NEW ZEALAND : GENERAL.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume XXVII, Issue 8, 23 February 1899, Page 18

NEW ZEALAND : GENERAL.

We note with pleasure that our youner friend. Master Ernct Loftus, of 'Wanganui, passed the recent Senior Civil Service Examination. He was prepared by the Marist Brothers. Til E Marist Brothers, Tiraaru, are to be congratulated on the success which attended their pupils at the recent Junior Civil Service Examinations. The passes credited to the eohool are . Michael Mahoney (now at St. Patrick's College), J. Madden, and M. O Brien. Ir is very creditable to the Sisters of the Kumara Convent that one of their pupils. Master T. Gilbert, obt lined one of s<~. I'atrick 1 -; College scholarships, the competition for which was open to all the Catholic schools in the Colony. Another pupil (Master T. Murphy) of the same school was fourth on the list. Since forwarding you my letter on Saturday, (writes our Wellington correspondent) I have been informed that three pupils of the Mari&t Brothers' school here— Masters M. Stratford. Jonn L Davis and Peter D. Twohill — have parsed the Junior Civil Service examination. This is not a bud record for our primary Catholic school. and llev. Brother Mark and his assistants are to be congratulated on the result. On Sunday, January 1 I (writes an Auckland correspondent) a new and handsome set of Stations of the Cross was presented to St. Benedict's Church by Capt. F. P. Blackmore. late -Wth. Regiment. They are splendid oleographs (size IU x2l inches), frarnod in the Oxford style, with gold cross's. The same gentleman (who is a convert) presented to St. Benedict's Christian Doctrine Society, in IS.IT, a handsome banner of green satin, with* the Society's name on one side, and the Irish Harp inside a wreath of shamrocks on the other : all done in gold and silver leaf. The pole and mountings were black and gold, with gold fringes and tasseK Last, year he 3 painted a drop scene for the stage of St. Benedict's new hall (size 2<t x H feet), the subject being the Bridge and Castle of St. Angelo. on the Tiber, with St. Peter's and the Vatican in the background ; this being also a present. The Very Rev. Dr. Egan and the parishioners are fortunate in having such a willing worker and helper in their midst. We are plear-ed to note that the Re\. Father O'Reilly has been re-electfd chairman of the Thames Hospital Trustees. Father O'Reil'y's oocupation of the chair for several terms shows that he possesses the esteem and confidence of his brother Trustees, who, by their action, display their broadmindedness and lil crality. At the meeting of the Trustees on F< bruary 6' it was proposed by Mr. Dunlop. secon led by Mr. Radford, and unanimously agreed to ' That Father 0 Reilly be re-elected chairman tor the ensuing year.' Father O'Reilly, alter taking the chair, lhaiikid the members for his re-election to the position, and referred to the pleasure it had always given him to preside over the meetings of the Trusteos. Mr. Moore said Father O'Reilly was deserving of the thanks of the

Trustees for the able manner in" which he had presided at former meeting's. He moved that a vote of thanks be passed to him. Mr. McAndrew approved of the selection, saying that it was quite right that the Trustees' appreciation of Father O'Reilly's services should be placed on the minutes. The many times that Father O'Reilly had been elected chairman was ample evidence of the confidence the Trustees had in him. The motion was agreed to. The chairman said he bad always taken a great interest in the hospital and would continue to do so.