PRESENTATION TO REV. FATHER BOWERS, GERALDINE.

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

PRESENTATION TO REV. FATHER BOWERS, GERALDINE.

A i-LLAPAvr gathering took place at the pie l.ylc-j. (u-ialcine on \\ c mesday ot last week, wben tbe Rev. Fathci 'liow'eis wu & u .et by .i number of his paii-hioner*, representing tlie congregation, 10 bid him good-bye before he lett lor a holiday in .uistiaiia, with the obj.ctut benefiting his health. On behait a those present Mr. J Faiiell read the following address —

• i're-entation to the liev. Father Bowers from his parishioners and iriLiuU on the occ.sion ol his lea\mg iur holidays in pursuit of ie,t ami health— To tue Rev. Father Bovseis— \\ ,, your parishioners and trie;uK de-ire to nooid our uin\v.is<it lieimgs of regret that impaired health eompelo you tor a time tv withdraw from "amorist us. For the last five or six yiar; that you have been amon^us you have labour. d wry hard tor the good of the parish. We°houe that jou will enjoy your well-earned holiday.-, and trust that the rebt and change which you so much need will ho ou restore your health, and that it will shortly be our pleasure to welcome you back to your people in U, mlaine quite restored m streno-th and health. In conclusion, we beg ot you to accept this puise of soveieigns as a small token of affoaion Irom your people Signed on bdiair of the pun-hioners, John Fanell, Andiew Ly-ught' Wilkaui Earl, John bun-rue, Patrick Burke, Kyivm Bruphy. Edward Murphy, and William Fitzpatrick.' Mr. K. Brophy then handed the Rev. Father a purse of sovereigns, and in doing so he trusted he would enjoy his holiday and would return \o them thoroughly recouped in health. The Rev. Father Bowers, in reply, said he was very much obliged to hi-, parishioners for their very kind address and for the purse of sovereigns they had presented him with, ]\o one could wish tor greater personal kin<tne-s than he had experienced during his stay in Geraldine. He valued the toktn ot regard which they had civen him vi ry highly, it was but au additional proot of the goodwill which they had always shown to him, and it was a source of gratification to him, as v showed that his work amongst them was appreciated. He sincerely hoped that he would return to (reraldiue iv a short time much improved m health, and that he would find all his triends well and prosperous.

The Rev. Father Bowers left (says the Temnlta Zcaderyby the .North express for Christchurch, to catch the Monowai on Friday for Melbourne. He will make the round* trip through. Australia and back to New Zealand, and will be absent' from O.raldine for two or three months. During his absence the Rev. Father Franklin, of (Jtirift.haroh, wilt ofibiat' 1 iv the parish.