PRESENTATION TO BOSHOP VERDON.

Otago Witness, Issue 2286, 23 December 1897, Page 9

PRESENTATION TO BOSHOP VERDON.

-At the conclusion of vespers at St. Joseph's Cathedral on Sunday, 12th, the landau built at Mr Robin's factory, and which has already been described in these columns, and a pair of horses were formally presented, on behalf of the Catholics of the community, to Bishop VerdoD. Messrs J. B Callan, F. Meenan, J. Liston, M. Tynan, and J. Blaney assembled in the sanctuary and pr<sented an artistically illuminated address printed on satin. It was read by Mr Callan, and couched in the following terms :—: — Address to the Most Rev. M. Verdon, D.D.,

Bishop of Dunedin. My Lord. — We, the children of your lordship's diocese, both lay and cleric, have for a long time past felt that it has beeu a great want iv this diocese that the b ; sbop has not been provided long ago with a means of travelling in and around Dune-tin suitable to hi 3 position.

Taking advantage of the anniversary of your appointment to this diocese, the clergy and laity mat together and resolved that this want should no longer exist. They have then fore purchased a Ctvrvt-tge and pair of horses, which they desire to pi"«-serit to your lordship. In making this offering, it is our belief that its use jn this city of hills will help to prolong your lordship's life and greatly add to your comfort and convenience in carrying on the active work of tbe diocese.

AYe hope that you may be long spared to go about amongst us, and trust that you will accept this offering as an earnest of our desire to loyally co operate with your lordship in all your undertakings, whether on behalf of the Christian education of our children or for the- promotion of our most holy faith. • ' Signed on behalf of the clergy and laity. — Rev. P. MtrKPMY, J. B. Cau-an, F. Meenan, J. LisTON, Captain Blaneit, M. Tynan. December 12, 1897. Buhop Vkrdon, in reply, said : My dear Friend?, — It is with no ordinary feelings of gratification that I endeavour to discharge tbe duty of replying to your address this eveuiug. In respectful and affectionate' lingusg'e you hove asked me to accept a magnificent, a most valuable gift. I accept' yCur gift with_ deep feelings of gratitude, and I accept it ,ali the more willingly because it is not the gift of a few special frieads, but the generous offering of all the Catholics of the City of Dauedin. I accept it as a token of your respect and reverence for the episcopal office, and as a p oof of your loyalty to the spiritual ruler of this diocese. I am conscious of my many shortcomings, but ,1 should be ungrateful indeed if I did not recognise and publicly acknowledge that I have received marks of the most respectful attention from all the members of my flock, and that a generous, warm-hearted welcome has been extended to me wherever I have gone since I cime to this diocese. This is not due to any merit on my pait ; it must be attributed to the admirable spirit tbab prevails in this diocese. We have here, indeed, as dtvoted a body of clergy and as extmplary a body of faithful laity as could be found iv any part of the world ; the priests arc all loyal to their biehop, and the pastors and tbe people are all working most harmoniously together. This happy state of affairs has been brought about by the' wise administration of my illustrious predecessor, your late beloved bishop. He was a true bishop — a holy, enlightened, and zealous bishop. He gave you a bright example of ©very ptiestly virtue; and he taught you to look up to your bishop with aff • ctiou and reverence. Ha it was who gathered the priests and people round their chief pastor and united them so closely together. God grant that this union 'may continue for ever. When priesfcs and .people are united together, and when they rally round thtir bishop and encourage him to" push forward, the cause of .religion^ and truth must triumph. Your valuable gift will, as you hope, enable me to do much of my work more conveniently. It will also enable me to do something that might; not be accomplished without it ; and if? as sou ; affectionately desire, it will add days to my life, you must pray that I may use those days wisely and may employ them all in the faithful discharge of my duties. Again I thank you most sincerely for your precious gift, and I earnestly pray and confidently hope that God will reward you for your filial devotion and for your unswerving fidelity.