RETURN OF THE BISHOP OF DUNEDIN.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume V, Issue 257, 5 April 1878, Page 17

RETURN OF THE BISHOP OF DUNEDIN.

His Lordship, the Bishop of the Diocese, returned to Dunedin on Thursday, 28th ult. His Lordship was received at Port Chalmers by a number of the gentlemen belonging to the Catholic community, and on his landing from the s.s. Wan aka, the following address was read and presented to him by Mr. Frank W. Petre :—: — ADDRESS TO THE MOST BEY. THE LOED BISHOP OF DUNEDIN. My Lord Bishop, — It gives us most sincere pleasure to see your Lordship once more returned to your diocese. We have heard of the important labours that your Lordship has successfully accomplished during your absence from Dunedin, and we beg to congratulate your Lordship on the happy results attendant on your visit to Auckland. The intelligence of the blessings that have flowed to the people of that diocese from your Lordship's presence amongst them, and of the joy and gratitude with which they every where received your Lordship's instructions have been to us a source of a natural and most pardonable pride. Tidings of the complete restoration of yoar Lordship's ("^■faii have preceded you here, and have been universally heard by of your Lordship's flock with thankfulness and joy. In conclusion, my Lord, we give thanks to the Father of all Mercies for your preservation during your absence, and the amendment of your health, and we pray that your Lordship may still be spared for many years to rule over and guide your affectionate and grateful people. Signed on behalf of the Catholics of the diocese of Dunedin, W. H. M'Keay, Frakcis Meenan, Fbank W. Petbe. THE FOLLOWING IS THE BISHOP'S ANSWEK. Gentlemen, — If it giyes you pleasure to see me once more returned to my diocese, I assure you it gives me great satisfaction to find myself again in your midst. The value of my labours in Auckland has, I think, teen greatly exaggerated. It was not, I regret to say, in my power to do much to promote the interests of religion and education in that diocese, owing to the shortness of the time I could remain there. We should all pray, earnestly and fervently, that the appointment of a Bishop of. Auckland may not be long delayed, for though the joy and gratitude with which the people received my instructions and the eagerness with which they entered into my views, prove the depth of their faith, and their docility ; it must be evident to the most superficial observer, that the affairs of a diocese long deprived of the presence of its Bishop, cannot be expected to be flourishing. Along with you I rejoice at the restoration of my health, which appears to be complete, and I heartily thank you for your prayers and good wishes ; and feel extremely obliged to you for this address and the trouble you have taken to come to Port Chalmers to welcome me home. The party then proceeded by the 1.30 p.m. train to Dunedin, and on arriving at the terminus, the Bishop was conveyed to his residence in a carriage belonging to Mr. Fitzgerald.