Archdiocese of Wellington.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume XXV, Issue XXV, 24 December 1897, Page 19

Archdiocese of Wellington.

(From our own correspondent.)

December 18, 1897. The usual half-yearly meeting of the juvenile lodge of the H.A.C.B.S. was held on Wednesday night, when there was a good muster. The election of officers for the next term resulted a 9 follows :—Vicepresident, Bro. J. Smith; secretary, Bro. D. Kelly; treasurer, Bro. A. Walker ; guardian, Bro. D. Gosling ; sick visitors, Bros. Segrief and Stratford.

The Rev. Fathers Hickson, Mahoney, O'Reilly, and Tymons have gone on a holiday trip through the South Island. They left Nelson on their bicycles on Wednesday last, for the West Coast and from thence will proceed via Springfield to Christchurch, and will very probably visit Dunedin. The trip is expected to extend to a month.

At latest accounts the Very Rev. Dr. Watters was taking his well-earned holiday in the Wairarapa district. On Sunday last he occupied the pulpit at St. Patrick's Church, Masterton. On next Sunday he will preach at Otaki. The examinations for two scholarships, value forty guineas each and tenable for two years, in connection with St. Patrick's College, are now being held in various parts of the Colony. The scholarships are open only to boys attending Catholic schools, but may be competed for by Catholics attending other schools where no Catholic School exists in the district. The two scholarships went to Christchurch last year. The authorities at St. Patrick's College are ever abreast of the times, and as a consequence the institution is equipped in a style which excites the admiration of visitors. The latest improvement is the installation of the electric light, the plans for which are being now prepared, so that the work will be completed before the teginning of the next term. Mr. Robert Darrock, the popular and genial second master of the Masterton State school, is about to join the ranks of the benedicts. The pupils of the school, prior to breaking-up for the holidays, presented him with a salad bowl and a silver teapot in recognition of his popularity and as a contribution towards house furnishing. The presentation was accompanied with many expressions of good-will and hopes that every prosperity would attend him in his married life.

A deeply edifying and highly impressive ceremony took place at St. Mary of the Angel's on Sunday morning, when close upon two hundred children and adults received the sacrament of Confirmation at the hands of his Grace Archbishop Redwood. There were nearly r>o adults presented, some of whom had neglected to receive the sacrament in their early days, whilst there were several converts who had only recently received instructions. Mass was celebrated by the Vfry Rev. Father Devoy, S.M., V.G-. After Mass his Grace preached on the nature of Confirmation, its matter and form, and exhorted those about to be confirmed to remember the many blessings they were to receive, as Confirmation when received in the proper "spirit gave them the strength necessary to stand firm in the faith at all times and in all trials. His Grace then administered the sacrament, being assisted by the Very Rev. Father Devoy and the Rev. Father O'Shea, Mr. and Mrs. Casey acting as sponsors. His Grace will administer the sacrament at Father Lane's Church at the Lower Hutt to-morrow, and will preach both morning and evening. The children attending the various Catholic schools of the city will be entertained at a picnic at the Very Rev. Father Lane's grounds at the Hutt on Boxing Bay. A meeting was held on Sunday afternoon in connection with the matter, when committees were set up to superintend the arrangements. There is at present a small debt on the church at Pahautanui, and the Catholics of the district have determined to get rid ot it by holding a bazaar rext month. The amount is not large, but still it is sufficient to tax the resources of the people in a sparsely settled district, and interfere with the carrying out of what may be considered necessary improvements. It is to be hoped that the proposed bazaar will be a success, and that at its close the good people of the district will have the satisfaction of seeing this financial burden removed.