Diocesan News.

New Zealand Tablet, Issue 43, 26 October 1899, Page 5

Diocesan News.

ARCHDIOCESE OF WELLINGTON.

(JFro-n our own correspondent.) October 21. A mission is to be opened in Hawera on Sunday. St. Patrick's College annual sports are to be held on the Basin Reserve on November 7. Death has numbered among its own another of the early students of St. Patrick's College, Mr. Philip Hackett, of Auckland, who died in the Northern city last week. The net proceeds of the recent performance of 'Conn the Shaughraun ' in Masterton amounted to £.jO, and a cheque for that amount has been handed to St. Bride's Convent. Mr. T. M. Cullen, who has for some years been a landing waiter here, has been appointed Collector of Customs at Oamaru. His friends, while regretting his departure, are glad to know that his transfer means promotion. Among the members of the Transvaal contingent there are, I am informed, 21 Catholics. Mr. Ernest Smith, of Auckland, who, as an ex-student of St. Patrick's College, is known throughout New Zealand, is one of the troopers. 'The Eastern Carnival and Fancy Fair ' is the name decided on for the bazaar to be held next Easter in aid of the Basilica of the Sacred Heart. At a meeting of the committee and stall-holders on Friday it was announced that a beautiful oil painting had been offered by his Grace the Archbishop as a prize in the art union. The local Convent of Mercy has again won the distinction of one of its pupils gaining- the Trinity College (London) singing exhibition medal. Miss Daisy Marshall is this year the successful candidate, and besides holding the medal she becomes entitled to a sum of nine guineas, which, however, must be expended in musical instruction. The Very Rev. Father Soulas, of Jerusalem, was just recovering from a serious accident when a few days ago an even more serious one befel him. While endeavouring to save a child in danger in the saw-mill Father Soulas had his hand caught on a circular saw and cut severely. Though his condition for a couple of days gave cause for grave anxiety, he is now progressing as satisfactorily as can be expected. He is staying with the Yen. Archdeacon Devoy. In consequence of the Rev. Father Patterson's projected visit to Europe the Rev. Father Tymons, at present curate at Wanganui, has been appointed parish priest at Palmerston North. It is a nattering testimony to Father Tymons's worth that he has been given charge of so important a district. I hear that Rev. Father O'Sullivan, late Procurator at St. Patrick's College, who returned from Sydney on Saturday, is to relieve Father Tymons at Wanganui. The annual social in aid of St. Joseph's Orphanage was held in the Choral Hall on Wednesday evening. In spite of strong counterattractions there was a very large attendance, about 350 persons being present. The committee and the secretary, Mr. T. Davis, are to be congratulated on the result of their efforts. Songs and recitations were contributed by Messrs. Gordon, Zachariah, and Keenan. The music was supplied by Fisher's orchestra, and Messrs. O'Brien and Holcrof t made efficient M C.'s. Under the auspices of the Marist Brothers' Old Boys' Association, Mr. Gilfedder, M H.R., delivered a lecture on Federation to the members and their friends in St. Patrick's Hall on last Tuesday evening. The chair was occupied by Mr. J. Kays>. Tn his introductory remark-!, Mr. Gilfedder congratulated the association on its having connected with it so useful an institution as a debating BO3iety. Numbers of men whom he had met owed their success in public life to the experience they had gained in such societies. He wished it every success, and thanked the association for asking him to deliver an address to the members. Dealing with the subject proper, Mr. Gilfedder, who is an anti-federalibt, based his opposition to the scheme, from a New Zealand point of view, principally on the questions of Customs duties, public debt, representation in the Federal Parliament, and distance from the principal federating states. With federation, the Customs tariffs of the states must of necessity be the same, and the loss of revenue sustained would have to be recouped by the imposition of an extra land tax, and by an increase of railway freights. The establishment of a Federal Government would entail an enormous expenditure, which would in part have to be borne by this Colony. The lecturer could not see how the founding of a large city with magnificent buildings in Australia could in any way benefit the people of New Zealand. Although strongly opposed to federating, Mr. Gilfedder expressed the hope that next session an enabling bill would be passed, thus allowing the people an opportunity of deciding for themselves. A vote of thanks to the lecturer was, on the motion of the Yen. Archdeacon Devoy, carried with acclamation.