ARCHBISHOP REDWOOD'S VISII TO TARANAKI.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume XIX, Issue 33, 22 May 1891, Page 3

ARCHBISHOP REDWOOD'S VISII TO TARANAKI.

(From our own Correspondent.) New Plymouth, May 11. We have had a visit from His Grace the Archbishop of Wellington, who has remained in the district for about ten days. He has conferred tbe rite of Confirmation upon the children, aa well as many adults, who have been converted to the Catholic faith. His Grace arrived on Friday night (May 1), by the express train from Hawera, and was received at the Kailway Station by the Rev. Father McKenna and others and was^driven to the Pre9bytery. On Saturday His Graco examined the candidates for CjnfirmUioi, and visited the Convent. At eight o'clock on Sunday morning His Grace celebrated Mass in St J seph'a Church, which was crowded. The aspirants for Confirmation, who were nicely attired, received tbeir first communion. At 10,30 second M.iss was celebrated by the Ret. Father McKenna, when the church was again filled to >he doors. After Mass the Archbithop delivered an elcquent and lucid discourse on the Sacrament of CoufiimUioa. The address was especially for the aspirants, but was HsUced to with marked pleasure by the large number of adults present. Ihirty-eight boys and girls received the Sacrament, thts majjnty being girls. His Grace gave the episcopal blessing af ier Mass. The choir sang in h very pleasing manner portions of Winter's and Coocone's Masses. The soloists were Misses Bennett and Moore, Mrs Ahem, and Messrs. Parker and Waitt. Miss J. Moore presided at the organ. At vespers, the church was literally packed with people, and chaira and forms had to be placed alone the aisles to accommodate those who arrived after the service commenced After the vespers bad been sung, His Grace delivered an address, which wa9 a masterly theolcgical exposition. The subject was " Tae Blessed Virgin, Mother of God." His Grace, accompanied by Rev. Father McKenna, walked ontto the breakwater on Monday morning, and there meeting Mr. F. P. Corkill was shown ovjr the petroleum works by tba' gentleman His Grace was shown by Mr. Booth how they shifted the " sinker Dir "I and also samples of the petroleum, indications of which are improving. On Tueßday His Grace Archbishop Redwood visited Waitara and was accompanied by the Rev. Father McKenna and Mr. Saifern. On their way the party drove down to the beach off wa^h the Wanaka was lying— as upright as if she waa afloat and a acchor. The men ere still at work on the beach making tanks, which ire to be placed in the steamer's hold to make her more buoyant f ae men have just about completed their work, and the tanks, it is expected, will be fitted in the vessel at once. It is not known for certain when tbe attempt will be made to float her. The party then drove to tha Waitars, and proceeded to the Eemont Freezing: Works, where the Archbishop and Ihose feccompanj ing him wt re kindly shown over that large establishment by Mr. James and Mr. Halloran. The whole process of freezing the meat was explained by Mr. James to bia Grace, who seemed to take

