ADDISONS.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume XXVII, Issue 21, 25 May 1899, Page 28

ADDISONS.

(From a correspondent). May 1.1. ON Saturday, 13th May, a very pleasant gathering took place at the Catholic Church here, the occasion being the presentation of an address and purse of sovereigns to the Yen. Archpriest Walsh, in connection with the dignity recently conferred on him, and to show the respect and esteem in which he is held by his parishioners. The address was written by Mr. W. Maloney, and illuminated in a most artistic manner by the Sisters of Mercy Westport. The address was read by Mr. W. Gould, and the purse presented by Mr. T. K. Geary. The address was as follows :—: — To the Venerable Archpriest Walsh, Yen. and Dear Father.— On behalf of the Catholics of Addisons' Flat, we, the undersigned, beg to tender you are heartiest congratulations on the special mark of di s " tinction lately given you by the head of our holy Church in New Zealand. We but feebly re-echo the sentiments of all Catholics throughout your scattered parish when we say, never was an honour more fitly bestowed. We can imagine «ome of the difficulties that beset the path of a prieft even now on the West Coast. what mufat it have been over thirty years ago. when you first began that arduous task, for the faithful carrying out of \*hi h you aie held in such high esteem by your congregation. Your very hiirh sense of duty has on many occasion-- led you to endanger your be ilth and life, in attending the i-ick or dying in remote part* of your paiish. Apart from your spiritual consolations, your unostentatious gift- to the poor have enabled many — for a time at least — to look on th" brighter side of things. Kindly a; cept the accompanying purse of sovereigns, which is an attempt to show the estimation in %\ hich you are held by the Catholics of Addisons. May you be spared for many years to view with pride and gratification the result of your life s work in our midst. The Yen. Archpriest, in his reply, warmly thanked the people of Addisons for their beautiful address and the accompanying gift. He could not dare to lay claim to the many virtues attributed to him in the address", but would, with God's help, continue to perform his duties to the best of his ability Knowing the warm-hearted nature of his people he could scarcely say that he was greatly surprised at the manner in which they were honouring him. He oa-t his thoughts back for a moment, and found it was :il years since he first came to Addisons. He was only a curate at that time, having come from Greymouth to attend to the spiritual wants of the Catholics around Westport district. Subsequently when the parish was created he was appointed parish priest, ard he had been there ever since, and would remain — unless it should be the wish of the Archbishop to remove him — for the re^t of his life. The pur*e of sovereigns which they gave him he would devote to a good purpose v { Zi( reducing the debt on the Convent. He again thanked them for their beautiful address and hoped the Almighty God would bestow every blessing 1 on them that was necessary for their SalvaMr. Oarmo'ly -aid that ho had met and shaken hands with Father Wal*h ou the first day that he arrived at Addisons, and speaking after those long years nt experience he could say that he thoroughly endorsed every word which the address contained. Mr Gould remarked that he had known Yen. Anhpriest Walsh for IS years, and could say there was not one, flattering allusion in the address. Father Walsh, by fan sterling good qualities as priest and friend, had gained the respect ami love of the people. The meeting then terminated with many expressions of good will to the Yen. Archpriest.