(Waimate Times, December 23.)

New Zealand Tablet, Volume XXI, Issue 36, 5 January 1894, Page 6

(Waimate Times, December 23.)

OtTB Catholic friends were very unfortunate in tbe matter of weather for the opening of their bazaar on Thursday evening, the fine days of tbe earlier part of the week giving place on Thursday to a steady downpour of rain, which abated about seven in the evening, just at tbs time the bazaar was to be opened. This prevented tbe conntry people as well as many in the town from being present at tbe open* ing. Nevertheless, there was a fair gathering in the Oddfellowß* Hall, when the formal part of the proceedings commenoed. After several instrumental and vocal -elections by Mr Langdown's string band had been rendered, tbe Rev P. Begnault calleJ on His Worship tbe Mayor (Mr W. Ooltman) to first address those present. Hii Worship on rising said he was pleased to be present on that oocation. He felt he must congratulate Father Regnault on tbe excellent display there was before them. He had seen many bazaars, but he bad seen none to approach the one they were now about to OQen. In its richnese and vari ty of articles it surpassed anything he had seen at a Bimilar affair. In fact the articles were too g od for Waimate, and they would require now homes to put them in. He did not come there, however, with a loog address, nor did he think that they wanted to hear one from him, but rather that they should proceed with the real business of the evening. Th re were a Urge number of young ladies with papers in their hands prepared to address them in a more practical way by asking them to put their names down for many of the choice article* which were for disposal. He hoped that tbe bazaar would meet with every success, and that tbey would get a large sum of money for the building of their new presbytery. Father Regnault then asked the Bight Rev Dr Grimes, Bishop of Ohriitchurcb, to open the bazaar. Hii Lordship said be knew tbey did not want a speech from him and if be did say anything he could not say more than had been so pithily expressed in the speech of the Mayor. He could not say that he was a great believer in baztar-, and, unl.ke Mr Ooltman, he had not seen very many. He almost had had a mind not to come to Waimate at all, but to send a letter of sympathy to them and wish for every success in their iffjrts. Their worthy rector, Father Begnault, hart, however, with commendable perseverance, succeeded in getting him to be present to open their bazaar. He did not intend to say much, but he could not help saying that he always felt a deep interest in Waimate, and it gave him grvat pleasure to help in tbe diocase in any way he was of service, whether it was in that of helping the c«ute of education, assisting their priest, or in •ther ways. He proceeded to refer to the former priest of the diocese, Father Goutenoire, wbo left for another sphere of labour a few years ago. There was an important work for him to do elsewhere, but the difficulty was to get a substitute that would fill tbe position so well as Father John. Father Regnault had been held in high esteem on the West Coast, and had baen vary successful there. Iv looking for a successor he had thought of him. He knew that he had obeyed well, and when he had done that he felt sure he could comjaand. If he had any roiegiviogs it was that Father Regnault was too young a man to replace Father John. But time had shown him he had not made a mistake. Father Goutenoire had left many

standing memorials in the district. There was their church, and their school, for which he had raised £600, besides effecting improvementi of the value of another £100. Perhaps it had been thought there was nothing left for Father R. gnault to do, but he had also worked well for the parish. With the co-operation of the people a plan of his had been accepted by which they had secured eighteen acres of land. Then he did not rest nn til be got Sinters to teach their children. Then it was necessary to bnild a convent, and on this they had spent £900. And he woold here say that they had reason to feel thankful to the various religious section of the community for the way they had helped them in eubsctibing this amount. Since then they bad bought for £50 the corner section on which the large two-storied building stood previous to its destruction by fire. Now Father Begnault wanted a Presbytery, and he thought that wai very much needed. When he came to Waimate he knew there were plenty of the best places at his disposal, but be preferred to stay at the presbytery where Father Regnault provided him with splendid quarters, everything so nice, but then he knew Father Regnault had to rough it lomewhere else. He thought they should make better provisions so that accommodation would be found for brother priests when they came to visit their pastor. It was right that the presbytery should not be far away, for the priest should be guardian of the church, and should be near. He hoped then that they would show their appreciation of the efforts that had been made by purchasing liberally. There were a number of good fairies who were waiting to take down their names. But before declaring the bazaar open, he desired to thank the Mayor for being present, and also those who had spent so much time and talent in preparing for the bazaar. He hoped that it would be a brilliant success. The people then proceeded to inspect the various stalls and make their purchases, while the fairies referred to by His Lordship found abundant occupation in taking names for the choice works of art they had for disposal.