DIOCESE OF AUCKLAND.

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

DIOCESE OF AUCKLAND.

(From our own correspondent.)

October 19. The Rsv. Father Hickson, S.M., of Napier, sang High Macs at St. Patrick's Cathedral last Sunday The attendance upon week nights at the devotion of the Holy Rosary in the city churches is excellent. Rev. Father Hayes, of Brisbane, is here at present on a holiday 1 tour and visits the Lake Country during his stay. Eight members of the Auckland portion of the Transvaal contingent returned here yesterday, having been rejected by the Defence Department. Last Thursday evening a most successful entertainment was given in aid of the parochial funds in St. Bonaventure's Hall, Parnell. The attendance was excellent. Mr. Philip Henry Hackett, the youngest son of the late Mr. Hackett, formerly well known on the West Coast, died at his mother's residence in thi3 city early last Monday morning. The deceased was educated at St. Patrick's College, Wellington, and was widely known and esteemed, and much regret is felt for his sorrowing relatives. The interment took place this afternoon at the Symcnd street cemetery. The funeral was very large and representative. — 8.1.P. The children of Parnell in large numbers made their First Communion recently. The Rev. Father Golden delivered an impresfeive and beautiful discourse, to which the children and the adults present in the Church of St. John the Baptist listened most attentively. A feature of the ceremony was the admirable singing of the children's choir, under the charge of the Sisters of Mercy. * f ter Mass the children were entertained at breakfast by the good Sisters. The one thing which is most striking is the unanimity with which the aspirants for Parliamentary honours treat adversely the Catholic claims on the question of education. Some of them would grant us the modicum of school inspection by Government Inspectors ; others refuse even this, saying it would lead to a ' grant.' For this result Catholics themselves are alone responsible. If they were earnest and united in the assertion of their just claims, a different result would certainly be recorded. His Lordship the Right Rev. Dr. Lenihan was, on September i, the guest of his Grace the Archbishop of Cashel at the palace, Thurles. Our former illustrious Bishop has once again shown that he has not forgotten his old diocese of Auckland, and has given to the Right Rev. Dr. Lenihan, for the purpose of establishing another bursary, in St. Patrick's College, Thurles, for this diocese, the magnificent bum of £500. Our good Bishop writes to say that after leaving Ireland, to which he has become much attached, he has a fortnight's work in Liverpool, after which he goes to Spain, France, and back again to Ireland. A most successful children's bazaar has been held by the children of the Parnell parish in St. Bonaventure's Hall in aid of the convent funds His Worship the Mayor of Parnell, Mr. Hugh Campbell, opened the bazaar and spoke in a very complimentary manner of the Sisters of Mercy, who work so hard, and also of the children, for whose benefit and improvement the bazaar was undertaken. There were present the Very Rev. Dean O'Reilly, Adm. (St. Patrick's), Rev, Father Kehoe (Parnell), Rev. Father Golden, who is at present in temporary charge of the parish, together with a representative gathering, including members from the other denominations. Throughout its whole course the bazaar was well attended, and was voted the best yet held in the parish. The stalls were apportioned as follows :— Refreshment, fancy goods, plain needlework, and fish pond, the latter proving of special attraction flrthe smaller fry.