TIMARU.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume XIX, Issue 46, 21 August 1891, Page 15

T I M A R U.

(From an Occasional Correspondent.) August 17. The Alyosian Union held their usual weekly meeting on Tuesday, 11th inst, at 7.30 p.m. There was a good attendance, considering lbs many attractions outside our own. As had been previously arranged, the trial by jury was to have been upon the tapis, but owing to the prisoner having decamped to Cbristchurch or the foggy state of the weather, or perhaps the fogginess of the learned counsellors, it had to be postponed. I think the evidence is not sufficiently strong or possibly the police are not. However, I have been creditably informed that blB Lordship, the judge, will arrive about Friday next, and if the prisoner be apprehended it will go very hard with him* Mr James Collins sang the beautiful little song in a very touching manner " Carry me back to Tennesee." Mr Cronnitch was very amusing in the comic song " Deedle umps a de." Mr James Cunningham gave an extract from the "Nativity." This gentleman is a promising reciter. Mr Cairns sang with his nsnal ability " The island of green." The secretary, Mr McMonagle, recited the " Spanish Champion " in tt manner which was duly appreciated. Mr Bernard McQowan sang with good ta9te " Take me home again," and Mr Obarles Niall convulsed hia audience with the wag " Brenpan on the Moor," modernised. Mr Neeson sang the old song " It's whiskey not love that's got into your head," and was loudly applauded. Mr Dennehy recited in his usual masterly style "The Charge of the Light Brigade." Mr Fred Niall gave a very nice song as did also Mr D. Wildermotb. and Mr Riddley. Mr Delaney sang in a very happy way a heart-breaking "Lamentation," Mr Corcoran's impromptu " Address to the gods " brought the programme to a finish. On Sunday the 16th inst., the Rev. Father Foley sang High Masa. After the gospel the Rev. Faber Pertuis gave out the nsnal announcements and preached upon the sufferings of the Blessed Virgin Wary, and explained how it was that holy Mary was the Queen of Martyrs, briefly describing the scene at tha foot of the cross aud drawing a compaiison between tbe sufferings of the martyrs and the sufferings endured by the Blessed Virgin Mary. In the evening the Rev. Father conducted the vespers and Father Foley preached upon tbe Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary. The rev. preacher gave a very eloquent lecture, and explained how it was the Blessed Virgin did not accompany her Divine Son when He ascended into Heaven, showing forth the tender love of our Saviour for hia disciples, and the readiness of His holy mother to carry out his wish, that she might remain with His apostles to comfort them in His absence. He then dwelt upon the happy death of the Queen of Heaven and earth, and how that the absent Apostles warned of the approaching dissolution of their Mother, hastened to Jerusalem to receive her blessing and beg for her assistance wLen she would have joined her Divine Son. St. Thomas who had been abseDt in India hurried also to Jerusalem but was too late, at which his soul was disturbed thinking that perhaps Heaven was still angry at his previous incredulity ; how St. Peter takiDg pity upon him led him to the tomb, which, when they opened, contained only the apparel in which her virginal body had been wrapped when they deposited it therein. As the seal of the tomb had not been tampered with, and as no vestige of her body was ever found, they believed that it was assumed into Heaven, for as she was conceived without the Btain of original sin, her body should not see corruption. At the conclusion of a very instructive and interesting lecture the rev. gentleman exhorted bis flock \o Lave great devotion to Holy Mary and seenre her patronage by imitating bar virtues, especially those of purity, humility, and patience.