ENTERTAINMENT BY THE LAITY.

Otago Witness, Issue 2201, 7 May 1896, Page 23

ENTERTAINMENT BY THE LAITY.

The prelates of the Roman Catholic Church and the visiting priests, who came to Danedin for the purpose of assisting on Sua<?ay in the consecration of Dr Verdon as Bishop of Dune lin, were entertained on Monday by the laity of the diocese to a drive to Waibati and luncheon there at Saratoga House. Cardinal Moran, Archbishop Carr, Archbishop Redwood, Bishop Murray, Bishop Grimes, and Bishop Verdon, and a considerable number of other members of the clergy were present, and there was a representative attendance of the laity. A start was made from St. Joseph's Cathedral about 10 15 a m., the party being conveyed in landaus, brakes, and waggonettes — 10 or 11 vehicles in all — imd Waita'.i was reached at 12 30 pm. The weather, though threatening, kept fine, and the scenery viewed from the road was much admired, but a bank of fog along the coastline from tbe heads prevented as fine a panorama, being obtained as could have been wished. At luncheon Mr J. B. Callan occupied the chair, supported- by Cardinal Moran, Archbishop Redwood, and Bishop ©rim»B on his right hand, and by Bishop Verdon, Archbishop Carr, and Bishop Murray on his left. Mr Joha Carroll was the vice-chairman. After a substantial meal, provided by Mrs Colehnn, bad been disposed of, The Chairman rose and said that, although that was an informal gathering, it would not be right that they should separate without honouring a few toasts, and he kuow the toast he had to propose— that of " His Eminence the Cardinal" — would bereceived with acclamation — (Applause.) Whea he thought of the different prelates who had from time to time been appointed in Australia, he was (truck by the suitability of each appointment, and he desired to bring under their notice how eminently and well the cardinal filled the high position in which he had been placed by the Holy - See — (Applause.) As another illustration of that, he might refer to their late bishop, about whom he did not trustfcimself to speak much — when they remembered what qualities their late bishop hud, he did not know that they could have found any man more fitted to. be the pioneer bishop of a diocese lika Dunedin. The Holy See might be slow in acting, bat that showed that bafore it acted it was -very sure. The suitability of the appointment in- the case of the cardianl was shown by the faot that he had won esteem and admiration for his learning, his dignity, and his laboriousness from all classes and all creeds, and the speaker could assure his Eminence that the Catholics of New Zealand had a great respect and veneration for him. — (Applause.) They had read from time to time his utterances in the press and they had heard of him, and they thoroughly and entirely appreciated him. They all regarded it as a great compliment to the diocese that bis Eminence and the other dignitaries should have come here at this late season of the year to honour it with their presence and to honour the bishop by coming to his consecration. — (Applause.) Cardinal Moran thanked the company for the compliment they had paid him, and assured them that it had been to him a most agreeable day — the drive had been most enjoyable, aud the family feast at that hospitable table had been most agreeable. He was sure he only spoke the sentiments of the visiting prelates when he thanked the laity for the courteous welcome that had been extended to them. Some 10 years ago, when some of his brother prelates and himself visited this beautiful city, they had a most enthusiastic welcome ; but the welcome extended to luctn on this occasion exceeded and surpassed, if possible, the welcome extended to them then. It was a most auspicious occasion which had brought them to Dunedin at the present time, and he desired to congratulate the laity and clergy alike on the wonderful success which had attended all the proceedings of the solemn feast of the previous day. The minutest details had been marked by au | accuracy and precision which would have done j credit to the, oldest cathedral in the world, and j the musical and choral arrangements wera so complete that theyleft- nothing to fte desired. While the clergy bad a leading dmS in m vVj, g these arrangements, the laity on their pa> •■ h d a corresponding snare. He would not trcbpai3 upon them with many words, but merely thank : them eocdi&llj foe honouring the toast, aud for

