DIOCESE OF AUCKLAND.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume XXVI, Issue 32, 15 December 1898, Page 4

DIOCESE OF AUCKLAND.

(From our own correspondent.)

Thursday, December 8. Of the exhibits at the Exhibition from our schools the Herald of Monday sth, says : ' The work of the various convents and Roman Catholic schools forms an important part of the court, and is well arrayed for public view in a high glass case of considerable size. Fancy goods, valuable lace, plain needlework, and many other articles beautifully done go to make up a splendid show. In a case by itself is a piece of work valued at £200. It is the conseurai ion robe of Bishop Lenihan, which, it will be remembered, was worked by the Sisters of Mercy for that important event in Roman Catholic circles. The robe is pronounced by those who are qualified to judge as a remarkably beautiful specimen of this class of work.' The Auckland Star of the same date said : ' Some of the finest of the needlework is to be found among the carefully arranged exhibits lrotn the convents, the articles from which, botu that of the nuns and children, is a marvel of neatness, and, in a number of cases of the former, remarkable for artiscio t«u»te.' Praiae for our schools from such a quarter is praise indeed. The Exhibition authorities were in error in having the head of the Anglican body in Auckland to recite a prayer at the opening ceremony. The function was an entirely secular one ; consequently to afford prominence to a representative of a religious sect, though it embraces the majority was not only a mistake, but was, perhaps, unintentionally, an affront. It most certainly had the effect of depriving the open gathering from being a thorough >y representative one. Rev. Father Buckley of St. Patrick's is at present away on a well-earned holiday at Gisborne. Rev. Father Uackett has been in town during the last few days. He officiated at tho Sacred Heart Church, Ponsonby. The congregation afterwards approached the altar rails to venerate the relic of St. Francis Xavier, ttie patron of Australasia, whose feast had been kept on the previous day. During this week the Children of Mary attached to the Sauied Heart Parish are having a Triduum of devotion in honour of the Immaculate Conception. The Very Rev. Dr. Eg-an, of St. Benedict's, began the exercises on Monday orh inst. ; on Tuesday they were addressed by His Lordship Dr. Ltsnihan, and

on the following Wednesday evening Dr. Bgan closed the devotion. At the 7.30 Mass on Thursday, the -feast of the Immaculate Conception, they approached Holy Communion, and in the evening his Lordship was again present at the devotions, He administered the Holy Sacrament of Confirmation to about ,60 children, and assisted at the procession in honour of oar Blessed Lady. Pontifical Benediction concluded the day's functions. Rev. Father O'Haar, nephew of Father O'Hara of Otahuhu, and who was recently ordained in Ireland for this diocese, arrived in Auckland last Monday. Father Smiers, brother of Father Smiers of the Maori Mission, who is stationed at Whangarei, and Father Schoomhof , both of whom are for the Maori Mission, arrived also from Europe. Father Smiers welcomed the party on their arrival by the Waihora. His Lordship the Bishop leaves on Friday the 16th inst. for Mercury Bay to open a new church there on the following Sunday. The Very Rev. Father G-inaty, S.M., was in town yesterday, having arrived the evening previous frdm Whangarei. He left early this morning for the stations on the Northern Wairoa. Father Ginaty has now been giving missions for the last 16 months in our extensive, and by no means easily worked diocese, and yet he is just as hale and fresh as when he staited. Rev. Father Luck has returned after a three week's visit to his old parish, and is staying at the Bishop's palace. This amiable priest, it is to be regretted, is far from being well. The beautiful crosier and address presented by the priests of Dunedin to our good Bishop is the theme of admiration. It goes to show that Dr. Lenihan is as worthily esteemed abroad as well as at home. It was a great pity the presentation was not made in the presence of the people. Messrs. O'Keefe and O'Sullivan, on behalf of the Catholic body at the Thames, waited upon the Premier there on Wednesday the 7th inst., and -informed him that repeated applications for the inspection of their schools had been met with repeated refusal from the Auckknd Eduoation Board. They asked that ' shall ' be inserted lieu of ' may ' in the Education Act : making it thereby mandatory instead of permissive. Mr. Seddon replied that he sympathised with Catholics of Auckland in this matter, and would consult the Minister of Education upon the subject. Appeal is useless to the Auckland Board. They will give way only when they are made to do so.