a tfreat interest in the matter. The party went through the slaughter yard, which, considering the work jaat previously done there, was exceedingly clean ; then to the "cooling room," where hundreds of carcases were banging up and getting firm. Afterwards they went into the freezing chamber, where tho temperature was 38 decrees below eero. Mr. Halloran showed tke p >rty the other parts ot" the establishment-how they packed the carcases in cotton bags, with the owners' number stamped on ihem, the boiling-down room, the barrel making department, and every other part of tho establishment ; also the barges io which the meat is sent to the steamers which take it to London. His Grace thanked the managers for their attention, and wished the Company every success in. ite undertaking. After partaking of an excellent luncheon at Nicholl's Bridge Hotel, the party went for a walk on ti.e other side of the river, and Tisited the cattle wharfs. Thej then returned to the hotel, where Mr. West having the carnage ready, his Graco and those who accompanied him, returned to town, arriving about 5 o'clock. His Grace Archbishop Redwood, accompanied by Father McKenna, went to Stratford by Wednesday evening's train, and on arriving there were driven to Mrs. Malone's residence on theOpunake Boad, where they stayed the night. Mass was celebrated at eight o'clock on Thursday morniug in the Stratford Church, af'er which his Grace had a look round the town and expressed bis surprise at the progress the place had made since his visit three years ago. At eleven o'clock a confirmation service was held, some thirty young people presenting themselves. ThosArch bishop afterward s preached, dwelling upon the importance of the rite of confirmation, The church, which was prettily decorated for the occasion, was thronged, many being unable to obtain admission. After service his Grace and Father McKennk, with a few members of the congregation, partook of luncheon at the hotel, and left by the afternoon train for New Pljmoutb. It was subject of remark during the day that the church was quite inadequate for the growing population, and that means would very shortly have to be found for its enlargement. At the Catholic chapel in New Plymouth on Thursday night there was vespers, when the congregation was a very large one. The Archbishop preached a sermon on '• the* Ascension." Archbishop Redwood, accompanied by Rev. Father McKenna, Mr. J. H. Parker, and Mr. Gierin, visited on Friday afternoon the waterworks, Mr. Mitcbinson'a gardens, and the cemetery. The party left town at 2 o'clock, and were driven to the waterworks, where Mr. Parker introduced bis Grace to the engineer. Mr. Wray ehowed and explained to the Archbishop everything connected with the mhchinery for pumpiDg the wTO into the reservoir. He^alsj took the party to the dam and the picnicing ground-. The party was then diivtn to to the Caledonia gardens t where his Grace was intnduced by Mr Parker *o the owner. Mr. Mitchineon showed the Archbishop over his grounds, and Dr. Redwood was delighted with the place, and pleased with the>attcntion shown him. He was then taken over the cemetery, and shown; tbe monuments on the hills, and some of the scenery by the Henui River. After ajvery pleasant outiag of abon* three hours, the party returned to town, arriving at the preabvtery at about 5 p.m. His Grace and Rev. Father McKeoua lefc town for Inglewood on Saturday. On Sunday morning the Archbishop examined the candidates for confirmation, and at y o'clock celebrated Mass, when there were a large number of communicants. The Polish settlers mustered in large numbers, quiteJfillingSthe little chaptl. Tbe church had been decorated veryjprettily wiihj flowers and evergreens, which reflected great credit on the taste displayed by thosu who did the work. The second Mass was celebrated by the Rev. Father McKeLna. at 11 o'clock, when the church was agiin crammed, a large number of Protestants being present. After Mass His Grace conferred it,e Sacrament of Confirmation upon 42 aspirants, and tben delivered an eloquent and lucid discourse, addressed principally to those ,vhj had received the sacrament, which was lis-uned to with marked attention by all present. His' Grace bestowed his episcopal^blessing upun the congregation, and the s> rvice came to a conclusion. Tue Archbishop and Rev. Father McKenna then went to tne hotel, where an excellent luncheon had been provided, &ud after paitaking of which they kft for town in a carriage, arriving in New Plymouth at about half-past 3 o'clock. * In the even ; ng, at. Vespers, there was a lar^e congregation at StJoseph's Church, numbers of the othir denominations being present His Grace again preached, his subject being " The Pentecost." In a masterly and elequent manner His Grace depicted the etate of society when Christianity was in its infancy, and then showed that. notv.uLBtanding tbe numerous attempts made to crush it out of existence, it had gained strength, until the whole world had been forced to acknowledge its divine influence on the people. Tbe benediction of the Blessed Sacrament by His Grace followed, and the service came to a conclusion. Arrangements had been made on Monday for Archbishop Redwood to have visited Woodleigh, where he was to have been entertained by Mr. J. Hughes (late of Wellington), and His Grace was to have gone over to Brookland^ Mr. Newton King's residence, but the wet and etormy weather prevented tbis part of »he programme being

carried out. His Grace left for the South by the express train on Tuesday, and before going expressed himself as being very pleased « ith his visit to the district.