, of the Hibernian Society, and the ladies' branch, assembled in full force to do honour to two of the oldest members of the society in New Zealand— Bros. Michael Bohan, P.P.. and Edmond Carrigan, P.P. Bro. W. J. Feeney presided, Tho Roy. Father Venmng, S.M. (chaplain), un veiled two enlarged photographs of Bros. Bohan and Carrigan, which tho society js going to hang in the meeting room, lie referred to the sterling qualities of their honoured brothers. Bro. Bohan is one ot the founders of the Hibernian Society in New Zealand, having been one. of the requisitioned for the establishment of the first branch. This was ustablished 111 Charleston, West, Coast, in 1869. eimultaneouslv with the opening of the Addison's Flat branch. Bro. Bohan was elected the first president of the Charleston branch, and lays claim tp the distinction of being tho first elected President of the Hibernian Society in New Zealand, as the first president of the Addison's Flat branch was appointed for a month by the deputy from Ballarat (Bro. Byron), which in those days was the head office of the society in Australasia. Home time after Bro. Bohan came to Wellington, and in 1874 was instrument al in having the Wellington branch formed, and Ui <$avo tho expense of bringing an oiheer from Australia to opein the branch Bro. Bohan was duly invested with that power, and performed the ceremony on 6th October. He has been actively coii nected with the society ever since, having filled the president's chair on several occasions, and occupied the treasurership, after the resignation of that office by the late Bro. Alexander M'Donald, for a term of seventeen years. Bro. Carrigan. was initiated in th© st> ciety at Wellington on 9th March, 1877, and has been continuously in office from that date. He has filled every office, and is at the present time senior trustee. Feeling reference was made to the recent death of one of the members of the society — the late Bro. James R. Harriss. He was connected with the society from 1896. and was held in the highest esteem by the members. As a mark of respect the officers wore mourning, and a motion of condolence with his widow and family was passed in silence. After routine business had been transacted the evening was spent socially. The following contributed items:—Sisters M'Kay, M'Loughlin, O'Regan, Una Simon, and Maureen Griffin, Brothers Charles M'Kenzie, M. C'Kane, J. B. Martin, Barry, Carrigan, Lawlc?, P. J> M'Keowen, and Master M'Carthy. A short dance followed.