DIOCESE OF DUNEDIN.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume XXVIII, Issue 17, 26 April 1900, Page 19

DIOCESE OF DUNEDIN.

We regret to record the death of a fine young man, Mr. Patrick Bourke, son of Mr. David Bourke, of Hall street, South Dunedin, who was accidentaly killed on the railway on Monday afternoon. Much sympathy is felt for the parents in the ordeal of sorrow through which they are passing. — R.I.P.

In connection with the opening of Holy Cross Seminary on May 3, Pontificial High Mass will be celebrated in the Mosgiel Catholic Church at 10 o'clock. The clergy and other visitors will afterwards proceed to the College, which will be solemnly blessed and opened. The furnishing and adornment of the College are proceeding apace. Numerous invitations have been sent out. Great local interest is manifested in this new departure in ecclesiastical work in New Zealand, and everything bids fair for a large gathering and a function that will be on every count memorable among the annals of the Church in this Colony.

On Monday a pleasant social evening was given by the Children of Mary in St. Joseph's school as a ' welcome home ' to his Lordship the Bishop. Pianoforte selections were given by Misses Joyce, Burke and Millar ; songs by Misses M. Ross, M. M. Falkner and Brady ; and recitations by Misses A. Heley and M. Kilmartin. A very amusing short entertainment was given by a number of lady minstrels, and several fine tableaux added greatly to the attractiveness of the social. A nicely worded address was aliso read to the Bishop, who was also presented with a splendid collection of altar linen, adorned with valuable lace, for use in Holy Cross College. His Lordship thanked the donors and the performers in suitable terms.

On Thursday evening the members of the Cathedral choir gave a welcome-home social in honour of his Lordship Bishop Verdon in St Joseph's Hall. Besides his Lordship there were present the Rev, Fathers Murphy, O'Donnell, Coffey, Cleary, Ryan, Headen and McMullan. The large hall of the building was very handsomely furnished in the form of a drawing-room for the occasion. The programme for the evening consisted of instrumental and vooal musical selections, and various kinds of games. During the evening Mr. Carolin, on behalf of the choir, in a happy speeoh congratulated his Lordship on the success of his mission in Europe, and expressed their pleasure at his return to the diocese. His Lordship made an appropriate reply.

An entertainment was held in St. George's Hall, Milton, on Easter Monday evening, when the attendance was very good. The programme consisted of items of vocal music, step dancing, and recitations. Messrs. Gray and McKechnie opened the proceedings with selections on th^ pipes, which met with much favour from the audience. Miss McKechuie gave an exhibition of step-dancing. Vooal items were contributed by Misses Le Brun, Mahoney, and Scholefield, Mrs. King, and Messrs. Carolin, King, and Fottrell, and recitations by Messrs. McCorraack and Pastorelli. The accompaniments were played by Mrs. Marryatt and Miss F. Dunne. During the evening the Very Rev. Father O'Neill, who presided, thanked the audience for their attendance, and also those who had assisted in making the entertainment a success.

On Friday evening an entertain "nent was given in St. Joseph's Schoolroom by the Kindergarten and pupils of St. Dominic's High School, assisted by friends, in honour of his Lordship Bishop Verdon's return to Dunediu. Besides the Bishop there were present the Rev. Fathers Murphy, Coffey, Cleary, Ryan, O'Donnell, Head en, MoMullan, and a number of friends of the pupils. The programme consisted of a drama, ' The Martyr Bride,' a kindergarten performance, and vocal an! instramental musical selections. Very fine vooal items were contributed by Miss Rose Blaney and Miss Ewing, and several pianoforte selections were admirably rendered. The drama was very prettily stage 1, and was acted with good taste and refined feeling. A chorus, ' Night Bells,' brought the proceedings to a close. At the conclusion his Lordship thanked the Sisters and pupils for the very enjoyable entertainment, and complimented the latter on the admirable manner in which they had acquitted themselves.

The eighteenth annual meeting of the Dunedin Catholic Literary Society was held in Sfe. Joseph's Hall on Monday evening, the Rev. Father Murphy presiding. The attendance was good considering the inclemency ot the weather. The report and balance-sheet for the past year, as read by the acting-secretary, Mr. T. Hussey, were received and adopted. The report, among other matters, stated that owing to the meetings being held ior the first time in the new ball a larger measure of success was obtained than in previous years. Debates, as heretofore, bad formed a feature of the session's work, and it was claimed the singular success attained was due to

the presence of members' lady friends on such occasions. Members' responsibilities had increased by the purchase of a piano for use in the hall, and their best efforts were directed toward? raising: the amount of the purchase mDney, with gratifying- results so far. The St. Vincent de Paul Orphanage at South Dunedin was not forgotten, as £10 16a was banded to the worthy Sisters as the result of an entertainment. The election of officers resulted as follows : — president, Eev. Father Murphy ; vice-presidents, Messrs. Hill and Hall; ; Management Committee — the officers and Messrs. L. Pastorelli, T. Hussey, G. Foster, and H. McCormack ; hon. secretary and treasurer, Mr. John Hally ; assistant secretary, Mr. M. Coughlan, A well-merited and very hearty vote of thanks to the reliiing executive for their successful labors was carried unanimously. It was decided to give the first entertainment of the session on the evening of Wednesday the 2nd prox. in St. Joseph's Hall. The customary compliment to the chair concluded the business. On Thursday last an interesting entertainment of welcome was given — in honour of his Lordship Bishop Verdon by the children of the Convent School, Port Chalmers. There were present besides the Bishop Rev. Fathers McMullan, Murphy, and Coffey. A.t the close of the entertainment an address from the children was read, and a presentation of a handsome marble clock was made to his Lordship.