the agreeable treat which had been enjoyed that day.— (Applause.) Mr J. Carroll said he had been honoured by being asked to propose the toast of the newly consecrated bishop, Dr Verdon. — (Applause.) ' He did so with the greatest pleasure,' and assured Dr Verdon that with all the .warmth of their affections the laity welcomod him as a worthy successor to their .late, beloved bishop. He assured him also that what in his travels through the diocese he saw had been dona by the people could be accepted as an earnest of whst would be done, and that he would receive the generous support of a loyal and united people in whatever efforts he might make.-— ( Applause.) Everything had bean made so perfect by the late bishop that to a large extent the cotuss of Dr Verdoa had b;en made clear. — (Applause. ) Bishop verdon, who was received with great cordiality, thanked the company very much for the way in which they had received the kind words spoken regarding him by Mr Carroll. He had been deeply moved by the very kind welcome which had been extended to him in Dnnedin. Since his arrival he had received nothing but kindness from the clergy and laity. He saw how thoroughly devoted they were to the memory of their late beloved prelate, and he woald endeavour, as far as he'could, to walk in his footsteps. If he could succeed in imitating the late bishop he was sure he also would j merit the praises they so generously besbowed on him, and he was sure he would have the L faithful cc-opsration of the clergy and laity. I He read a short time ago a most interesting I and instructive hiatory of Australia, and when he came to the part referring to Dunedin, he was much struck with the difficulties the late bishop had to encounter when he arrived in the ! diocese. There was then scarcely a church in I the diocess, and there wis sca-cely a priest. Wr.at was there now after 25 years of his epif copacy. They had a magnificently organised diocese ; they had a magnificent cathedral, and a fine convent adjoining it ; they had numerous schools and very mnny churches ; they had a most able, thoroughly united, and zealous priesthood, and a most faithful laity. The works which, had been done during the lifetime of his great predecessor had nob been I done entirely by the lafce bishop. They | refieoted the greatest credit on him, and he must have displayed a great deal of energy and zeal, but he could not have done those works without the co-operation of the faithful clergy and laity of th« diocese. Ha saw in the acoount to which he had referred that during those years over £80,000 had bean spent on various works in the diocese, and that certainly told how generous the laity had been. He was very glad to hear thtt he would have their faithful co-operation during the years to come, and ho was sure he would have that assistance. He thanked them all most sincerely for the kindness with which they had welcomed bim in this diocese.— (Loud applause). Mr 0. K. Haughton, in felicitous terms, proposed "The Visiting Prelates." Archbisbop. Cake, in returning thank#> congratulated tho laity upon tbeir selection and on the reception they had given to the prelates and clergy who had come from distant parts to Dunedin. He would certainly treasure these days in his memory as long aa he lived— riot only for the religious celebrations but also for tho social c&lebration they were enjoying. He hoped tbat from time to time he would have the pleasure of welcoming members of the laity to Melbourne, and he knew ho could say the same thing regarding Sydney and other places to which the visiting prelates belonged. Nothing reflected so much credit upon their religion — nothing was calculated more to raiss the opinion of the people of Dunedin of thf> intimate union between the clergy and laity — than all the events of the preceding few days. Archbishop Redwood, in the course of his reply, paid a high tribute to the generosity of the laity, and said that in all parbs of New Zealand when an appeal was made to the laity it met with a quick response. That was an earnest; of what, the future of the church would ba in -New Zealand. What had bean accomplished in the past would be but the pale shadow of what was to be done in the future. Bishop Murray, who was the next to reply,, said they took it for granted that the Holy See had been very wise in making the arrangement severing Nen Zealand from the hierarchy of Australia.' That they wers bound to believe — it had been sufficiently explained,— but that was not to prevent them from cementing a strong feeling of charity, so that when the Australian prelates came here they would be edified and instructed by the great work and by the noble institutions erected here during the last 25 years — (Applause.) Bishop Grimes also acknowledged the toast, and in doing so said that the part he performed for the Diooose olt' Dunedin during the trying illness of its late bishop was only a labour of love. 'He found himself at home with the priests of the diocese wherever he went, and they trotted him as ho thought they would treat their own bishop. From the fictt time he met the late bishop he felt drawn to him, aud he was treated by him with a warmth of affection which he would never forget. He only hoped that the bond of union which had begun so well in the time he had the privilege of knowiug the late lamented Dr Moran would grow stronger and stronger, if possible. Whatever he could do at any time to recognise the ! kindness he had received from the priests would always hs done. Mr F. W. Petre proposed "The Parinh Priests," and the Revs "Father Devoy. (Wellington), Father Mackay (Oamaru), Dr O'Haran (Sydney), and Dr Egan (Auckland) responded to it. Cardinal Mohan briefly proposed the toast of " The Liity," which was acknowledged by the Chairman. At the conclusion of the luncheon the party were submitted to the ordeal of being photographed, and at 3.30 p.m. the return drive was < commenced, Dunedin being raachtd at 5.30 P ' m% ____»_. The Government have purchased 400 acres of land at Ormond, Hawke'i Bay, for close settlement from Mr A. B. Newman, the price paid being £20 per acre. The case of the man Livingstone, for whose maintenance Huddart, Parker, and Co. had to enter into a bond of £100, came up at Wellington on the 29th. Inspector Pender said no doubt the man's statement was substantially true. Livingatone asked that a medical inquiry as to his mental state should be held in fairness both •to himself and Huddart, Parker, and Co., and express ad a wish that he should be lent back to England, in which country, he said, he was first oonfined as a lunatic, whence he was shipped to Melbourne immediately after his release from the asylum. The magistrate convicted and discharged him on a charge of larceny, and at the requ»sfc of Inspector Pender, I/vingstone will again interview Huddarb, V-r-ssr, and Co. tha advent of the Comedy Ti-ilby is anLiupAfced with pleasure. The advent of Woods's i Great Peppermint Care for Coughs and Colds — | Is 6d aud 2s 6d, is a boon to all. From Grocers