NAPIER.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume XXII, Issue 3, 17 May 1895, Page 8

NAPIER.

(From an occasional Correspondent)

On last Monday, April 30th at 3 p m ,St Patrick's new church was crowded to the doors the occasion being the marriage of oar popular townsman Mr G. W. Temperly and Miss Clara Bridget Durney, second daughter of Mr Thomas Durney of Napier, contractor. Both the bride and bridegroom being held in much esteem it was but natural to see so many friends assemble to witness their marriage, especially being th« first marriage celebrated in the new church. Before " the mystic knot was tied " the celebrant, Father Grogan, called the attention of the large audience to the meaning of the marriage ceremony, how sacred before God and in the eyes of tbe Church, being as it were the very fountain bead of humanity. For the worthy reception of the sacrament of marriage the Catholic Church always impresses on her children, the indispensable necessity of a good Christian preparation without which a marriage cannot be blessed by God. Irreligious marriages are the bane of society, and bring incalculable misfortune not only on families but upon mankind generally. He knew no greater cause, he said of the spiritual disease and degradation of society and of religion than the ignorance of the sacrament of Matrimony together with the disrespect with which it is received by the great majority of men at the present time. The spirit of piety and devotion so manifest in preparing far the other sacraments is scarcely visible when there is quastion of the marriage ceremony and yet it is a sacrament as well as they are for onr individual salvation as well as for tbe salvation of society. I may mention that Mr Temperly has boen under instructions for several months and Wk.s received into the Catholic Church by Father Grogan a few days before his marriage. He is originally of Auckland and a man of considerable abilities. He and his young bride have the usual good wishes of his many friends in their new home.

Mr George Hutchison, M.H.R., and Member for Waitotara lectured here last Friday night. The theatre waa crowded. He was, as expected, severe upon the present Government and their work of last session. During that time, he said, of the one hundred Bills they boast to have added to the laws of the land, better than 99 still remained out in the desert. Tbere seems to be some truth in this ; indeed we hear it said every day that if the New Zealand Legislature continues to legislate on every little nick-nack, and pile up act upon act, the future history of our politics will be found to be a veritable labyrinth or debating field for lawyers like Mr Hutchison in generations to come. Of course the Conservative papers here found no fault with him as he is of their party. Extensive preparations are beinoj made for the opening of the new Catholic church at Hastings which is to take place next Sunday the 12th inst. His Grace Archbishop Redwood with bis Lordship Bishop Grimes, of CbrUtchurch, are expected by the express on Saturday, when addresses are to be presented by the congregationHis Grace will preach at Mass (Pontifical High Mbsb), and Dr Grimes is advertised to preach in the evening. On Monday evening a conrersaaiono is to take place in the Town Hall when the Bishop of Ohristchurch is to give one of his famous lectures. It is to be hoped the visit of the curates to Hawke's Bay will be accompanied by fine weather.