In the Public Eye,

New Zealand Illustrated Magazine, Volume III, 1 October 1900, Page 13

In the Public Eye,

The Right Rev. George Michael Leniiian, D.D., Bishop of Auckland, RIGHT isprobably the most popular T^mwjfw of the five Roman Catholic bishops who have wielded the Crozier in this, the pioneer diocese in New Zealand, since Dr. Pompallier was consecrated the first bishop of Auckland in June, 1836. He was born in London in 1858, but was of Irish parentage. He received his earlier education at the Benedictine College at Ramsgate, at that time in charge of Lord Abbot Alcock and Father Edmund Luck, afterwards Bishop of Auckland. He was then moved to St. Edmund's College, Oldhall Green, and afterwards spent several years in Spain, where he completed his theological studies. When Father Luck found he was to go to Auckland as its bishop in 1882 he wrote and asked his young friend and pupil, then a subdeacon, to accompany him. The offer was immediately accepted . Returning to England Father Lenihan was ordained priest, and set sail with the new bishop and a party of clergy. Arriving in Auckland in November he was appointed curate of St. Patrick's. When it became desirable to form the new parish of Ponsonby, the energetic Father Lenihan was chosen to take charge of it. The success of his ministrations in his new sphere of action induced the bishop to give him also the charge of the Star of the Sea Orphanage of St. Mary's. The flourishing state of the Orphanage at present, and the special care Father Lenihan took of the orphans both in the institution and after they went out into the world prove the wisdom of this step. In 1891 he was appointed rector of Parnell, and Bishop Luck a short time before his death selected him for the responsible position of coadjutor bishop, a distinction

which whs deservedly followed iuNovembor, 1896, by his consecration in St. Patrick's Cathedral by the Right Uov. L)r, Grimes,

S.M., as Bishop of Auoklaud. Bishop Lenihan has but recently returned from a trip to England and Italy in the interests of his diocese.

Twenty years experience aH a journalist on the staff of such a paper MR> as the Melbourne Aram DONALD . L . _„ „, „ MACDONALD. omniently fitted Mr. Donald Macdonald for the arduous position of a war correspondent. He successfully represented that paper in the South African campaign, aud has been shrewd

enough to be first in the field (of those who can speak of what they have seen) on a lecturing tour throughout these, colonies. One glance at the keen, erect figure and alert bearing of this Australian-born journalist, as he comes on to the platform, prepares one for the man who not only knows what to tell his audience, but how to tell it. He does not weary by detailed accounts of the war in eloquently-rounded periods, nor does he, as is the manner of many, strive to show how infinitely better it would have been conducted had he been Commander-in-Chief. He gives vivid word pictures of first sensations under fire, battle charges and stirring incidents of the struggle, thickly interspersed with flashes

of humour, for Mr. Macdonald is the man who sees at a glance the humorous side of the most pathetic situation, and does not forget to give his hearers the benefit of his keen sense of the ludicrous. His Australian tour was a great success, and the places he has already visited in this colouy have already proved that New Zealand is not a whit behind Australia in the interest • she takes in the incidents of war, as treated by a capital raconteur, who has himself been in the thick of the fight. Enthusiastic audiences greeted this man, who had been through the siege of Ladysmith, eveiy time he appeared. His connection with the Argus has not been severed, for an express stipulation has been made that he shall take up his journalistic duties as soon as his New Zealand trip is over. He is a keen lover of nature, as an article on " The Veldt in War Time," by his versatile pen, which will be found in another column, conclusively proves.

Mr. F. Baxter, Vice-President of the New Zealand Institute of MR> Journalists, and President FREDERICK „, . , , , , , , BAXTEK ° Auckland branch of that body, isaYorkshireman by birth, but left his native country in the year 1863, at the early age of four. Some years later he developed decided journalistic tendencies. His earliest experiences in his chosen career were but brief. They were on the short-lived Evening Bell. He afterwards joined the staff of the Auckland Star in 1885, at the time that paper was sub-edited by a

gentleman who is now a fellow VicePresident of the New Zealand Institute of Journalists, Mr. J. L. Kelly. Mr. Baxter

now holds the responsible position of chief reporter of the Star, and has the interests of the commercial and mining portions of the community under his special care.

Mr. J. L. Kelly was brought up on printer's ink, and so he became a R. J. L. KELLY. j ourna ] j gt> editor, poet, and manager. He has just vacated the President's chair in the New Zealand Journalist's Institute, having worthily filled it during the past year, and has been elected VicePresident for the ensuing term. Mr. Kelly has occupied responsible journalistic positions in Auckland, Christchurch, and Wellington. He has now settled down as General Manager of the New Zealand Times, a position in which his knowledge of newspaper work, his energy, and his tact are likely to be of great value.

Mr. Geoihe Hutchison, the clever member

of Parliament, who repreHUTCHISON. Sentß l atea ' 18> b y thl B

time, in South Africa, where he will, no doubt, be heard of in the near

future. In the House he was often a thorn in the side of Premier Seddon, though in the famous " Bun Tuck " charges the general opinion was that he overstepped the bounds of fair Parliamentary criticism. " George," as he is known to his Parliamentary friends, may enter into Transvaal politics, or he may be content to practise his profession,

and pick up some of the good things that are likely to be going in Johannesburgh. ♦- — :-t— . Our picture of a girls' hockey match was taken during the recent tournaGIR HOCKEY. ment in Wellin g ton ' The teams in the field are from the Dunedin and Kiwi (Wellington Clubs).