DIOCESE OF AUCKLAND.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume XXVIII, Issue 14, 5 April 1900, Page 6

DIOCESE OF AUCKLAND.

(From our own correspondent.)

March 29. Rev. Father Kamp left here yesterday for Europe. The first contract for cutting down a portion of the trees in the Symond street cemetery has been let, and the contractor began operations last Tuesday. A public meeting of Irish residents is called for next Monday evening to consider the advisability of cabling to her Majesty the Queen their appreciation of her visit to Ireland. The jT ablet representative is now in Auckland. The Very Rev. Dean O'Reilly, last Sunday, notified from the pulpit this fact, and bespoke from the people a hearty support for the Tablet which, the Dean said, should be read in every Catholic home in the city. The Children of Mary from the Cathedral and Sacred Heart parishes held a picnio recently at Howick, where they were hospitably entertained by the Rev. Father Patterson. The Very Revs. Dean O'Reilly and Dr. Egan were present. Dr. Egan and Father Patterson contributed to the programme given during the afternoon in the hall. Last Sunday, the Feast of the Annunciation of our Blessed Lady, was observed in the city churches with due solemnity. The Children of Mary attended early Mass at the cathedral, and approached Holy Communion in large numbers. After Vespers the Rev. Father Buckley, ppiritnal director, preached on the festival of the day, after which several new members were received into the Confraternity. A bye-election is engrossing the attention of Auckland City electorate at present. So far three candidates are in the field, Mr J. J. Holland (Government nominee, who aat in the last Parliament as one of the city members), Mr. Witheford (chairman of the Harbor Board and a Government supporter), and Mr. Hobbs (Oppositionist).

The last named has just retired from the Auckland Education Board, of which he was chairman, and in that capacity he worked and voted for, and championed the inspection of Catholic schools by the Board's inspectors. The bigots in the columns of the| local press now assail him for this. A very pleasing, ceremony took place at St. Mary's Convent, Ponsonby, on March 19, when three young ladies received the white veil and habit of the Sisters of Mercy. Their names are : Miss Elizabeth Reea (in religion Sister M. Conception). Misa Mary McMenamin (Sister M. Theophane), and Miss Mary Moore (Sister M. Dorothea). The Very Rev. Dean O'Reilly performed the ceremony and preached the occasional sermon, and the Rev. Father Purton, 0.5.8., and Rev. Father Hills, S.M., assisted in the sanctuary. The Convent choir, with Dr. Egan, 0.5.8., rendered the music incidental to the ceremony, which waa followed by Benediction of the Blessed Sacrament. His Lordship the Right Rev. Dr. Lenihan has written from London to the Very Rev. Dean O'Reilly. He says that owing to the war it was very diffioult to obtain cabin berths to Australia via Suez. His Lordship had received so many pressing invitations to return by America that at time of writing it was his intention to come by that route. The date of his departure, however, waa not fixed. He had spent five useful weeks in Ireland, and would likely visit that country again before starting for the Colony. He expected to visit Paris. A youDg priest, Rev. Father Corcoran, would soon start on his journey for Auckland. The Bishop spoke of the intense cold, which he bore remarkably well. He had just heard, with deep regret, of the death of the Very Rev. Mer McDonald.