NAPIER.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume XXII, Issue 22, 27 September 1895, Page 9

NAP IE R.

(From a Correspondent.) Septemter 12. IAM sorry to report that onr parish priest, the Bay Father Grogan has not been in the best of health of late. The Bey Father since tb« demise of the Bey Father Kerrigan (his late curate and coadjutor) has certainly bten over-worked, he having had to conduct the services in both St Mary's and St Patrick's. He, however, has oarried oat duties cheerfully, bat tbe strain has told on him, I am pleased to learn that his Grace the Archbishop has seen fit to station the Bey Father Lewis in Napier as curate to the Bey Father Grogan, and that devoted priest preached in St Patrick's last Sunday evening (September 8) foi the first time, when he created a very favourable impression on this large congregation. I am informed that now we have tiro priests in oar parish Mass will in future be celebrated in St Patrick's at 7 as well as 10.30 on Sundays, The grand Catholic Bocial, organised to raise funds for paying off the remaining liability on the new church came off in the Gaiety Theatre on Wednesday evening (September 4), and was indeed a brilliant success. Mr T. Durney, who, by-the-way, is the most energetic of secretaries, was determined that tbiss >cia! should eclipse all previous ones, and his untiring effjrts were faithfully rewarded, there being between 350 and 400 persans present. The mmes of Messrs Higgins, D. Barrie, Fox, and Connor might be mentioned among those who worked bird to make tha affair such a success. Sangs were given by Miss Spring jay and Messrs Wad mm and Hi. Bowe, and each received liberal applause. Refreshments were provided on an elaborate scale by a committee of ladies, and needless to say were done ample justice to. As a result of the social about £30 were handed over to the building fund. lam informed that another social will be given tha first week in October. Bpeaking jf tbe new cburch I may say that the magnificent structure adds considerably to the bem'y of tbe locality in which it it situated, and in fact to the whole town as its fiae spire is visible from every part ot the borough. Tbe bull dinar '8 now completed with the exception of a ftsw extras in the way of fe cc, etc, and the Catholics of Napier, and especially our parish priest (to whom nobody can begradge tbe greatest praise for the indefatigable manner in which he has worked to get the edifice paid for) have every reison to be proud of tbe beautiful building thsy now possess. Socials follow each o'her in rapid succassion, and the one given by Court Sir Charles in aid of Bro Beattie last night was even better patronised than tbe Catholic Fo:ial reported above. Never before had such a crowd beei seen in the Gaiety. As I stated ia my last letter Mr Beattie has been laid up for over twelve months, and his wife and family have endured a trying tim°, and no doubt it wia the deserving object th it attracted such an enormous attendance. Mr and Mrs B attic a'e both devoted Catholics, aad I was pleased to see such a number of their co-religionists at the social, a large number of whoai came in from Taraiale thus sh xviog moat conclusively the sympathy they felt for tboaa id distress. I trust Mr Bea'tie, who has been c >mpelle.d to again go into tbe hospital, any sooa ba restored to his family.