CATHOLIC SCHOOL

Hokitika Guardian, 14 January 1935, Page 1

CATHOLIC SCHOOL

OPENED AT WESTPORT. (Per Press Association.— Copyright.) WESTPORT, January 13. His Grace Archbishop O’Shea, in making his first official appearance in public as Metropolitan for New Zealand in succession to the late Archbishop Redwood, opened and blessed a new Catholic school in Wesport this after' noon. The ceremony took place in the presence of a large assemblage of the public. The Archbishop was escorted from the Presbytery to the new school bv the Children of Mary Sodality, by the members of the Hibernian Society, and by the school children.

In the course of his address, Archbishop O’Shea expressed the view that the secular work of their schools should be subsidised.

The speakers included Rev. Father Phelan, parish Priest of Westport, who mentioned that this was' the second Catholic School to be opened in "Westport at a cost of £7OOO. The cost of the present building, which contained six rooms, and is one of the most up-to-date in the Dominion, had been £2500 The school was being opened almost free of debt.

Mention was made by' one of the speakers that Rev. Father Phelan had himself contributed £1(000 to the school. Other sneakers were the Mayor of Westport (Mr J. Kilkenny), Mr P. C. Webb, M.P., Hon. W. H. Mclntyre M.L.0., Mr J. Radford, and the Rev. Father Seymour. The builder of the school ns Mr J. Scanlon, of Westport, and the architect, was Mr J. MeCoster, of Auckland.