WELLINGTON.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume XXI, Issue 3, 4 November 1892, Page 29

WELLINGTON.

(From our own Correspondent.) October 29. Mb E. M. Cabb, of the Bailway Engineers' Department, has been transferred to Ohristchurch, where his presence will be welcomed by his old friends, whose names are legion, and more especially by the members of the Catholic Literary Society, of which he was a moßt painstaking and efficient secretary for some years. Mr Carr's health had not been the best, I regret to say, since his residence here, and consequently his application for a transfer to his native city has been granted. I only hope that when now he treads as it were, his native heath, he will be himself again, and that his undoubted literary abilities will be utilised on behalf of the literary Society. —Amongst the changes about to take place in the Telegraph Department, I notice that Mr R. P. Houlihan, for many years a resident in Christchnrch, is to be transferred to Wellington. What wili be Christchurch's loss will be Wellington's gain, for both Mr and Mrs Houlihan have alweys been ready and willing to assist in any good work connected with either of the parishes in the City of the Plains. I can bear testimony to the indefatigable manner in which they worked at the last bazaar, and tbe scenic results produced under the direct supervision of Mrs Houlihan were the best of their kind ever put upon tbe stage in Christchurcb... The eight Hour's Demonstration which was held here on Friday laßt was one of the most successful of its kind ever held in Wellington. The number of societies takiDg part in it, the expense incurred and labour entailed on getting up the affair and the general good conduct of the people during the time the procession paraded the streets as well as the absence of the slightest attempt at rowdyism dnring the day, were sufficient evidence of the dignity of the workingman and bis independence when placed in a responsible position. The workiogmen of Wellington are to be congratulated on tbe magnificent weather with which they were blessed for their show and also for the order and decorum everywhere maintained. It was certainly an object-lesson to those who are eternally thinking that unless the sons of toil have not some of the heaven-born aristocrats to lead them in everything, they are bound to make some seriouß mistake which will throw this world out of its well-balanced equilibrum. Considerable improvements and alterations have been effected lately in the Catholic church at the Lower Hutt, and on Sunday last the opening of the 6acred edifice tock place, when bis Grace the Archbishop officiated. The ceremony took place at the eleven o'clock Mass, which was splendidly rendered by the choir of St Mary of the ADgel's Church, Boulcott street. Mass was celebrated by the Rev Father Lewis, and his Grace tha Archbishop preached a very eloquent and impressive discourse on the occasion from the text, "Do this in commemoration of Me. The musical portion of the Mass, which was Farmer's in B-flat, was sung by the following ladies and gentlemen, Misses Ross (2), Messrs W. Robs. Rowe, Oakes and Gardner. The collection on tbe occasion amounted to a little over £70, which, considering the depressed times and many other caußes, was a very creditable one indeed, and reflects much credit on the libsrality of the Catholics of the Hutt parish. In the evening there was Solemn Vespers, when his Grace again prsached to a crowded congregation. The improvements to the church have been carried out by Mr E. Hayes, under the direction of Mr J H. Allen, architect. On Monday last Mr J. H. Kirby, a member of the staff of the Evening Press, took his departure from here to take up a similar position on the Evening News, Napier. Mr Kirby has been a resident of the parish of St Mary of the Angels for some time, where he has

been a regular attendant, and has always taken % deep interest in the affaii sof that parochial district. Mr Kirby, it will be remembered, had ) seen for many years connected with the Press In Canterbury; He n ras, in the early days, secretary to the Bouth Canterbury Education Board, and afterwards became editor of the Timaru Herald, from, whence he sent those delightful gossiping letters to the LytteU ton Timei, entitled "Timaru Talk." He afterwards became subedit. >r of the latter paper, which post he held for some time, after whi( >h he came to this Island, where he held similar positions, and was fora session or, twq ( Parliamentary correspondent of that paper, his iiketches from the seat of 1 Government being remarkable for their crisptoess and originality. I understand th»r he will contribute a weekJy letter Urn papier to a Wellington paper, which I am sure— unless his hand has lost its cunning— will be a most interesting, as well as a readable, epistle. On Sunday morning last, a very pretty and impressive sight was witnessed at tbe Boulcott street Otourcb, when upwards of 60 souls approached Holy Ob'mmnnion for the first time. The forty girls wore white dresses with veils and wreaths to match, and the twenty boys white rosettes, the members of the junior branch of the Hibernian Society wearing also green favours. There were also three adults— recent converts— who also received their first Communion on the occasion. The communicate had been receiving instruction for Borne time under the direction of the Rev Father Goggan, and none but those thoroughly well grounded in the Catechism, and having an intelligent knowledge of the truths of Christianity, were permitted to make their first Communion. In the afternoon at St Joseph's Ohurch, Buokle street, there was a general renewal of Baptismal vows, and all the young communicants became members of tbe League of the Cross, whereby they promised to refrain from intoxicating liquors, until they attain their twenty-flrst year. Let us hope that will be only the beginning of their life-long abstinence from so vile a curse. The new fife and drum bard which has been established in connection with tbe Te Aro parish is making satisfactory progress under the conductorship of Mr Howell and it is expeoted that they will make their debut to tbe public on Nov 9th at the garden fair to be held in aid of the Orphanage building fnnd, at Father Lewis 1 gardens at the Lower Hutt, It is intended to hold a social here on November 9 for the parpose of raising funds towards assisting the Irish Parliamentary party under Mr Justin McCarthy. For this purpose a preliminary meeting of ladies was held in Bt Patrick's Hall on Thursday evening last in order to make arrangements for providing refreshments on tbe occasion and anything else that may be necessary. There was a very good attendance, amongst those present being Misses Smith andllcManaway, and Meedamea A. McDonald, Healy, O'Donovan, E. F. Gibbs ODea, Denneby, D. R. Lawlor, Maher, Fleming, Harris, and Ramsay! and several others whose names I was not able to get at the time. The social is being got up under the auspices of the local branch of the Irish National Federation, and will be somewhat on the lines of | tbe recent Catholic entertainments which feave been so eminently successful. The chair was occupied by Mr Healy, and Messrs J. P. McAlister and ODea explained to the meeting the reason of their being called together, and what they were expected to do The ladies unanimously formed themselves into a committee and undertook to provide refreshments for the occasion. lam given to understand that some time ago his Grace the Arohbishop expressed himself much in favour of the proposal, and promised his co-operation, and I am sure that the object alone will be enough to insure a bumper bouse [ irrespective of the excellent programme which will be provided. I The many friends of Mr P. J. Dunne, in this city and elsewhere, will regret to hear of his departure from Wellington on Monday last. Mr Dunne has been for many years a prominent member of the choir of St Mary of the Angels, Boulcott street, where bis well cultivated tenor voice was heard Sunday after Sunday in rendering praise to the Creator of the Universe in the beautiful music of the Churoh. He was also a performing member of the local Liedertafel, and also of the Harmonic Society, bo that from a musical point of view, as well as from that of the Church, his departure will be a loss. Mr Dunne wag until lately in the Property Tax Department, and previous to that was on tbe staff of one of the daily papers here. Mr Dunne, who was accompanied by his sister, proceeds to Riversdale to take up some land in that district. His brother settled there some four months ago, a notice of his departure from here having appeared in your colnmns. Mr and Miss Dunne had a regular send-off on Monday, when several of their fiiends, ladies and gentlemen, assembled on the wharf and wished them God-speed in their new undertaking.