TIMARU.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume XXI, Issue 15, 10 August 1894, Page 18

T IM A R U.

(From an occasional Correspondent.)

The election of officers of the local branch of the Hibernian Society took place at their last meeting, and resulted as follows : — President, T. Sheehy ; vice-president, J. Sullivan ; treasurer, J. Moloney ; secretary, Mr Dennehy (re-elected) ; gu irdian, P. Keane ; warder, F. Flannagan ; sick visitors, P, Kane and W. Cunningham. The balance-sheet for the quarter then elapsed was brought forward, and showed tbe branch to be in a most satisfactory condition. Out of a total membership of 90 only 8 .benefit members were UDfinancial. The funds showed a substantial increase, while the amount outstanding in arrears was less than it has been since the branch was formed, It is surprising, in a district such as this where the membership should be doubled, that more do not avail themselves of the benefits of 'the Bociety, and make provision against tbose casualties in life to which they are liable. The benefits are equal to tbose of any other benefit society, and the members art linked together by the strong bonds of religion and nationality.

The Rev Father O'Sullivan, of the African Mission. Society, has paid us a visit, and I learn has been very successful in the object of his visit— the collecting of funds in aid of his society. Ho preachei on Sunday (29th July), aad gave a graphic description ot the hardships and privations the missionaries have to endure in the malarial districts of Central Africa, the mortality amongst them beiag enormous. In the evening he preached an eloquent sermon on tbe Blessed Virgin, and established himself »t ooce as a preacher of no ordinary merit. On Friday evening last Father O'Sullivan delivered a lecture to the Aloysian Society on " Tbe Pyramids of Egypt." Having personally visited the pyramids the rev lecturer gave a vivid description of what he saw, and quoted from copious notes taken at the time of his visit. The largest pyramid (Cheops), which covers an area of 13 acres and is 700 feet high, was graphically described. Tbe Rev Father ascended the wonderful structure, tbe top of which inonly 32 feet square, and tbe description of tbe view from tbe wonderful height was interesting in tbe extreme. A vote of thanks to tbe lecturer, proposed by Rev Father Hurlin, and seconded by Mr T. Harvey, was carried amidst rounds of applause, The hall w*»s fairly well filled, a large proportion of ladies being present.

Your Cbnstcburcn correspondent has given South Canterbury a friendly hint re establishing a branch of the Irish National Federation. Frcm my own knowledge I can lay it waß mooted here some weeks tince, and I think that some decisive steps ia the initiative will be taken very shortly. As far as Tiraaru is concerned it has always given a good account of itself on previous occasions when a demind has been made for assistance on behalf of tbe National movement, and I am sure the Irishmen of South Canterbury will not, be behind on this occasion. The objpota of the I.N.F. are such aa to commend the institution to all Irish. Nationalists of any creed — It is unsectanar ; Home Rnlers of any naiocality may join, and the subscription is within the reach of all. The monies subscribed are to be used in assisting tbe evicted tenants, augmenting the Parliamentary fund, and generally providing the Irish Party with the sinews of war, to continue the struggle for Home Rule. Justin McCarthy bas appealed to Irishmen all over the world for assistance, and when we consider the loyalty and industry of his follower?, some of whom through their constant attendance at Westminster and their fidelity to their leader, suffer considerable pecuniary loss, surely we ought to try aid do the little we can do to assist them. I hope in my next letter to be able to say that a branch has been started, and I do not see, if Michael DaviU is to be welcomed by branches of the Irish National Federation in the chief cities and towns o! New Zealaud, why Timaru should deny itself tbe privilege of doing a similar honour to a patriot who of all otheis has a singular hold on the affection and admiration of all true Irishmen.

The celebration of Arbor Day was carried out with great eclat, A tug-of.war between the publia school and the Catholic boys took place, and resulted, after a four minutes tussle, in a win for the Catholic boys— young Hibernians.

High Mass was sung by the Rev Father Pertuis on Sunday, the sth, the choir rendering Winter's Mass. Our church of the Sacred Heart can now boa9t ol possessing a choir which, I believe, ia second to none in the Colony, with a magnificent organ, aa accomplished organist, a well balanced choir, and a musician of the first rank as conductor. It is unnecessary to say that the beautiful music of the church will be faithfully and artistically rendered. One item in the singing of the Mass which deserves special mention is tbe beautiful chanting of tbe " Vere dignum et justum eat," with organ accompaniment, the devotional chanting of this Gregorian chant, blending with the sweet tones of the organ, is strong enough to rouse devotion in an anarchist. The Rev Father Hurlin chanting the Preface is one of the musical items of of tbe Mass and is worth going a distance to haar. As a devotional chant it is unsurpassed. Miss E. McGuiness played the " Cujus Animam " aa an offertory and the " March of the Priests ' aa a dismissal in a finished and masterly style,