NEW ZEALAND : GENERAL.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume XXVI, Issue 9, 1 July 1898, Page 18

NEW ZEALAND : GENERAL.

Owing to an unavoidable difficulty, we were unable to publish the photograph* of the members of the Wellington Centenary Committee with the report;, which appears in this issue, of the splendid celebrations which took placo in the Emp-re City last week We have been promised a portrait block of the committee, and it will appear in our next issue. A social gathering was held at Nelson on the I.lth inst. in aid of the organ fund of St. Mary's Churoh, and proved a gratifying success, ihe holding capacity of the Frovmuial Hall was taxed to itj utmost capacity and representative visitors of all denominations were present. The Rev. Father AUhoney having opened the proceedings with a few happily chosen remarks, an excellent programme of music was gone through. Items were contributed by Mrs. A. P Burnes Misses Pratt, Driscoh, Pollard, S.obt, Messrs. L. Frank, Condell' follard, jnr. and Jones, the organist of the Church. It is always pleasant ti record good things of our Catholic boys It is therefore with great pleasure we have learned from several reliable sources of the splendid impression which the boys of St. Patrick's College football team, Wellington, made upon those with whom they came in contact during their stay in Christchurch. The Very Rev. Dr. Watters evidently knows his boys and believes in trusting to their honour, rather than to any system of espionage. He thus fosters a spirit of manliness and self-reliance among tham. During their stay at one of the principle hotels at Lhnstchurch the boys won golden opinions from everyone on account of their gentlemanly bearing, courtesy, and edifying conduct. This bespeaks a splendid esprit do corps among the boys. Patriotic sentiment found unique expression in the '98 gathering in Auckland. It was nothing less than an elaborate costume of ingenious and artistic design which was worn by an enthusiastic lady member of the '08 committee, namely, Miss Dennehey. Thig remarkable attire is stated by a correspondent to have been made of satin in the richest hue of Erin's national colour. The golden harp of Ireland entwined with shamrocks was painted on the bust, and surrounding the harp in gold lettering were the words ' Who fears to speak of '98,' and ' Erin go Bragh.' The costume, it need scarcely be added, was a source of admiration to all present, and in itself lent an additional interest to the proceedings. Our Christchurch correspondent writes that Mr. W. Bennet builder, is removing the old Catholic Church at Leeston to the other end of the township, and will renovate the building, when it ia located on its future site near the new church and the new convent The new convent in Leeston is completed and will be formally opened by the Bishop on his return to the diocese. The Sisters of Our Lady of Missions, who have charge of the parochial schools, will remove to the new building in a few days. The convent is a well-built and a very pretty wooden structure, and is much larger than the local presbytery but considered somewhat in the same style of architecture. We have received a donation of £1 10s from Mr. M. Hogan Maori Creek, for the Rev. Father Kreymborg's mission ; one and four pence worth of unused stamps and a quantity of used stamps from a friend in Queenstown ; used stamps from M.D.W., Mr. J Ryan, and Mr. R. B. Wilson.