CHRISTCHURCH.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume XXII, Issue 18, 30 August 1895, Page 9

CHRISTCHURCH.

(From our own Correspondents I RECORD with much regret the death of Mrs Catherine Mary Pope, who died, in the 43rd year of her age, on Friday, the tenth of the present month at her Ist* residence in Station Lane, Addington. Mrs Pope was the only daughter of the late Captain Dizoo, matter mariner, and the wife of Mr Patrick Pope, who is the eldest son of the late Mr John Pope, blacksmith and engineer, Port Lyttelton, and of the same profession. The deceased lady was a convert, and a person of deep and nnassuming piety, Some years before her marriage, which took place about 23 years since, she was received into the Church by the late Bey Father Boibieaux, whom many an old Canterbury identity will yet remember. She was, moreover, an old resident in Lyttelton j where her many good qualities are par* ticolarly well known, and where, many years ago, she took an active part in concerts, bazaars, and indeed in any good or parochial work. For some time back she has resided in this city, and, for over two years, she has been afflicted with a number of maladies to which she finally succumbed, comforted and fortified with the last rites of the Cburcb. Mrß Pope leaves to mourn her loss a husband and five grown up cbildrsn— three daughters and two sons. The eldest son, who was aIBO present at the funeral, is a Marist Brother stationed at Wanganui, and known in religion as Brother Edmond. Her funeral left her lats residence on the Monday following her death for the pro-Cathedral in this city, where the Bey Father Galerne said a solemn Requiem Mass. The body was then convpyed around the Bomner Boad to the Catholic Church in Lyttleton, where the lid was removed from the coffin for a short time. When the customary prayers were said and a short address delivered on the praiseworthy character of the deceased, the funeral cortege, which had increased considerably from being joined by a number of persons in Lyttelton, was reformed and proceeded to the local Catholic cemetery. The parish priest in the locality, the Bey Father Salvador, officiated in the church and at the grave.— R.l.P. The various committees of St. Patrick's branch of the Hibernian Society met on Thursday evening last in their hall in this city in order to show their appreciation of the valuable services rendered by their honourable secretary, Bro W. O'Shaugbneesy, who ban held the position for the past eight years. On the occasion Bro O'Shaughnessy was presented with a beautifully illuminated address, and invested with the collar of a past president. The collar is a very nice article j with gold fringe, and in gold are the letters "P.P." and " H.A.C.8.5.," also the words " Past District President." The address, which Mr A. H. Heart has illuminated, is set off with devices, and with the Papal, English, French, and American coats of arms. Among the emblems, some symbolise the oature and object of the society, and others, such as the round tower, the oak, the harp, and the Irish wolf dog, Erin, and Celtic associations. The president, Bro A. Geoghegan, occupied the chair, and the amusement for the evening took the form of a smoke concert, which was kept up till a late hour. Befreshments were provided, and Bros Aj Geoghegan, J. J. Hynes, G. E. Dobbs, A. Dobbs, M. M'Namara, J. J. Beidy, L. Haughey, J. P. Kelly, and G. Ryan, contributed good songs. Bro G. J. Sellers, D.P. P., who made the presentation, said :— " Worthy President, Officers, and Brothers, — Ostensibly we are assembled this evening to rejoice and to indulge in the gocd cheer provided for up, but practically the object of the meeting is to honour a brother who has shown himself worthy of our love and esteem. Both the Church and the State recognise the necessity of conferrirg honouiß and distinctions on persons for their meritorious services, and, for the same reasoD, societies and associations like ours act in a similar manner. The object of this line of conduct is two-fold. In the first place, it is to acknowledge a service rendered in a good cause, and, io tba second, to encourage other persons to gain by their good deeds the esteem of their fellow-men. The brother whom we are honouring this evening in this slight manner has, ever since his admission into the society about eleven years ago, taken an active part in the welfare of the branch, and every call on his time and ability has been most cheerfully responded to. I now call on him to come forward, while I read thia address which runs as follows" :— "W. O'Shaughnessy past president and secretary : Dear Sir and Brother, — We your friends and brothers, members of the St Patrick's branch No 82, do with feelings St great pleasure present you with this address as a slight token of our appreciation of the many services you have rendered to the hall, the concert and other committees. We have not failed to recognise the manner in which you bave carried out the manifold duties of your office, and we trust that the accompanying gift will often remind you of your many friends, who earnestly wish and hope that the Almighty may preserve you for many years to still further aid in

the devoted efforts tbe society it making to prove itself a blessing to mankind. With onr best and heartiest wishes for tbe future welfare of yourself, wife, and family, believe ns to remain yoor sincere friends and brothers. Signed on behalf of the members by A. Geoghegan, P. George, J. Sellers, D.P.P., John T. Beidy, P.P., Patrick McDonnelly, P.P., James Nelson, P.P., Daniel Steinmete, P.P., George E. Dobbs P.P." The president now invested Brother O'Shaughnessy with the past president's collar. He also read from the distriot secretary of the society in Auckland, Mr P. Kearney, a letter which speaks in flattering terms of Brother O'Shanghnessy. Brother G. J. Sellers then bandsd over the address to Brother O'Shaughnessy, and continued. "I do not say that the intrinsio valne of these presents is an adequate reward for your long and excellent services, but I assure you that were the collar and address studded with diamonds, they conld not augment the esteem whioh we have for yon. Ws feel sure that these gifts will also gratify your wife, since they will prove tkat you hays assured the good will of your fellow-men, and thereby compensate her to some extent for having to deny herself so often of tbe pleasure of your company while you were attending meetings of this society. We trust that you will live long, and that when your hair is silvered with the frost of ags this address will be a source of pleasure to you and your children and inspire you and them with a love for the land wherein you first saw the light of day. We trust also that tbe address will recall toyonr memory the present evening, and remind you of our constant regards for your future welfare." Brothers G . V. Dobbs, L. Haugbey, T. Kelson, J. R Courtney, J. J. Beidy and J. P. Kelly spoka in terms of praise of Brother O'Shaughnessy's merits, and whea his health had been drunk with musical honours be said : — " I cannot find suitable words to express my gratification in being the recipient of such gifts as have been bestowed on me to-night by my fellowbrothers. After the very touching remarks of Brother Sellers when presenting me with such an admirable address I feel quite unnerved. However, I need not say that I will cherish it all the days of my life. It will always tend to remind me of my associates, who have been working hard for so many years for the common good of tbe society, For my part, it has always been a pleasure to work in the interests of the society, which as a Catholic society is unequalled in tbe Colony. During my term of office there bave been a good many upß and downs, and some very heated discussions have taken place. But I can assure yon that no matter how heated the discussion was or what difference of opinion was held, I never onie bore any ill-feeling towards a single member outside the meeting room. This hall that we built at great expense for onr own accommodation, I am sorry to say, has always been a source of annoyance ever since the first pile was put down, and probably as long as it is a Hibernian Hall it will be the same. I should like to see a Catholic Club formed and the hall used as a clubroom, with reading, billiard, a end, and meeting rooms, and have them open every ni?bt in the week. I do not see with so large a congregation of youog men why it could not be accomplished with great benefit to the young men, and to the society. I have to thank you once again for your very kind remarks. I am sure that I was not aware that I had so many good qualities, or tbat I was such a fine fellow. But the little I have done was not with any personal motive, but for the welfare of members and the society in general, and the only compensation I wished for was to see the brothers co a ten ted and the society prosperous."