Diocese of Christchurch.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume XXV, Issue 38, 21 January 1898, Page 29

Diocese of Christchurch.

(From our own correspondent.)

Ox Thursday last a very interesting weddinsr, which was witnessed by a large number of persons, took place in the Pro-Cathedral. The contracting parties were Miss Catherine Gargan, who is a sister of Mrs. James Steel of Addington, and the third daughter of Mr. John Gargan of Ballarat, Victoria, and Mr. Laurence Howard, coach proprietor, Sydenham. The Rev. Father O'Connell performed the ceremony and said the Nuptial Mass, at which both the bride and bridegroom approached holy Communion. This was the first marriage which the Rev. Father O'Connell has celebrated. The best man was Mr. Frank Geoghegan, and the bride, who was given away by her brother-in-law. Mr. Steel, looked charming in her dress of cream lustre : the bodice was elaborately trimmed with lace, surah silk and orange blossoms. She wore a tuille veil, falling from her wreath of orange blossoms, and carried a lovely shower bouquet. The bridesmaids, who are sisters of the Rev. Father O'Connell, were Miss Alary and Miss Julia O Connell. and they appeared very pretty in thfir dresses of cream nuns' veiling and picture hats to match. From the sacred edifice the party drove to the residence of Mr. Steel at Addington, where the marriage breakfast took place. In the garden adjoining the premises a commodious vicurqiire had been erected and suitably decorated with evergreens. A good number of guests were in attendance at the breakfast. Amongst them was the

Rev. Father O'Oonnell, and for a short time, the Vicar-General, who facetiously proposed the health of the bride and bridegroom. He also proposed the health of the Rev. Father O'Connell. to whom the bridegroom is a first cousin, and after these several other toasts, also the " Press" and the " Ladies," were proposed land duly honoured. In the evening the party re-assembled in the marquee, where they entertained themselves with music and other amusements until a late hour. The wedding presents were handsome and valuable, and the following ism list of them and of their donors :—: — Mrs. P. McGill, a silver butter dish and tray cloth ; Mrs. W. Heyward, silver pickle fork and tongs ; Mr. W. Finnis, an unique pair of salt cellars ; Mrs. M. Kavanagh, an afternoon tea table ; Miss K. Howe, a work-basket ; Mr. and Mrs. J. P. Kelly, a cheese-dish ; Mr. and Mrs. Lye, a set of Doulton ware jugs ; Mrs. H. Hill, a jug and basin ; Mr. F. Geoghegan, a pair of vases ; Mr. and Mrs. Smith, a duchess table-cloth ; Mr. and Mrs. D. Campbell, a dozen Irish linen handkerchiefs ; Mr. and Mrs. Taylor, two China figures ; Miss K. Murphy, a hand-mirror ; the Rev. Father O'Connell, a very pretty crucifix ; Mr. and the Misses (2) Hoban, a set of glove and handkerchief boxes ; Miss Nohelty, of Ashburton, a lamp ; Mrs. Nohelty, of the same place, a bird and cage ; Mrs. Howard, sen., some handsome articles of furniture.

The matter of removing St. Aloysius Hall is occupying the serious attention of the Vicar-General, and on Sunday last the following circular was distributed at the various services at the Pro-Cathedral :—": — " The want of a public hall for the purpose of meetings, entertainments, etc., has long been felt in the parish. Up to the present time, the boys' school has been used, but the building is not always available without disorganising the classes, or causing a large amount of work in shifting partitions, re-arranging the seating accommodation, and so forth. It is generally conceded that the time has arrived for providing a public hall which shall meet all requirements of the parish, whether meetings of various societies, or concerts, entertainments, prize-givings, or any other form of meeting which tends to promote sociality amongst the Catholics of Christchurch. Such a hall, if built, might cost £700, a Bum that would take a long time to collect, after the many calls made on the parish for the necessary additions to the other parochial buildings. There is, however, no need to erect a new building as the parish already possesses a hall in every way suitable, capable of holding an audience of 500 people, but to render it of use to the purpose mentioned it requires moving from the place it now occupies to one more central. Before removal, which will cost probably £130, a debt on the hall amounting to £120 must be paid off. It is estimated that £150 will be sufficient for the work of removing the hall and re-erecting it near to the parochial library. Unless this can be done shortly, the hall will have to be sold at a very great sacrifice. To obviate this loss, a committee has been formed of all the members of the Catholic Literary Society, and also of the Old Boys' Association, to devise means to raise the money required, and the executive of this committee has worked out a scheme which will be placed before a meeting of the parish to be held in St. Joseph's schoolroom on Sunday, January 23rd. at 3 p.m. It is to be hoped that the meeting will be largely attended, not only by the men but also by the ladies of the parish, as their valuable cooperation in this work is generally desired. — Stephen Cuaimings, S.M., Y.G."

With much regret I record che death of Mrs. Mary Taafe, wife of the late Mr. Bartholomew Taafe. at the advanced age of ninetythree years. The deceased lady has only survived her late husband, who died in October last, aged eighty-five years, a little over two months. She was born in the town of Bellary, County Derry, Ireland, and was the only daughter ot Mr. James Irwin, a miller in that town. She arrived, accompanied by her late husband, in Canterbury about twenty-eight years ago in the ship Blue Jacket . Since her advent into the province she has resided in this city, or in its environs, and in every place was respected for her many good qualities, and especially for her kindness and attention to her poorer neighbours. For some years back and up to the time of her demise she has lived with her widowed daughter, Mrs. J. M'Gilligan, in Wilson's Road, Opawa. About two years ago she met with a serious accident, which, for the most part, confined her to her bed. But in spite of this misfortune and her great age, all her mental powers remained unimpaired up till the end. She died on New Year's day last, and was attended in her last illness by the clergy at the ProCathedral. On the occasion of her funeral, which took place on the Tuesday following, the Rev. Father Rafferty said in the ProCathedral a liequu-m Mass for the repose of her soul, and the VicarGeneral officiated at the grave. She was interred in the Linwood public cemetery, and in the grave wherein rest the remains of her late husband. Mrs. Taaffe leaves to mourn her loss four married daughters and a great number of grand and great grandchildren. — R.I.P.