THE DEAN'S RETURN.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume LXVI, Issue 11938, 27 March 1914, Page 6

THE DEAN'S RETURN.

A WELCOME HOME.

EXPERIENCES RECOUNTED

A large audience- gathered nt the Masterton Town Hull last night on the occasion of tlio reception to the Very Rev. Dean McKenna, V.G., after his trip to the Old Laud. A musical programme wan rendered every item being encored. Miss ,'huuo-f-oii sang exceptionally well, and her encore item, "The Rosary," was capital. Miss N. Hogg contributed musical monologuos in her own taking style, and Miss McKenna \s piano solo was a splendid item. Messrs (.!. Ball, 1 ,1 . Humi. and \V. lgguhlen were all .it their best, their songs being distinctly <>ood, and' Mr Tressider's recitations were first rate. .Mi , Frank MeKenzio's orchestra rendered valuable assistance., and. Miss W. Jones, at the piano, helped materially to make the musical items a success. THE MAYOR'S WELCOME. ■The Mayor (Mr ,1. M. Coradine) during the interval read an address of. welcome homo to the Uev. Dean. Prior to doing so ho said he would not detain those present long as he knew they were anxious to hear the voice of their Iclovod Dean, ''I might says our Dean, as he has laboured so long amongst us," said the Mayor. They were all there to welcome the Dean back, and he for one, welcomed him heartily. Mr (.'oradine then read the following:— ADDRESS OF WELCOME. "The Very .Rev. Dean McKenna, V.G., "Reverend and Dear Father. — Your parishioners desire to express the pleasure they have in welcoming you on your return from your trip to Kurope. They trust that you have μ-rentiy benefited by the change and that your health, which caused very much concern to your parishioners and friends bet'op , your departure has been fully restored. .It must have been a. source of great comfort and consolation to your reverend and aged mother to have you and "Father Tom once more with her, and how thankful you must both be that you reached home before her death. We sympathise with you both in your bereavement We offer you our hearty congratulations on the honour which was conferred upon you in your absence in appointing you Vicar General for the Archdiocese of Wellington, and hojie that you may long be spared to fulfil the responsible and onerous duties attached to that ollice for which you are eminently fitted. You will be pleased to know that during your absence ':he spiritual welfare of your parishioners has been well carfd for in the perso:; of: your locum teuems, the Reverend 'Father Jlnrne-tt, who has latterly ben ably assisted by the Reverend .Father C-luinaiie. We appreciate the way in which they have in tin , exercise of their (■ricstly otHoe. administered to our wants during this period. Jn conclusion we feel -sure that you on your |>art an' delighted to be hack amongst us again h> take up the arduous duties of this large parish which you have so .il>'y conducted during file past t|tinrter el' a century during which time you have (•arned ii"f only the lasting gratitude ■.■;' your own parishioners, but the .i-1----miratioi! and i-steem of the Catholic t'leruv a-'d lait v of The Ar.-hdiocese" (Signed): M. <'. OVoanell. .1.1 , ., (chairman), -I. A. Mi-Kwen '. .T. C. (.'ooper. I-;. O'l.earv, .). Mc( 'arrl'iv. .). Percy, .1. Bradbury. '.I. dune. .1. >\ Mc'Killop. *■ t.'onuell/.\. li. IJuimy. A. I. Percy. The Mayor then read a letter froiu the headmaster nf the Masrerioii \)\<- tri.'t High S.-lio.d f.Mr W. 1.1. .la.-kson .-. regretting his inability to be present. THE DEAN'S REPLY. The Very .Rev. IVan McKeiina, on rising to reply, was greeted with apfplause. He said jf his lips could only give utterance to what his heart felt. lie would be very eloquent that night. | During the quarter of a century which ho had laboured amo'igst tii'.'m In- ha ! seen many things <'"•: whi'-ii both l.c ami they should be thankful. Ifis entrance into Mnsterton thai day wih ,i triumphal one, and one of whirl) any man might well feel proud. The nddre--; just read expressed rii- , wish that his health had benelitcd by hi-; trip, and they had only to look at him to see that it laid, and h> , roturni'd with renewed vigour to again Jake \\]> hiti! work. Th.-y had i-.'i'm-ed to the dear!) ' ol hi.- moMi'ar. and he r O :i!d n>sur, r'j-ia that she had been mv.-li gratilh'i'l by th"l presence of her two mhis in what he j might t'.'i'jii her dying hours. The him- ! liuv conferred Hj.on itiln—"his appointment as Vicar 'iem-ral—wa< al-o .relVi- ,- ---ri-d to in tlie address, and he would like to state that in ui'i'eptinf/ that dignity Tin was also accepting a great respon- j sibilitv ■. J It , woiibj; ltov>ever, carry out hi- ir-il d'iiieS to the liesf id' lli< ability, 'iii; in this lie u'a.s sure lie would .have their support. Mr ''oradine and those who presented the addre-'s, In I .referred in flattering term- •'■ hi- ti:.- , : :■: tenens. and In l could say that i hough he. was Slll'e he had 'left the pari-h ; !i good hands he did not expe.-t to ,-ye ill ■ work so wdl done as what he found ■>> be the cas' , . The ;;.'v. I lean said he was delighted to be back in Masterton. lie had ".!■ wa v> done his )).■>+. for the welr'an , --j' the Kiwii; and he hope.l to x< <■ it <•';■!■ tinne to lie intended in njn tiuue in the future as he,had done i>; the past, and when the end came lie hoped they would be able to say he ha:! done his duty. lie iXpecfed they WOltid HOW Wa.'H !:0 know something of his trip. The spoak-<-r then gave a.n interesting account of the journey from New Zealand, to Ireland and the various 'places of j;itere.:-:t visited en route. The way Ihey (deaivd l;he land for the- purpose of extending the city of Vancouver was, he said. a ri.-vehitio'i. Tin- onginoering feat which had taken the railway over !,he