ARRIVAL AT DUNEDIN.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume XXVIII, Issue 14, 5 April 1900, Page 19

ARRIVAL AT DUNEDIN.

On arrival at the Dunedin railway station his Lordship was met by a great concourse of people who received him with every manifestation of cordial and enthusiastic welcome. He was accompanied by the Very Rev. Dean Mackay, (Administrator of the Diocese in his Lordship's absence), Very Rev. Father O'Neill (Milton), and Father Cleary (Dunedin). On arrival at the platform he was received by Father Murphy (Adm., St. Joseph's Cathedral), Fathers Coffey, Ryan, K. O'Donnell, Geary, MoMullan and Lynch, and by as many of the laity as could get within reach of his hand. The procession then moved off, marshalled by Mr. L. Clancy and Mr. J. Fleming ; and the scene was very impressive as the long line wended its way up the long ascent to St. Joseph's Cathedral to the light of many torches and the strains of stirring music. The processionists marched in the following order : (1) The pupils of the Christian Brothers' school, with badges and flags ; (2) the different confraternities of men ; (3) the members of the Hibernian Society, in full regalia ; (4) the Kaikorai Band ; (5) the clergy in carriages ; (6) bhe Bishop in his carriage, with the Very Rev. Dean Mackay ; (7) the general public. In front of the Cathedral a handsome and substantial arch had been erected, and gaily decorated with evergreens, flowers, flags, and Chinese lanterns, and bearing in Celtio characters the old Irish motto of welcome : Ci-nd mile failtidh. The main body of the processionists passed beneath it and into the Cathedral while the great bell pealed a merry note of welcome. The Hibernians formed a guard of honor on each side of the long flight of steps leading up to it, and the glare of the torches lighted up the scene. The Bishop was met at the porch by the clergy. After the ceremonies prescribed by the Pontifical, the procession of the Bishop and clergy moved to the high altar, the choir in the meantime singing the Te Drum. The Very R» v. Dean Mackay acted as Dujnior ; the Very Rev. J. O'Neill and Rev. J. Ryan as Assistant Deacons ; Rev. P. Murphy, Adm., as Master of Ceremonies ; and the Christian Brothers as canopy-bearers. At the high altar the versicles and prayers prescribed for such occasions were duly carried out : appropriate verses were finely sung by the choir; and the solemn biasing was imparted by the Bishop to the kneeling congregation. The ceremony of kissing the episcopal ring was then proceeded with, and this, in turn, was followed by the reading of the following ADDRESSES. The first was from the clergy and laity of the Dioce^p of Dunedin. It Was read by the Very Rev. Dean Mackay and ran as follows .— TO THE RIGHT REVEREND MICHAEL YERDOX, D.P . BISUOP OF DUNEDIN. May it please your Lordship, On behalf of the Catholic clergy and laity of the Diocese of Dunedin we bid you a cordial welcome home. We are grateful to know that during your Lordship's temporary absence the spiritual interests of your people have ever occupied a foremost place in your thoughts and prayers. We rejoice in the success which has crowned your efforts oa our behalf and given a valued accession to the ranks of those who are engaged in doing the Good Master's work in this portion of His Vineyard We recognise all this as a fresh instance of the tender care and anxious forethought which your Lordship has continued to exercise on behalf of your beloved flock ever since the day when it was our privilege to first welcome you to the shores of New Zealand. We have here in our midst in this city of Duntdin, and scattered far and wide over the Diocese, many evidences of your Lordship's wise and zealous administration — an administration which has been marked by a notable advance in the cause of education and charity : by the introduction of a new teaching Order, by the steady spread of existing Orders, by the purchase of a Provincial Seminary, by the erection of churches and schools and of a flourishing Orphanage, and by many other gratifying signs of the 6teady progrese of the Church of God in our midst. We pray that you may long be spared to watch over our welfare, and beg your acceptance of the accompanying gift as a small earnest of the respect and affection of the priests and people of your Diocese of Dunedin. Signed on behalf of the clergy and laity of the Diojese • (Clergy.) (Laity.) J. Mackay, V.F. J. J}. Callan W. Burke, V.F. J. J. Connor M. Walsh J. Carroll J. Sheehan W. Coughlan J. O'Neill C. E. Haughton P. Murphy, Adm. J. Liston F. Meenan F. W. Petre. J. O'Connor I xrn J. Hally. . Hon - Bees - April 4, 1900. His Lordship was then presented with a purse of sovereigns eubscribed by the clergy and laity of the Diocese.

The following address, which was read by Mr. Callan, was from the members of the Confraternity of Our Lady of Perpetual Succour :—: — May it please your Lordship, „ n T , , _ We, the members of the Confraternity of Our Lady of Perpetual Succour, beg to offer you our congratulations on your safe return to your loving and devoted people of Dunedin, and to wish you a hearty welcome home. We have been pleased to notice the deep interest you take in the well-being of the religion* confraternities and societies and -we recognise with your Lordship the immense amount of good that has been accomplished by their existence in our midst. We find therefore, great pleasure and satisfaction in assuring you that during your absence from the Diocese no falling off has taken place m the attendance at our meetings, but on the contrary, we have been constantly witnessing a gradual increase of membership and an increase also in the religious fervour of our weekly meetings. Allow us also, my Lord, on behalf of the Confraternity, to congratulate you on the success that has attended your mission to Europe. During the past year God has been pleased to bleaa your labors abundantly. We fervently hope and shall constantly pray that the Right Hand of God may continue to guide you and strengthen you in accomplishing the work that Providence has set before you in this part of the Master's vineyard. We are truly delighted to observe the improved condition of your Lordship's health. May God prolong your life in His service, and that your labors in the future may be blessed with the same full measure of success as those of the past will ever be the fervent prayer of your grateful children of the Confraternity of Our Lady of Perpetual Succour. At the close of his reply (a full report of which will appear in our next issue) his Lordship announced that the Holy Father had appointed the Very Rev. Dean Mackay Domestic Prelate with the title of Right Rev. Monsignor, and that he had conferred on the Very Rev. Dean O'Leary the title of Monsignor. At the conclusion of the ceremony at St. Joseph's Cathedral the band escorted his Lordship to the Palace and played on the grounds for some time.