DIOCESE OF DUNEDIN.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume XXVIII, Issue 12, 22 March 1900, Page 18

DIOCESE OF DUNEDIN.

On last Sunday evening a very fine discourse on St. Patrick was given by Father Murphy in the Catholic church, Port Chalmers, to a large congregation.

Captain J. L. H. Petre. of Thorneycroft's Mounted Infantry, who was killed at Spion Kop, was the fourth son of the twelfth Lord Petre, and a younger brother of the present and the late Lord Petre. The deceased officer was a relative of Mr. Petre, architect, Dunedin.

Solemn High Mass will be celebrated on Saturday at 7.30 a.m. in St. Joseph's Cathedral in connection with the departure of the Fourth Contingent for South Africa. The Mass ia announced for the spiritual and temporal welfare of the members of the contingent and as a suffrage for the souls of the Catholics who have fallen in the South African campaign.

The annual High Mass in connection with the festival of St. Patrick's Day was celebrated at the Basilica, South Dunedin, on Sunday by the Rev. Father Ryan, the Rev. Father Lynoh (Palmerston) being deacon, the Rev. Father Coffey sub-deacon, and the Rev. Father Cleary master of ceremonies. The occasional sermon was preached by the Rev. Father Lynch.

At a meeting of the Bishop Verdon Testimonial Committee on Tuesday night arrangements were made for the reception of hia Lordship on his arrival. It was decided to secure the services of a band for the occasion, and that a procession be formed at the Cathedral and march from thence to the wharf. Messrs Clancy and Fleming were appointed marshals.

The cheque for LIOOO presented to Dr. Doyle, Catholio Bishop of Lismore, New South Wales (says the Australasian >, on his leaving for a visit to Rome, is the largest amount ever received as a testimonial by any bishop in Australia. But for our own part (writes the W. A. Record, commenting on the foregoing statement) we may remark that if this be true Australia has been beaten by New Zealand. The late Dr. Moran, Bishop of Dunedin, for example, more than once received from his flock an equal sum. At the nine o'clock Mass at St. Patrick's Basilica, South Dunedin, on Sunday, the members of the H.A.C.B. Society, to the number of close upon 70, received HoJy Communion. The members marched in procession from the schoolroom to the church, preceded by their handsome banner. Over 20 members of the Otago section of the Fourth Contingent also approached the Holy Table. The Rev. Father Coffey, in expressing the great pleasure he felt at so many of the Hibernians receiving the Blessed Sacrament and at the progress of the Society during the past year, spoke of the aims and objects of the Society, and urged all eligible Catholics to become members. Father Coffey also made reference to the men of the Fourth Contingent, impressing upon them never to forget, while doing their duty to their Queen and country, that they were also

soldiers of Christ. After Mass the men of the Otago section, as well as some from Auckland, were entertained at a sumptuous breakfast provided by the Misses Moloney (3), assisted by Mrs. M. Moloney and the Misses Hayes (2), and Miss Brown. Among those present was the Rev. Father Coffey, Mr. D. Moloney, and Messrs. J. F. M. Fraßer, and W. A. Shields, the two last named being representatives of the Contingent Organising Committee. At the close of the breakfast Lieutenant Tubman, on behalf of the men, expressed thanks for the cordial hospitality that had been extended to them, and also thanked the Rev. Father Coffey for the interest taken in them whilst in camp.