CHRISTCHURCH.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume XXIV, Issue 1, 1 May 1896, Page 4

CHRISTCHURCH.

(From our own Correspondent.) MONBIONOB TERDON. The Right Bey Dr Verdon, Bishop-elect of the Catholic diocese of Dunedin, with bis Grace Archbishop Redwood, the R'gbt R»v Dr Murray, Bishop of Maitland, New South Wales, and the Very Rev Fathers Lynch and M*oKty, arrived from Wellington by the s.s. Wakatipu on Saturday morning laat en route to Dunedin. They were met at Lyttelton by the Very Rev Father Cummings, V.G., and Messrs K. O'Connor, R. P. Lonargan, Macnamara, Burke, Holly and G. Heyward, and came to Christchuroh by the 8 25. train. They were driven to tb* presbytery, Barbadoes street, where tbe children of the Catholio schools were drawn up in a line under their teachers. Three little girls presented bouquets to the episcopal visitors, and the following address from the pupils of the convent school was read by one of them, Miss Mussen : — 11 Address of welcome to Archbishop Redwood, the Most Rev Dr Murray (Bishop of Maitland) and Right Rev Dr Verdon, (Bishop elect of Dunedin).— Tour Grace and Right Bey Lordshisp.— With joy we gather around you to-day to welcome you and express our delight and gratitude in being honoured by your distinguished presence. We hail In the first place our beloved Archbishop, and in nnion with him extend a kindly greeting to the venerable Bishop Murray whose stay in New Zealand will we hope be ft pleasant one, and to the Right Reverend Bishop elsot of Dunedin, Monsignor Verdon, whom we warmly welcome into the ranks of our New Zealand bishops, and we sincerely wish him in his new sphsre of loving labours, heavens choicest aids. Once more expressing our great pleasure at your presence io our midst and uniting in prayer for your welfare, we beg to remain your loving children, the pupils of tbe Convent sohools." " Address of welcome from the Marist Brothers' boys to bis Graoe Archbishop Redwood and their Lordships Bishops Murray and Verdon.— My Lord Archbishop and Bishops,— Your distinguished presence in our midst to-day ia to us a subject of great pleasure and heartfelt greeting, and will loDg live enshrined in our youthful hearts as a thtme of deep and lasting gratitude. Our welcome greetings •re due in the first place to our beloved Archbishop, the metropolitan and glory of the New Zealand episoopacy ; secondly, to the Venerable Bishop Murray, the triei veteran who for thirty years has borne on high the bright standard of truth and enlighteniDg Catholicity in the diocese of Maitland ; and, in the next place, to the Right Rev Dr Verdon, " the man according to God's own heart," the "chosen among thousands," whom the Holy "Spirit has elected to fill the episcopal chair of Duuedin, recently vacated by the death of the late much-lamented Bishop Moran, of glorious aod beloved memory. Our holy mother the Church, lately draped in robes of deepest mourning over the demise of two of her cherished prelates, rejoices that her episcopal ranks are to be graced by a man whose great erudition, zeal, and sanctity have already made him a subject of universal admiration ; and we only echo the seotimentsof the Catholics of New Zealand, and humbly join with our dear Archbishop, our own asteemed Bishop add Vicar-General, the very rev Fathers here present, aod the entire priesthood of the Colony, when we extend to you, Right Rev Dr, a most cordial welcome to our shores, and a sinore wish that your reiga amongst us as Bishop of Dunedin may, with heaven's aid, be a long, prosperous and happy one— replete with blessings for the Ohurch and its interests, and for the great cause of Oitholic edacation in which yonr saintly predecessar ever proved himself so valiant and noble a champion. With suoh eminent and enlightened pilots as now guide the unerring barque of Peter in this fair young land of ours, our holy faith has assuredly the promise of a glorious and brilliant future, and our greatest desire is that we may ever prove ouraelveß worthy and loyal sons of such a holy and time-houonred mother. Once again thanking you for your kind visit, and be^giog a share in your holy prayers,— Wo beg to subscribe, my Lori Archbishop and Bishops, your loving and grateful ohildren, the pupils of the Marist Brothers! Ohrisoburcb, April 25, 1896." After the presentation of the ad Irises the boys gave three hearty cheers when tha party drove off to St Mary's to visit that pjrish. They were received by the parish priest, the Bey Father Marnane, and bis assistant, the Rev Father Mtlone. After a short ■tay at St Mary's, Dr Murray, Monsignor Verdon, and Fathers Lynch and Mackay left by the expsess for Dunedin. Archbishop Redwood remained in this city and '.said Mass in tbe pro-Cathedral on Sunday last and preached at Vespers. There was a large congregation present ii the evening and the sermon was a splendid discourse on devotion to St Joseph. The occasion was the celebration of the feast of the patronage of St .

Joseph, the patron of the universal Otaarch, and his Grace preaohed a sermon appropriate to the day. Daring bis discourse be said the fact of St Joseph, the Bltssad Virgin Mary and our Saviour Himself baring worked hard for their living added especial dignity to 1 labour— the highest and holiest family that ever existed, or would exist, belonged t> the working classes. He oonolnded with an earnest appeal to all to practise oouteatment, and to perform the ordinary duties of their station in life to the best of thair powers— to do all things for the glory of God. His Grace gaTe the Benediction at the coicluaioa of Vespers. He left for Timara on Monday last, * BISHOP CHIMES. The Right Rev Dr Grimed, who will return to this city on Wednesday next, arrived on Thursday, April 18, in Hokitika. He was met by the Very Bey Father Martin and prominent members o' the Ohurch, and afterwards by a representative gathering of Catholic people who read a cordial address of welcome to tbe Bishop. The address referred to bis labours in the diooese, also to the work that had been done in the local Catholic schools and to the successful result of the examination of tbe schools by a Government school inspector. In the address the gathering assured the Bishop of their determination to secure a religious edncatioa for their ohildren no matter at what cost. The Bishop said he was deeply gratified at the warmth of their welcome. Ha said he was indeed pleased to hear of the successful inspection of their schools. This was another proof of the self-denying exertions which the Sisters had displayed for the young. Catholics ought to do whatevsr they could to remove the injustice under which they suffarad and under which they were compelled to pay taxes for instructing othar people's children and to bear the sole cost of educating their own. He was in hopes that in course of time the sense of justice of the people of this Colony would interpose, and that they woald not permit what was a reflection on their sense of right. When that day arrived, and he hoped it would soon come, the reprosoh on the people of this country which now existed would be removed, and Catholics, freed from an injustice, would feel themselves in complete union with their fellow-colonists! In Hokitika he engaged in the many duties in connection with hit position. He preached often to crowded oongregations, and confirmed sixty-two young penon*. Ha also delivered a lecture on 11 The Fairyland of the Paoifio "to a large audience. The matter for this leo'ure, wbioh was well illustrated with limelight views, was obtained during his recent visit to tbe South Sea Islands.