Diocesan News.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume XXVII, Issue 17, 27 April 1899, Page 6

Diocesan News.

ARCHDIOCESE OP WELLINGTON.

(From our own correspondent). , -. April 22. ON Sunday evening, at St. Joseph's, one of the largest congregations ever assembled in that churdh was present at the opening of the mission. After the recitation of the Rosary his Grace Archbishop Redwood preached the opening sermon, taking for his text, ' Receive not the grace of God in vain, now is the acceptable time, now is the day of salvation.' His Grace concluded an excellent sermon with an appeal to all present to attend the mission, perform its exercises faithfully, and induce as many others as possible to do likewise. The congregational singing of hymns and Benediction was conducted by the Rev. Father Ainsworth. The mission will be continued for a fortnight. The instruction at the early Mass is given by his Grace, and that at the last one by Rev. Father Ainsworth, while they take the mission sermon in the evenings alternately, The new church at Petone is to be opened on the 14th of May. For some time past the want of a church at this populous suburb has been a great hardship to Catholic residents. They are to be congratulated on having at last overcome the difficulties. The young men of Te Aro parish are to be congratulated on their good fortune in possessing St. Patrick's Hall for the purposes of recreation. A billiard-table has now been purchased, and as the attractions have increased, so has the nightly attendance of members of the club.

The Rev. Father M'Killop, S.J., of Adelaide, is touring New Zealand for the benefit of his health. After spending three months in the hot lakes district he arrived here last week, and was the guest of the Yen. Archdeacon Devoy. He left for the South by the Mokoia last night.

The termination of the mail service to New Zealand via Vanoouver has created a stir in business circles here. It has been suggested that in its place a fortnightly service via San Francisoo, instead of a monthly one as at present, should be established, the mail steamers calling alternately at Auckland and Wellington. In Auckland, public meetings protesting against Wellington being made a port of call have been held, the principal objection being that the trip from San Francisco would occupy about twenty hours longer to Wellington than to Auckland. The Auckland Chamber of Commerce has written to the Government to that effect. The Wellington Chamber of Commerce has also written pointing out that under existing circumstances, only letters to the North Island by an incoming mail can be answered by the next outgoing one, whereas if Wellington be made a port of call, South Island letters could, every second mail, be similarly treated, besides which, in spite of the extra twenty hours steaming to Wellington the Southern portion of the incoming mail could be delivered sooner than is now the case. It is understood, replies have been received stating that the matter will have to be dealt with by Parliament. Mrs. Martin Kennedy and Miss Kennedy returned from a month's holiday in Australia by the Mokoia yesterday.