CHRISTCHURCH.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume XX, Issue 51, 7 October 1892, Page 18

CHRISTCHURCH.

(From oar own Correspondent.) The Bey Dr Kennedy, 8.M., arrived last week in this city from Sydney, and departed on Thursday last for the ecclesiastical Seminary at Meanee. He will retnrn again, it is said, to these parts at Christmas time, and will be then finally located in Napier. About 60 friends, most of whom are neighbours m the district, assembled on Monday evening last, at his mother's little farm at Papanai to celebrate the happy event of bis retnrn. Mrs George Harper, two of her sons, and her daughter, Miss Harper, the Misses Summervill and Daley, and Messrs W. Hoban, barrister and solicitor ; Pofif, O'Mally, Smith, W. Cronin, O'Donoughue (2), and Delahnnt were among others present. His Lordship Bishop Grimes, and the Bey Father Camming?, V.G., visited the farm on the same day, bat previous to the social gathering. The verandah of Mrs Kennedy's house was tastefully decorated with a large flag, with evergreens and with Chinese lanterns. A sort of summer-house— wherein on a long table was a grand spread— was also with the aid of a tent and green branches erected at one end of the house, and lit up with lanterns. Everyone seemed pleased, and to enter thoroughly into the spirit of the occasion, and was glad to see, welcome, and congratulate Dr Kennedy, who appeared in the summer-house at about 8 p.m., and said grace, and invited his numerous guests to turn for a while their serious attention to the many good things on tht table. Mrs Harper presided during the evening at the piano, and, in another room, to the strains of a violin, which Mr J, Joyce bandied skilfully, dancing was kept up. Mr Hoban, who presided over a merry company in the tent, contributed also not a little to the general enjoyment. Mrs Kennedy, who has been a widow for five years, has a younger son, also a married daughter. The former resides with his mother and the latter lives near. Mrs Kennedy's eldest sod, Dr Kennedy, who has attended school for upwards of twenty years, proceeded from the farm 16 years ago, when he was a mere lad of about 12 years of age, to St Mary's at Dandalk. He graduated and obtained subsequently the M.A. degree at the Royal University of Ireland. He went then to Barcelona and to Borne. For two years he studied at the latter place at the Gregorian University, and secured the degree of Doctor of Divinity. Previous to his departure from the Colony he attended the Catholic school in this city, and was under the tuition of Mr B. O'Connor, and a schoolmate of Mr Hoban. The meeting of the Catholic Literary Society was adjourned on Tuesday evening last in order to give members an opportunity to attend an entertainment, which Mr J. D. Foley gave oo the same evening in the Hibernian Hall in aid of the Hibernian Society's I building fund. The attendance at the ball, which wbb tastefully decorated for the occasion, was not as large es the attractive programma and the talented performer well merited, but was highly appreciative, and Mr Foley, who elicited roars of laughter, had more than once to respond to enthusiastic encores. Apropos of the Hibernian Society, 1 may mention that Mr G. J. Sellers, D.P.P., and Mr J. Curtin, P.P., have cent in a report addressed to the president, officers, and members of the 8t Patrick's branch, No 82 of the Hibernian Society. Mr Sellers and Mr Curtin were appointed by the local branch of the Society to attend as delegates .the recent general

conference of tbe Friendly Socities in this city, also various general meetings and committee meetings. The delegates give in their report a complete account of their stewardship. Tbey state that they bave regularly attended tbe various conferences and committee meetings held since tbe last report was returned. They are pleased also to say that the efforts of the general conference in the direction of federating for the purpose of securing an exchange of medical members bave met with almost universal success. Lodge i of tbe different societies throughout the Colony have expressed their approval of the scheme, and signified their intention of joining the association. The draft rules have been amended in accordance with the wishes of the different societies and unanimously adopted at a conference held on Tuesday eveniDg last. It is anticipated that the association will be in full working order in the course of a few months. This is a very important concession as far as the Hibernian Society is concerned, aod tbe delegates, recognising tbe fact, to advance the matter, bave spared neither time nor troable. Tbe only other important matter dealt with is the recommendation of the conference to separate the dispensing and medical attendance. It is anticipated, by these means, to make a savin? in the amount now paid for medicine and for prescribing, besides ensuring, to a certain extent, a better claps of medicines. Arrangements bave been made with a chemist — providing tbe different societies agree to the proposal — whereby a certain saving will be effected. There are two schemes, as far as tbe medical attendance is concerned, wbicb will be submitted to tbe societies interested, in tbe course of a few weeks, for their approval or otherwise. Oneecneme is to appoint three medical gentlemen, without private practice, at a salary of £500 each per annum. It is estimated, with accouchments, this amount will be increased by at least another £100 each, and will m p an a saving of about four shillings per member per annum. The other scheme is to allow as many medical gentlemen hs will consent to attend members. Tbere would be no election, and members could please themselves as to tbe choice of a medical attendant. To be clear, say that fifteen medical men consented to act, a member of the local branch would have the choice of any one of them. By this proposal it is thought that a deal of dissatisfaction now existing would cease, and that only those medical gentlemen who gave entire satisfaction would, in the end survive. This is by far the best proposal ; but tbere would practically be little or no saving. It may be pleasing to the members to hear that one of the delegates (B;o. Sellers) was unanimously eleced chairman of the conference. The employees, and many of their friends, of the firm of Messrs Lonargan and Co., of the Waterloo House, held, on Thursday evening last, a grand and enjoyable social in tbe Hiberoian Hall, which bad j been specially ornamented with festoons and in other ways prepared ' elabo'ately for thg event. A carefully arranged programme, which comprised twenty-seven items, was successfully gone through, and refreshments were in the anti-rooon provided on a liberal scale. Tbe dances were many and various, and included a hornpipe and a jig, which Master Falvey executed in hia usual finished style. A dialogue, songs and recitations, were also given by Mi 99 Petitt, Messrg Robert, Scott, Irwin, and North. Tbe party did not break up till about 4 a.m. on tbe following morning. Towards the close of the second part, " The dusty miller," a game which was indulged in, proved a very amusing affair, A leading item in the programme was the enactiog of the well-known farce " On patle Frarc. iis ici," tbe various characters were ably sustained by Mrs W. Burns, Misses McGallan, Conway, and Wheelan, and by Messrs North, Irwin, and Fowler. Several amusing minor items known as extras, such as a blindfold quadrille and a ribbon dance also took place. Hia Lordship Dr Grimes paid, on Sunday last, his first official visit to Halswell, and was enthusiastically received by the Catholics in the district. A beautiful address, wherein special mention was

made of the great spiritual attention that the Catholics in the locality bave received from the Bey Father Cumminga, V.G., was read and presented to his Lordship, who replied suitably. A large congregation assembled in tbe church in tbe evening and Vespers were celebrated. Tbere was, on the same day, a collection at tbe various services at the pro-Cathedral and at St Mary's towards the support of the Mou nt Magdala Asylum. DoubtleßS, for so noble an object, a bandsome donation will be obtained. It is pleading to have to record that the Bey Mother Marie St Gabriel, Superior, and Mother St John, who have been absent for some time in tbe North, returned during the past week to tbe convent in Barbadoes street, and that the Bey Mother Superior has come back very much improved in health.