ARCHDIOCESE OF WELLINGTON.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume XXVI, Issue 33, 22 December 1898, Page 3

ARCHDIOCESE OF WELLINGTON.

(From our own correspondent.) It has been decided to adopt the basilica style of architecture for the new church, which is to be erected on the site of St. Mary's Cathedral. It is very probable that Mr. F. Petre of Dunedin will be entrusted with the work of supplying plans and specifications. The statement that was circulated here that he had been definitely selected, is premature. Of the priests I reported last week as having been ordained at St. Joseph's Church, Buckle street, Fathers Kimbeil and Maloney i"oin the College staff for the present, whilst Father Mahoney goes to Nelson to replace Father Brousaard, who goes to New Caledonia for mission work. The pupils of St. Mary's convent grave two concerts during the week on behalf of the building fund of St. Mary's Cathedral. They were assisted on both occasions by leading musicians of this city. The Theatre Royal, in which the concerts were given, had been transformed from its generally cold appearance into quite an attractive concert room, through the kindness of the D.I.C. The outside assistance was given by Messrs. Parker, pianoforte (accompanist), and Hill and Stebbing (vocal sts), and Herr Hoppe (violim'st). The pupils and ex-pupils who contributed to the programme were Misses White, Brady, Chapter, Sullivan, L. Maginnity, Putnam, Pender, Quin, K. Connell, Maginnity, and Keaisley. As my budget of news this week is already somewhat lengthly I must refrain from going into particulars, suffice it to say that the whole performance was a musical treat which was duly appreciated by the discriminating audience which was present on the first night. On the second occasion the audience wa» much larger, the weather being finer and the programme of a more popular character. A representative meeting of the parishioners of Te Aro and Thorndon was held in St. Patrick's Hall on Sunday afternoon for the purpose of making arrangements for the holding of the annual school picnic on Boxing Day. The Very Rev. Father Devoy, V.G., and the Very Rev. Father Lewis. Administrator of the Cathedral parish, were present. It was decided to hold the outing at Father Lane's ground at the Lower Hint, and thdt another meeting should beheld next Sunday afternoon to arrange details. The members of the Hibernian Society entertained Mr. Haydon, chief President of the Society in Australia, when that, gentleman was passing through Wellington recently on his w ay to Sydney. Bro. Lissington presided at the luncheon which was given in honour of the visitor, after which Mr. Haydon visited tit. Patrick's College and other places of interest. St. Mary's Convent has again come to the fore in the musical examinations, for out of the 2'J passes secured by We lington candidates at the examination held a few days ago under the auspices of the Associated Boards of the Royal Academy of Music and the Royal College, in practical work, the Convent was credited with 17. Of the nine candidates sent up for singing all passed, three with honours ; in fact, these were the only candidates who obtained honours in this centre. The following is the result : — Local Centre Examinations : Senior Grade Honours — Da'py Marshall and May Sullivan, singing. Local Centre Pass : Pinnoiorte — Rose Falconer ; Singing — Lily White, Ma ; Putnam, and Theodore Shapter. Local School Examination : Honours. — Singing — Kate Connell. Higher Division. — Singing — Christine Smith, Eilie Stafford, and May M'Leod. Pianoforte — Wuiilred iiionardson, Jessamine Evatt, Alice M'DonaH, aud Clare Campion. Lower Division. — Pianoforte — Muriel W.tldograve and lreue Nathan. (The above reached us too late for insertion in our last week's issue.) December 17. Forxowixn tha example- set by the former students of St. Patrick's College and pupls of the Marist Brothers' sohools, the ex-pupils of the Convent have iornitd an 'Old Girls' Association.' A meeting for this object was held in thii Convent a few day.s ago, the Rev. Mjther Superior presiding. The officers elected were : President, the Roy. Moih<-r Superior ; vice-president, Muss O Connor ; secretary, Miss Kate Williams ; cotnuritteo, Mrs. T. G. Macarthy, Mrs. Gamble, and Mies M'Donald.

The Very Rev. Father Vincent Grogan, Provincial of the Passionist Order in Australasia, arrived here on Wednesday from Sydney on his way to Dunedin, where he will preach retreats. During his stay in Wellington he was the guest of the Very Rev. Father Devoy, V.G-., at the presbytery, Boulcott street. The Rev. Father Frederick of the same Order, who, •with Rev, Father Alexius, arrived here some time ago, has gone to the West Coast to open a church at Cape Foulwind and preach a retreat to the Sisters. Later on he will conduct a retreat at Stoke for the Marist Brothers. Father Alexius, who is staying with his Grace the Archbishop, preached a short mission to the Children of Mary of the Thorndon parish during the week. He goes on to Wanganui to conduct a retreat for the Sisters there, and later on will conduct the ecclesiastical retreat for the clergy of the archdiocese. The many friends of the Very Rev. Father Bowers, Vice-Rector of St. Patrick's College, who had been seriously ill for some time, will be pleased to hear that he is progressing rapidly, and will, it is hoped, be very soon in his usual health. Considerable progress has been made with the work of collecting subscriptions for the Cathedral Building Fund, the people of both parishes displaying the most gratifying generosity in the matter. Subscription lists were opened at all the churohes on Sunday, with the reault that over £1,400 was promised, so that now the •mount stands at over £5,200, which it is expected will be considerAbly added to within the next few weeks. Hiß Grace the Archbishop uses St. Joseph's as his episcopal church for the present, and usually preaches there every Sunday evening. Pontifical High Mass will be celebrated there on Christmas Pay,