DIOCESE OF AUCKLAND.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume XXVII, Issue 45, 9 November 1899, Page 6

DIOCESE OF AUCKLAND.

(From our own correspondent.) November 2. The Rev. Father Golden is still in charge of Parnell parish owing to the continued indisposition of the Rev. Father Kehoe. The Very Rev. Dean O'Reilly contemplates an early visit, in connection with ecclesiastical matters, to the Bay of Plenty district. A grand concert in aid of the Christmas Fair, being promoted in St. Benedict's parish, is to be held in St. Benedict's Hall tomorrow evening. A splendid programme is given. Rev. Father Hayes of Brisbane returned from the Lakes at the end of last week. He sang High Mass at 11 o'clock on Sunday at St. Patrick's, and left for the South on Monday last. Miss Egan, a sister of the Very Rev. Dr. Egan, with some relatives, passed through Auckland by the- Alameda en route to Colorado, U.S.A., where her other brother resides and owns a large ranche. Mr. T. C alien's promotion to the collectorship of Customs at Oamaru was well received by hia numerous friends in Auckland, to which' city he belongs. Mr. Cnllen was educated at the Catholic school in Onehunga. A meeting of St. Patrick's parishoners was held in St. Patrick's Hall, last Sunday afternoon, the Very Rev. Dean O'Reilly in the chair, when it was decided to take immediate steps to reduce the debt upon the presbytery. A further meeting is to be held on Friday evening. The Right Rev. Dr. Broyer, Vioar-Apostolio of the Navigator Group, arrived by the mail steamer Alameda from Sydney last Sunday, en route to Samoa. During his short stay he visited the churches and the Bishop's palace, and the Marist school. His Lordship gave Pontifical Benediction in the evening at St. Patrick's. He celebrated Mass in the Cathedral at 7 a.m. on Monday, Rev. Father Purton, deacon, Father Buckley, sub-deacon. The Bishop left by the mail steamer the same afternoon. Yesterday, All Saints' Day, Masses were said at 6.30 and 7 a.m. f for the convenience of the working classes, and at 10 a.m. in the city and suburban churches. Devotions and Benediction were held in the evening. To-day, All Souls' Day, Masses for the repose of the souls-of the dead were offered. After Mass at nine o'clock at St. Benedict's the Rev. Father Gillan proceeded to the Symond street cemetery, and there offered up prayers for the souls of those whose bodies lie therein. Many devout worshippers attended. The Wanganui correspondent of the Tablet, in his letter which appeared in the issue of the 16th ult., says : ' The people will, no doubt, feel highly gratified> when they know that the Rev. Father Tymons has the honour of being the first priest educated in New Zealand who has been entrusted with the sole charge of a parish.' This is not correct. The Very Rev. Dean O'Reilly, Adm., of St. Patrick's Cathedral, Auckland, was educated entirely in Auckland, and ordained here in the sixties, and placed in sole charge of a parish almost, if not actually, before the Rev. Father Tymons was born. The annual musical and dramatic entertainment, held last Thursday evening, by the pupils of St. Patrick's Convent Schools, was a pronounced success, and must have recompensed in full measure the untiring 1 and painstaking Sisters of Mercy and their talented pupils. Though the weather was inclement there waa hardly standing room in the hall. There were present the Very Rev. r>ean O'Reilly, Very Rev. Dr. Egan, and Rev. Fathers Croke, Buckley, and Kamp. The programme was a long and varied one, comprising an overture (three pianos), chorus, • Messengers from Fairy Land', by High School pupils ; violin solo, vocal duet, tableau, duet (pianos) ; musical sketch, 'Gipsies' Holiday' ; pupils' tableau, ' Mu6io, song, and dance ' ; duet (pianos) ; vocal solo, Miss Quinn ; recitation, • Home Rule,' — a thoroughly patriotic pronouncement (it was well delivered by Miss Ricketts) ; action, song, and tableau, ' Scarf Drill,' pupils ; chorus, ' Flower Gatherers,' pupils of St. Joseph's School. The second part, was taken up with a drama, ' Heirs of Rockford,' the character* bein^ sustained by Misses White, Corley (2), Quinn, McDonnell (2), Keves, Fleming, Lonergan, Duffin, Davey, Grace, Little, Quiulan, Beehan, and Rist. Miss Jane Quinn ably presided at the piano. Where all excelled it would be invidious to single out names, but special mention should be made of the solo singing of Miss Flossie Quinn, who gives early promise as a vocalist. The whole was a decided success, and tiie good Sisters and their charges are to be heartily congratulated.