CONGRATULATION.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume XXIV, Issue 29, 13 November 1896, Page 18

CONGRATULATION.

This number of the New Zealand Tablet should reach Auckland on next Sunday loth inst. the day of the consecration ceremony. It bears our sincere congratulations to Most Rev. Dr. Lenihan, and to the priests and people who now call him ruler and father.— Ad vmltos anno*. May a reign of many years give opportunity of displaying the kindness towards the orphan and the poor, the gentleness and consideration to his people, the wisdom of administration and the zeal for holy religion and Catholic education which have characterised the years of his priesthood. The burden laid upon his young shoulders is very great. A devoted clergy and a faithful people will make the labour easy and the burden light. We respectfully wish his Lordship a long, a happy and a prosperous episcopate.

At the examination connected with the School of Art, Welling. ton, held on the 2nd of September, five pupils of the Sisters of Mercy, Lyttelton, presented themselves for freehand drawing. All passed successfully. Miss Julia Mahar obtaining special merit. The other candidates were : — Misses Eveline O'Brien. Mary Murray. Rosie Gellety, and Master J. Loader. We give elsewhere a concise account of the proceedings in ecle. bration of the golden jubilee of the Archbishop of Tasmania. For the substance of our report and for the Cardinal's discourse we are indebted to the admirable report appearing in our contemporary the Launceston Monitor. We draw the attention of our young readers to the new competitions which we commence in this issue. As a \ery large number correctly located all the sentences in the last competition, we intend to make them somewhat more difficult this time. Most ol the errors made in the last competition arose through carelessness, so we would advise competitors to do their work as carefully and neatly as possible. A week's mission was commenced at Mosgiel on Sunday morning last, when the Rev. Father McCarthy. CM., preached a most earnest and eloquent sermon. The church was crowded, and there is every prospect of a most successful mission. It is a matter of great surprise to Protestants how Catholics, numerically weak and financially far irom strong, manage to contribute so largely to church and school and charitable institutions. The Catholics of Christchurch. who. in the past, have done so much for holy religion and the great cause of Christian education, have given a fresh instance of the generosity which springs from lively faith andasense of duty. The Very Rev. Father Cumining&V.G..S.M..madc an appeal a few Sundays ago for funds for the improvement of the Pro-Cathedral. The Lytttlt on Tniutoi Monday thus speaks of the result of this apppeal :: — '• The services yesterday at the Pro-Cathe-dral were of a highly interesting and attractive nature. On this occasion a special appeal had been made to the regular congregation ' for liberal contributions to the renovation fund ot the church The appeal waa met in the most liberal manner, upwards of £102being donated at the two services. Allusion was made at each service to the help given by M. and Madame Musin. to both of whom the Very Rev. Father Cummings tendered his thanks for their contributions to the services of the choir. At the evening service three of the greatest pieces in musical literature were rendered, viz.. '0 rest in the Lord.' 'With verdure clad' and Handel's immortal ' Largo.' Special mention must he made of the services of the fifty boys who have been trained by the Rev. Father

Galerne, and whose efforts were most praiseworthy, M. Musin being especially pleased by the effect produced by their united voices. Miss Venie Flower's singing was most acceptable and materially assisted the choir in its work. Altogether the result of the services was very satisfactory." Dubino the past week the Vincentian Fathers have been conducting a successful mission at St. Patrick's Basilica, Oamaru, the devotions both morning and evening being attended by large and devout congregations. The mission has been conducted, says a local paper, in an eloquent and impressive style, and has provoked much religious fervor among the Catholic community. A veuy successful and enjoyable entertainment was given in the school-room of St. Mary's church. Milton, on Monday last. Notwithstanding the numerous other holiday attractions there was a large audience, the school-room beimr well filled. Musical items were supplied by Misses O'Neill and Lynch and Mrs. King, and by Messrs P. Curran and J. A. Scott, step-dances were given by Messrs J. Costello and T. Molony, and recitations by Mrs. Condon and Mr Scott. The audience were enthusiastically appreciative and almost every item was encored. The entertainment concluded with a play called " Popping the question," which kept the audience in roars of laughter, one or two " unrehearsed effects " furnishing, if possible, even more entertainment than the play itself. The characters were sustained by Mrs. Condon, Misses McTague, O'Neill and Lynch, and Messrs J. McTague and J. Lynch. All did extremely well and the performance was a highly creditable one. At its conclusion the Rev. Father Ryan thanked the audience for their attendance and the performers for the evening of hearty and genuine fun which they had provided. Four pupils of the Sisters of Mercy. Christchurch, were presented for the drawing examination in connection with the Technical School of Arts. Wellington, held on September 2. All passed, and one of them, Miss Dorothea Loughnan. obtained "excellent." The other candidates were Misses Nellie Plattery. Nellie Joyce and Ruby Jackson. At the recent Canterbury College pass examinations, held on October 27. the Sisters sent three pupils for the music examination, and the three were successful. The names are Misses May Gamble. Florence Heard and Nellie Slattery.