TIMARU.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume XXIII, Issue 42, 14 February 1896, Page 15

TIMARU.

(From an occasional Correspondent.)

An old acquaintance is going from amongßt us. One of the wellknown landmarks in the vicinity of the church of the Sacred Heart is being oblerated by the removal of the old presbytery. Since the acquisition of the new presbytery, " the Priory," the old house he, been unused, and is now being removed. It wes built by the Bey Father Chataigner, the jpioneer priest of this parish, about thirty years ago, and in these days, before the erection of a church, holy Mass was celebrated in one of its rooms to the then small congregation. Unlike old wine, old houses do not improve with age, and time gradually sealed the doom of the old presbytery. The ground on which it ia erected has recently bean acquired by the ladies of the Convent of the Sacred Heart and added to tbeir beautiful grounds, and no doubt in a year or co a few well kept flower beds will mark the spot where bo many of the labourers in God's vineyard have rested after tbeir daily toil. It ii with very great regret that I have to mention that the health of the Bey Father Hurlin has been such of late as to cause his parishioners and many friends considerable aaxiety. The Bey Father is about to take a trip to Bydney, where he hopes by complete reat and change of air to regain his strength. That he may do bo and return thoroughly convalescent to resume his duty amongst uiia, lam sure, tbe earnest wish of his congregation. This parish owes 8 debt to Father Hurlin which it would be hard to repay. Coming here in the prime of health ha went to work witb a will in the execution of his multifarious parochial dutieß, and there is no doubt but that his present illness is due to over-exertion and anxiety, In administering financial matters Father Hurlin has done excellent work, and it is not too much to Bay that a few years more under his management will see tbe parish free from debt. One of the chief anxieties to which our parish priest is Buhjacted ] is to make both ends meet in supporting the boy's school. The end of each quarter produces the invariable result— a deficit. Here we are specially well provided for, with a school well appointed and taugut excellently by the Maiiat Brothers and yet ttieie are some parents who seem quite unable to appreciate the advantages at tneir door and will not endeavour to give the smallest financial aid to the support of the Bchool. It is the same old story in almost all parishes. The same few alwayß pay for the many, and it iB invariably from the ranks of the latter these financial geniuses arise, who, while they pay nothing themselves are always enquiring where all the money goes to, and who are ever ready to suggest " a something crcoked." Perhaps it would be wiser if they asked themselves that question as to their own money and in working out tbe problem they would find out that under the heading " Support to schools " they would be obliged to write down " nil." In reference to tbe girlß parish schojl under t^e guidance of the Nnnß of the Sacred Heart too much cannot be said. If, as is very probable, the same difficulty is experienced in receiving dues as in the boj's school, nothing ia heard of it, and the good Nuns work on assiduously from year to year bs if in the receipt of handsome fees, and online Oliver Twist never ask for more. At the last meeting of the local branch of the Hibernian Society, a resolution was adopted conveying a vote of sympathy aid condolence to St Patrick's branch, Constchurch, on the death of the late Brother William O'Shaughnessy. Brother Dennehy, in moving the resolution referred to the lots the Hibernian Society as a whole had sustained by the death of the late Brother and spoke highly of his many services and his untiring efforts in forwarding Hibernianism. The officers of the Timaru Branch for the eneuing term are :—: — President, P. Kane ; vice-president, James Feeley ; treasurer, J, McKenna ; secretary, Thomas Sheehy ; guardian, F. Kane ; sick visitor, J. Feeley. I learn that preliminary steps are being made towards the formation of a branch of the Hibernian Society in Temuka and that the movement meets with tbe full approval and support of the Bey Father F»uvel. Iv such a district ss Temuka there should be very little difficulty in establishing avt ry strong branch. The Catholics in the district are numerous enough to form a couple of branches if necessary and the advantages to be derived from membership are such as to wipe out all hesitation or objections as to bee >ming a mtmber. A futile effort was made some years bick in the same direction, but the matter iB in capital hands this time and the iron will besTuck while it is hot.