HIBERNIAN AUSTRALASIAN CATHOLIC BENEFIT SOCIETY.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume III, Issue 152, 31 March 1876, Page 12

HIBERNIAN AUSTRALASIAN CATHOLIC BENEFIT SOCIETY.

Grahamstown Branch, No. 33. The quarterly meeting of the members of this Branch was held on Monday, March 13, at the Hibernian Hall, Shortland : the President, Bro. Mulligan, occupied the chair. The following officers were also present : — Bro. O'Brien, Vice-President ; M. 'Landers, Secretary ; Bro. Twohill, Treasurer ; Bro. Pollins, Guardian ; Bro. Connelly, Warden ; and Bros. Burke and Mahony, Trustees. Bro. Foy, P.P., was also in attendance. The President opened the meeting in the usual manner, and requested the Secretary to call the roll, when about forty members answered to their names. The usual fines were recorded against all members living at the Thames, proper, who did not apologise for their absence. Members of the Branch residing at Ohinemuri, Waitekauri, Tairua, Coromandel, Auckland, and other parts of the colonies are exempt from fines for non-attendance at quarterly meetings. The minutes of the previous meeting were read and confirmed. Correspondence. — A letter was read from the Acting Undersecretary, Wellington, acknowledging the receipt of a notification from the Branch of the election of a new Trustee in August last. Two letters were read from the Auckland Branch — one enclosing a complimentary ticket for the St. Patrick's Day Celebration Balf to be held in the Choral Hall, and requesting our members to be represented on that occasion. Letters were also read from Bros. Holly and Burke, the one residing in Auckland and the other at Tuakau, enclosing sums of money to pay their contributions, and applying for clearances to throw into the Auckland Branch. During the day two telegrams were received from an official in the

Provincial Hospital, Auckland, stating that one of our members' the late Bro. Richard Cooney, died in that institution at 3 o'clock a.m., and expressed a wish to be buried at the Thames. The deceased has been ailing since January from pneumonia, and was an inmate of the Thames Hospital, but, as a possible means of recovery, went to Auckland to consult Dr. Philson, the Surgeon Superintendent, a few weeks ago. His remains were conveyed per s.s. Durhani to G-rahamstown on the 14th inst., when a number of the brethren were in waiting to receive them. He was leaked in the Society's Hall, and will be buried this evening, 15th inst., in Shortland cemetery. The deceased was a native of Castlebar, County Mayo, Ireland, and was possessed of a considerable sum of money, which he has left to Father Chastagnon for the benefit of the Catholic Schools and other charitable purposes. Requiescat in pace. The Secretary read the report of the sub-committee, entrusted with the carrying 1 out of the arrangements connected with, the celebration of the approaching festival of the Apostle of Ireland. The following is a portion of the programme for the occasion. The members are to assemble at their Hall, at 9 30 a.m., and march in procession to St. Francis' Church, Shortland, headed by the band playing the solemn strains of the Stabat Mater. The Holy Sacrifice of the Mass will be offered up by the Rev. Father Chastagnon, who will also preach a panegyric on the " Life and Labours of St. Patrick." After divine service the members will form and march en rovte for Grahamstown, the band playing St Patrick's Day and other patriotic airs. After a reasonable stay in the latter place a finr 1 start start will be made for the HaD, where they will disperse and proceed to their respective homes. An evening party will be held in the Academy of Music to wind up the day's proceedings. Two hundred and fifty invitations have been issued and complimentary tickets are sent to the three Branches of the Society at Auckland, Otahuhu, and Onehunga, and also to the six other friendly societies here. Host Curtis, of the Pacific Hotel, will cater on the occasion, and provide a sumptuous bill of fare, and it is anticipted that, like similar entertainments got up by the Society here, it will pass off with great eclat. The report was adopted. The sick visitors report stated that, owing to the death of Bro. Cooney, and another declaring off the funds, there was but one member now on the sick list. The sum of £io 3s 4d, sick allowance, was passed for payment at the meeting. Dr. Lethbridge, one of the medical attendants, laid a charge, and paid the usual sum of ten shillings deposit, against the Secretary, to be tried before the judicial committee. He (Dr. Lethbridge) accused the Secretary of placing members' names upon the other medical attendants list without authority, and of not furnishing him with a proper list of the financial members for the quarter ended December 6. The following notice of motion to come on for discussion on next night of meeting was tabled by one of the members — Bro Harney — " That the Secretary be instructed to communicate with His Grace the Most Rev. T. W. Croke, D.D., Lord Archbishop of Cashel and Emly, and remind him of the promise he made, in replying to the deputation that waited on him, to thank him for the honor he conferred upon the members, in coming expressly at their request, from Auckland to the Thames, to preach a sermon on St. Patrick on the 17th March, 1872. The promise referred to, that he (Dr. Croke) made amounts to this. During the course of conversation on the day after the 17th, the then Bishop of Auckland expressed his surprise, that such a body of men (we then numbered 180) had not a band of our own, and was anything but pleased in seeing us inarching behind such a motley crowd as that which constituted the town band, which we engaged for that day. He also said that he would subscribe a sum of money if we got up a band of our own. In the June following we invested ,£7O in the purchase of musical instruments, and engaged a bandmaster. The band has cost the Branch, up to date, about £200. The band fund is rather low at present, and is is owing to that circumstance that Bro. Harney has been induced to move in the matter. The receipts of the evening amounted to £18 2s ; and for the quarter to J6112 19s 6d. The meeting closed in due form by the President reading the Angelus. Michael Landeks, Secretary.