WELCOME AT IVRERCARGILL. (From: Our Own Correspondent.) INVERCARGILL, January 18.

Otago Witness, Issue 2862, 20 January 1909, Page 84

WELCOME AT IVRERCARGILL. (From: Our Own Correspondent.) INVERCARGILL, January 18.

.Bishop Verdon arrived at Blutf this morning- by the Warrimco, and was there welcomed by the Rev. Dean Burke, the Southland clergy, a number of the parishioners, and the representatives of the Hibernian Society. On arrival at Invercargill the rev. gentleman was met at the station by a large number of parishioners and friends, and taken by motor car to the presb> fcery, and there presented with an Miformal address in honour of his first port of call after his decennial visit to his I holiness the Pope. The informal address was presented by Mr J. Mulvey (president of tho Hibernian Society), and ra,n as follows : — "May it pleas© your Lordship, — It is with extreme pleasure and gratification that we, the Catholics of Inveicargill, heartHy welcome, your Lordship bark to Xew Zealand after your long tour, and wo trust that your mission has been successful from every point of iew. We have followed you in your decennial visit to our holy father the Pope, and we are pleased to note the cordialiU of your reception and the keen interest which his Holiness displayed in thia the most remote of his charges, and the solicitude he expressed for our welfare. We trust that your vHt to the land of our. fathers found conditions materially improved for the better since \cur last visit, and that you have been successful in your endeavours to secure fre«Ji recruits to carry on the pood work in the diocese. Your participation in the deliberations of the Eucharistio Congress and in the impressive and solemn ceremonies connected therewith will always stand out vividly in your recollections, and vro anticipate that the fruits of the congress will be far-reaching, beneficial, and permanent. We were pleased to see that you were able to attend the celebrations and join in the congratulations to the supreme Pontiff on the occasion of h ; s jubilee. Finally, my Lord, we trust that your tour will have been the means of refreshing \ou mentally and bodily, and that you will return to your arduous duties thoroughly invigorated in every way. We are, Tour Lordship's most obedient children, James Collins, Henry S. Searle. Geo. W\ Wood«, on behalf of the congregation ; J. G. Shepherd, J. Mulvcv. C W. Mathe*on. on behalf of the Hibernian Society." His LoroMnp will pay his official visit to TnvercartriJJ in nhout two months' time, when he will bo formally and fittingly recei\od by the whole of the Southland district.