INVERCARGILL.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume XXV, Issue 32, 17 December 1897, Page 19

INVERCA R GI LL.

PRESENTATION TO THE VERY REV. DEAN BURKE. (From a correspondent.) It having become known throughout the parish that the Very Rev. Dean Burke, after upwards of 15 years' arduous work in different parts of the diocese, had decided to take a trip to Melbourne. The parishioners of St. Mary's, Invercargill resolved to give him a formal reception, and to present him with a purse of sovereigns on his return, consequently on Sunday evening immediately after Benediction, at the request of the committee, the rev. gentleman returned into the sanctuary, where he was met by Messrs. J. W. Foide, J. Shepherd. A. Maher, M. Carr, and J. Mclntyre. Mr. IMaher in making the presentation, said :—: — •' Aery Rev. Dean Burke, parish priest of Invercargill. On behalf of your parishioners, I am delegated to welcome you back ironi your trip to the opening of the Melbourne cathedral. This Ido with the greatest delight. It was with much pleasure we learned that you had taken a holiday — so necessary after the fatigues of the eighteen months during which we have been honoured by your presence among us as our pastor. We congratulate you on the success which has marked your zealous efforts during that time Accept, very Reverend Father, with our respectful greetings, this small token of the esteem and veneration in whijh we hold you ; and also the assurance of our most hearty co-operation in any work your reverence may have in view for the furtherance ot the spiritual welfare of this parish." The Very Rev, Dean in reply said he had been taken by surprise this evening. I am unable to find words to suitably convey my heartfelt thanks for the kind sentiments expressed by you. And with regard to the purse of sovereigns you have given me. I will accept of it, and this for two reasons, firstly because it is a sign of the unity and the oneness which exists between the priest and the people — that we are all united, and this illustrates the subject I have been speaking to you upon this evening, and which distinguishes us from all others, namely, our unity. And secondly because it will enab'e me to push forward some useful work in the parish, so that I will be giving you your money back again. When I was leaving Port Chalmers the people there acted as you have done this evening, and also when I was leaving Queenstown the same thing occurred, and in each of these cases I spent the money in the work of the parish, and in a day or two I will consider the

best' means of spending 1 your gift, and- again when a mechanic undertakes, to do any work, he knows what the result will be, but with the priest it is different, he . may have to wait for years before any result will'be seen and consequently he is apt to get what is known as the dumps, but when he has the sympathy and goodwill of the. people it is very encouraging, and your gift to-night will keep me from getting into the dumps, for some time at any rate. With regard to the Melbourne Cathedral and the other suburban churches, the Rev. Dean paid high tribute to the great generosity and self-sacrifice of the Catholics of Victoria.