OBITUARY.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume XVIII, Issue 18, 29 August 1890, Page 27

OBITUARY.

Since our last issue, the sad news has reached us of the death of the Tery Rev. James Mahoney, Q.S.F., Vicar-General of the diocese of Auckland. As we have been instructed by Press and private telegrams, this venerable priest died at Parnell on Wednesday the 20th., and was buried on ITriday. The Very Rev. Father Mahony was a native of Kilmichael, Macroom, County Cork, and has had a remarkable career. After his profession and ordination in the Franciscan Order, he spent some time in the Monastery of Ennis, County Clare, afterwards in Rome, Jerusalem, and Egypt, finally settling for life in the diocese of Aucklaud. From this it is easily inferred that his experience was at once wide and varie'l. Moreover, he was a great reader, and a fine conversationalist, numerous, goodoatured, and attractive, Parnell was his first mission in New Zealand, and he died both the parish priest of that suburb and the vicar-general of the diocese. But his lot was also cast at the Thames goldfield, at the North, Coromandel, and Tauranga including the Lakes district. At Tauranga he had just completed a pretty church before his removal to Parnell, and the " Priest's Bath " at the lakes is so called after him. We are within the strict limits of truth in saying that the genial and warmhearted Father Mahoney never had an enemy in the diocese which he served faithfully and well for 25 years. As for honours, it is well known that he never ambitioned them, nay even, had he not been repeatedly pressed by his Bishop and fellow-priests, he would never have left Tauranga for Parnell and the onerous duties of vicargeneral. Latterly his health had been failing, and it was apparent that the end was not far distaut. A great favourite with the clergy and laity alike, Father Mahooey will be greatly misted from the diocese. We deeply regret his death and sympathise with the many friendsjwho mournjjbis loss. He is gone to his reward, but his name will be affectionately remembered. — May he rest in peace.