GREYMOUTH.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume XII, Issue 26, 17 October 1884, Page 25

GREYMOUTH.

On Monday, September 22, two Sisters of Mercy, Mary de Pazzi and Xavier, arrived in Greymouth from Bnnis Convent, Ireland They came to supplement their community at Greymoath, and to bear a hand with them in their increasing labours. They left home in company with Dr. Moran, Archbishop of Sydney, and arrived in Wellington on the 20 th ult., per s.s. Liguria. Mr. M Kennedy the coal prince of New Zealand, kindly caused one of his steamers' (the Maori; to divert from her usual course on that occasion, that it might receive them at Wellington, and convey them to Greymoutb At Wellington they were joined by Miss Minnie Dunean eldest daughter of the late Mr. Duugan, former editor of the New Zealand Tablet. Although the morning of their arrival was wet and stormy a considerable number assembled to greet them at the wharf The taller girls of the Convent schools took possession of the balconies m the vicinity of the wharf, and many of their mothers and other ladies went out m the storm to catch a glimpse of those who are destined to shower blessings on themselves and their offspring They were received at the wharf by the Rev. Father Carew °Mr M Kennedy, the Superioress of the Convent, and three of the Sisters' and conveyed to the convent. The large and beautiful scboolr oms of the conveDt were ncbly decorated for the occasion There 150 children sang a magnificent chorus of welcome to them, in which they were joined by the Sisters of the community, after which Miss Lizzie Sheedy read the following address to them •— "Dear 6iste!B,-It is with great delight that "we assemble here to-day to welcome you to yoar new home. We are all aware of the many sacrifices you have made in leaving Ireland, your friends and everything that is dearest to 30a in life.'to come thousands of miles to benefit us-to promote onr religious and secular education which has much improved since the arrival of the other dear Sisters amongst us. Now with such qualified auxiliaries we feel confident -rlat things will he achieved in every respect by the inmates of All Saints Convent For your sakes we regret that New Zealand does net possess the many attractions of the Emerald Isle, still we feel thai the noble motive which brought yon amongst us will make you think very lightly of the inconveniences to be met with in a young country As the best way of showing our appreciation of your great kindness in coming amongst us, we promise to emulate in obedience and affection the be<tof those whom you have left behind, and, if nossiblT to make you forget that you have ever left your native land Azain I welcoming you, dear SUte.s to your convent home, -we' reman i your respectiul children of All Saints." 1U The enthusiastic recepto 1 accorded the new-comers by their future pupils highly pleased them. The fatigues of their lon°- iourne* seem to have made but little impresson on them. In c'mniot? to Greymouth they were only changing residences, for the occupants of ihe Grey Convent are before them but a few years from Knnis The Bey. Father Carew made the following reply on behalf of the S ster. to the children address :-« My dear children -As the Sisters must b-j too tired after sach a long journey I be^ to thank yon on their account for the kind address of wa.m welcome which yon have just read to then,. And I wWi to join my owu welcome and that of the Catholic people of Greymouth with yours to those dear ladies wbo have come so far to bless us by their Dreseno amongst us. They have come a greater distance than from the extremes of the earth to be the anrel gnardians of your lives I believe none ever came so far before for your express benefit It is true that when yon first came into existence God sent his angels to guard you, and with instructions not to leave you until they crown you at the termination of your lives. These ladies have come, not indeed, from the home of the angel*, but from the next place to itthe Island of Saints, on yoar account. An) if they and their Bisters never c«me, you would run a very great risk of never receiving the angel s crown ; for, in this country, withonc the Sistera yon would be like lambs amongst wolves. They have also come to you at their own expense ; and when we find ladies of the highest training and attainments, such as they, willing to come from the extremes of the earth to impart to you the highest education in religious and secular knowledge, and stipulating for no more remuneration than the mere necessaries of life m exchange for the same, then we may truly say that the Lord has safely delivere-1 you from the demon of secularism that threa'ened to devour you. Well May we be grateful to God for their safe arrival amongst us, and truly may we bs thankful to Him for procuring such excellent teachers, who are willing to work so disinterestedly for yon, dear children, for whom He laid down His life. The children then received a holiday amidst acclamations, and were the bearers during the day of many gifts from their parents to