HYDE.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume III, Issue 119, 6 August 1875, Page 13

HYDE.

[FBOM ▲ CORRESPONDENT.] It is my pleasing duty tp record the arrival of a teacher for our Catholic school here, in the person of Mr. Desmond, who brings with him a certificate of the First Class from the Irish National Board of Education. Yesterday, the children assembled in the School-room to welcome their new teacher, and to bid adieu to the Rev. J. Royer, who has, at considerable inconvenience and trouble to himself, been acting as teacher for the past three months. After the children were assembled, one of their number read the following address to the Rev. Father, which took him by surprise. "Dear Rev. Fathee, — As you are leaving us, we wish to thank you for all the trouble you have taken with us for the last three months, and also for having got for us a school of our own, "We know, dear Rev. Father, we have been very fortunate in having had a priest as a teacher, even for a short time, and if we have not been as attentive as we should be, we hope" you will forgive us, "We hope, dear Rev. Father, you will pray for us, so that by God's grace we may be good children. " We hope God will keep you with us until we grow up to be big, and that you will often come to see us. " We now, dear Rev. Father, wish you good-bye as our teacher. and pray God will bless us all." Signed, on behalf of the children, by M. Prendergast, M. Frasxr, N. Prendergast, G. Collins, E. Nolan. The address which emanated solely from the children, seemed to afford much pleasure to the Rev. Father, who replied in a most feeling manner, and gave much good advice, which it is to be hoped the children will endeavour to follow. In the evening, a meeting of the parents was held in .the School-room, when the following address was presented to the Rev. Pastor. "Dear Rev. Father. — We, the parents of the children attending the Roman Catholic School, Hyde, beg io express to you our sincere and heartful gratitude for the trouble, care, and anxiety, that you have voluntarily taken on yourself in teaching our children for the past three months. " Tour motto, Rev". Father, in this parish may well be, ' The Lord indeed has sent me to the poor.' " We know, dear Rev. Father, that the parish is scattered, and , that those to whom you minister are not blessed with much of the world's wealth. ■*- "We can only pray the great Giver of all good that you may be long spared to minister to our spiritual wants, and that the Divine Master whom you serve may spa-re you to see growing up to man's estate, and walking in the paths of virtue and of faith., those little ones for whom you have done so much, and for whose spiritual welfare you have worked so hard. " In conclusion, dear Rev. Father, we ask you to remember us and those little ones in your prayers, for it is said, ' The prayers of the just availeth much." Hore follow the signatures. The Rev. Father Royer, as in the morning, replied in very feeling terms, and was visibly affected. This is another grand instance of the love which has existed from the earliest period between the priest and his people, and it is refreshing to find that even a residence in New Zealand, has not succeeded in destroying that love or veneration which the Catholic has always felt for his priest. Mr. Desmond, I understand, at once assumes the duties of teacher. Hyde, July 29, 1875.