WELLINGTON.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume II, Issue 89, 9 January 1875, Page 8

WELLINGTON.

(From our own Correspondent.) « A merry Christinas and a happy New Year to you " is the oxeetmg everywhere met with for the last few days, and is the grletin^ I beg to transfer to you. We in Wellington have more than ordfnary reason to be proud of our Christmas. We have a new bishop who has already made a profound impression on his flock • we have a new priest; we had the Cathedral beautifully illuminated and dressed with Nature's sweetest colour in a manner which far sur passed previous years, owing to the indefatigable labor of our new priest Father Kearney. His Lordship celebrated pontifical Hi*4i Mass at midnight, Christmas day, Father Petit Jean acting °as deacon, Father Forrest sub-deacon, and Father Kearney master of the ceremonies. After the reading of the first Gospel his Lordship delivered a truly eloquent, learned, and impressive sermon on the Gospel, and showed how the Church has confounded from time to time the arguments set forth by Professor Tyndal and his cobelievers.

The services rendered by the choii during and before the B^^- 03^ b f ""frieatiy appreciated, particularly the part taken by Miss O'Keefe who has a magnificent clear voice, and with Miss Macnamarra taking second part, the rendering of the Vemte Adoremus was most befitting. On Saturday morning hundreds started for the Hutt pic-nic

and bazaar in aid of the new church to be built at the Upper Hutt by Father M'Caughey. The place is about 20 miles from here and most people took advantage of the train as far as the Lower Hutt, about a third of the way, and got into coaches which were there in waiting for them in procession order, his Lordship's carriage first he being accompanied by Fathers Forrest and Kearney. Mrs Sharp, Mrs O'Shea, Mrs Clifford, and several other ladies of the committee had stalls with all T.he necessary articles for a successful bazaar, including some very fine clocks, a double barrelled gun (which, bye the bye, fell to Father Kearney), model steam engines, a bound copy of the N. Z. Tablet, aaid a handsome saddle horse (but you must not confound this prize with those that were on the tables). It is not exactly known what the clear proceeds are yet, but they are estimated at from ,£2OO to .£250. With what is on hand already and other promised subscriptions Father M'Caughey will thus be enabled to leave his memory unforgotten in the upper Hutt, as Father Guatenoire has left at the lower Hutt, and Father Cummins at Makara. We are expecting five other clergymen from home via Sydney, they may be here any day, and they are badly wanted. It was hoped that Father Kearney would be stationed in. Wellington principally to assist Father O'Reilly in the Te Aro end of thetown but amidst universal regret he is leaving for Nelson to-morrow • but of those who will regret his departure from here as many will regret the cause which led to it. It appears Father Bensfield of Nelson is very unwell, so much so that he is unable to perform the sacred functions of his oflice and all the labor has fallen on Father Gann, who is unable to bear it, and it is hoped that Father Kearney is sent there only for a time, either until Father Bensfield has recovered, or until the new clergymen arrive. The examinations of the schools for prizes were held the week before hist and a large amount was spent in the purchase of prizes Mrs Sharp, ever indefatigable in the success of St. Joseph's <*aye an entertainment for the purpose of getting up a prize fund for* the boys, and she was heartily assisted by Mrs Allen, Mrs E. MaeDonald, Miss Thomas, Mr Wiggins Mi- Borders, &c. The proceeds were close on £10, Mrs Sharp presented the prizes to the boys on the 24th inst., in the presence of several ladies and gentlemen The first prize consisting of a beautiful writing desk was presented to Master O. P. Dynch, the second, a box of mathematical instruments, was presented to Master Cosgrove. The value of the prizes distributed amounted to about ,£6. At the conclusion of the presentation Mr Hurley, in a few appropriate words, presented Mrs Sharp, on behalf of the children, with a unique holy water font of Italian workmanship. Father Forrest presented the prizes at the Convent and his Lordship presented them at St. Mary's.