DIOCESE OF AUCKLAND.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume XXVII, Issue 19, 11 May 1899, Page 5

DIOCESE OF AUCKLAND.

(By telegraph from our own correspondent.) May 8. The month of May devotions were commenced on Monday the Ist inst., in the city and suburban churches. At the Cathedral Our Lady's altar was tastefully decorated. At the first Mass the Confraternities of the Children of Mary and the Guard of Honour, approached Holy Communion in large numbers. In the afternoon, at three o'clock, eight new members were received into the Children of Mary, by the spiritual director, Rev. Father Buckley, who delivered a very appropriate address to the members, enjoining upon them to remain ever faithful to the promises now voluntarily made, and always to bear in mind the great honour and privilege attached to those fortunate enough to be banded together under the patronage of Mary. At Vespers the Cathedral was crowded to excess ; the Rev. Father Mulvihill, of Gisborne, preached a beautiful sermon upon the penilties due to sin. A procession of the Bleated Sacrament followed, the canopy being borne by four Marist Brothers. Father Buckley officiated, accompanied by Rev. Father Mulvihill. At St. Benedict's Rev. Father Gillan delivered the second of his series of discourses on the Blessed Virgin. The Bey. Father was listened too with close attention by the large congregation present. The St. Patrick's Day celebration at Gisborne netted £200. How many of the large centures could show a like result 1

One more church is to be added this month to those of the diocese. On Sunday, 21st inst., a new church is to be solemnly opened at Driving Creek by the Vicar-General, Monsignor Paul, assisted by the Very Rev. Dean O'Reilly. It is worthy of notice that 27 years ago the latter was parish priest in the parish. The new church will be free of debt at its opening. This speaks eloquently of the indefatigability of Rev. Father Michael Egan, whose untiring zeal throughout Coromandel has borne such excellent results. - *

For some months pabt the poor boxes at St. Patrick's have been broken open and robbed. On the Bth inst. a man named Robertson was arrested and charged m ith the crime.

The agitation concerning the retention of Auckland as sole port of call for the San Francisco mail steamer waxes warm. Sydney is appealed to" on the ground that the detour to Wellington would delay their mail by seventeen hours. The South Island would gain eight hours, while Auckland would lose twenty hourd. Two-thirda of the car«o carritd comes from Auckland.

The following are the report and balance sheet of the St. Vincent de Paul Society, Auckland, for the 18 months ending April 20, 181)'.). The committee in their report say .—The Society wishes to place befoie, its friends, benoff-ctors, and the general community, a report of its transactions for the past IS months. In doing so we must return our sincere ami gratoful thanks to all those who assisted in any way, either by subscriptions, donations, or entertainments, to supply the nectssary funds to enable us to carry on our work. We would earnestly beg of all the members to use every endeavour in their power to encourage their friends to become at least honorary members. We would also like to see a larger number of our working members attend regularly to assist in sewing and visiting the poor. During the year a great deal of work has been done to alleviate the wants of our poor. We have also provided clothing and boots for several children to enable them to attend school ; assisted families in paying rent ; sent two persona to the Magdala Asylum, and others to the Little Sisters of the Poor and to the Costley Home ; and helped two young people to rejoin their friends. We have also sent two boys to the Dear and Dumb Institute, Waratah, and are paying towards their support. The officers are : — Spiritual director, Rev. Father Buckley ; president, Mrs. Dignan senr. ; vice-presidents — City, Mrs. Thome ; Ponßonby, Miss Tole ; Parnell, Mrs. McCabe : Newton, Mrs. R. Dignan ; secretary, Mrs. Derron ; treasurer, Miss Lynch ; wardrobe-keeper, Mrs. Uuscott The balance sheet showed : — Receipts : Balance in hand October 7, 18'.)7, £14 .">s 3d ; subscriptions (honorary members), £2"J 10d ; subscriptions (working members), £10 13<s (id ; donations, £11 8s 4d ; concert, £13 17s (id; musical afternoon, £2 Is Id; lecture by Dr. Bakewell, £1 12s; Easter bags, £22 Is 6Jd ; poor box, £13 14s l£d; total, £121 18s 4d. Expenditure: Groceries, £(>1 Is ; meat and milk, £7 10s 6d ; drapery, boots and shoes, £17 0s Gd ; board, lodging, and rent, £8 7s 9d ; cash and medicine, £2 18s fid ; passage money, £3 19s 91 ; printing and advertising, £2 Ifis fid ; stamps and stationery, 17s (id ; two boys Deaf and Dumb Institute, £1 6s ; sundries, £1 17s 3d ; balance in bank, £8 13s 4d ; total, £121 18a 4d. General summary : — Orders given. 797 ; articles of clothing distributed, new, 188 ; old, 213 ; and 45yds.

material ; 34 pairs new boots aud shoes, an I several old pairs ; iamilies assisted, !>0 ; visits made, .'500; number of meetings, 71 ; honorary members, 70 ; working members, 37