DIOCESE OF DUNEDIN.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume XXVIII, Issue 22, 31 May 1900, Page 18

DIOCESE OF DUNEDIN.

Wo understand that it is the intention of the Very Rev. Dean Burke and his parishioners to take steps very soon for the erection of a new Basilica at Invercargill. The Dominican Nuns who went from Dunedin to Greenougb, Western Australia, some time ago, are evidently pushing their pupils to the front, as the following extract from the N .A . Record will show : — At a highly successful concert, recently given in St. Catherine's Hall, Greenough, in aid of the Indian famine fund, effectual aid was rendered by the pupils of the local Dominican Convent, the young ladies by their solo and duet singing obtaining well merited applause. A pleasant evening was spent on the 215 rd inst, at South Dunedin, when the committee of the St. Patrick's Literary and Social Institute presented a nice programme, which included singing and recitations. The Rev. President occupied the chair, and Father Geary was also present. Songs were very well rendered by Messrs. Mullins, Kehoe, Miscall, McCurdy, and Fitzpatrick ; also recitations by Messrs. J. Dee and Pastorelli. Encores were numerous and geneially responded to. There were over 80 members preaenL The Rev. Father Coffey thanked those who contributed to the evening's entertainment, and said he was highly gratified with the progress the Institute was making. It was decided to issue special invitations to members and their friends for the next meeting, which will be of a social character. The programme for June has been drawn up and includes a lecture by Very Rev. Father O'Neill (Milton), on the Defence of Limerick by Patrick Sarsfield.

The following clerical changes and appointments have been made in the Diocese of Dunedin by his Lordship the Right Rev. Dr. Verdon : — Rev. Father Sheehan, from Ophir to Riverton ; Rev. «iher McMullan, from Port Chalmers to Naseby ; Key. Father Jea, from Riverton to Ophir; Rev. Father Keenan, from Lawrence to Riversdale ; Rev. Father McGrath, from Gore to Port Chalmers; Rev. Father O'Malley, from Oamaru to St. Joseph's Cathedral : Rev. Father Delaney, fr m Lawrence to South Dunedin ; Rev. Father Geary, from South Dunedin to Lawrence ; llev. Father Howard returns to Oamaru from his temporary appointment at Naseby. The ordinary meeting of the Dunedin Catholic Literary Literary Society was held on Monday evening in St. Joseph's Hall. The President (Rev. Father Murphy) occupied the chair, and the attendance of members was satisfactory. A paper entitled ' Two phases of Irish wit ' was read. The writer at the outset compared true wit with what often passes for such, and strengthened his argument with quotations from the works of such writers as Sydney Smith, Selden, and Dr. Johnson. He asserted that neither study nor -Blarney stone kissing wonld bestow the gift if Dame Nature with- . held it, and claimed native originality and unstudied readiness as among the charms of the wit of Ireland. She well deserved Tom Moore's appellation, ' The land of the smile and the tear,' he said 'as even amidst the greatest misfortunes the native sprightliness of the Irishman constantly asserted itself. After supplying by way of - illustration some excellent examples, which created much merriment, the writer affirmed that Irish wit fulfilled that first essential of true fun, viz., healthful enjoyment without wounding the sensibilities of others. A very hearty vote of thanks was accorded to the writer of the paper on the motion of Mr. T. McCormaok. A farewell paper by the Rev. Father O'Donnell on ' Antiquarian Research ' will be read at the Society's next meeting. ' Some weeks ago (says the Insh People, April 14,) we had the honor of an interview with Monsignor O'Leary, of Dunedin, New Zealand Ten months ago on returning to his native place, Clondrohid, near Macroom, after an absence of 25 years, Monsignor O'Leary was 'shocked and disappointed ' to find the children growing up without a knowledge of Irish. But within even the past 10 months he has seen a great improvement, and now has great hopes of the success of the language movement, if only the people have back-bone and self-reliance, and put down their feet. The Monsignor is a cousin of Father Peter O'Leary's, and a brother of Mr. John O'Leary's, the champion Irish reciter, but he has a record of his own in Irish language matters. Over 10 years ago in Dunedin he was tho chief mover in starting an Irish language association. Another leading spirit in the same project, and the teacher of the society was the editor of the New Zealand Tabllt, M . ie rin, a nephew of Judge Perrin, a Galway-man, and a convert to the Catholic Church. The association fell to pieces upon the removal of Mr. Perrin to Australia— Father O'Leary living then at a distance from Dunedin which made his regular attend ince impossible. Father O'Leary taught the language to Father O'Neill, of Limerick, rhe pastor of Milton. New Zealand. At the church in Milton Father O'Neill recites the Rosary in Irish.' Despite the many counter attractions a very good audience was present on Thursday night in St. Joseph's Hall on the occasion of the annual entertainment in aid of the funds of the St. Vincent de Paul Society. Among those present were his Lordship Bishop Verdon, and the Rev. Fathers Murpby. Coffey. Cleary, O Donnell. The proceedings were opened by a mcelj -rendered chorus, • O restless sea,' by pupils of St. Patrick's School, South Dunedin. Mr. A. Wright gave a tine rendering of Adams's ' Flight of ag.'s," which met with due recognition. Mi*s Morrison was very successful in her song, ' Dream angels,' which was warmly applauded. Jude's fine song, ' Plymouth Sound,' was done full jubtice to by Mr. Eagar, who, in compliance with an imperative recall, gave the ever-popular ' Annie Laurie.' A similar compliment was paid Miss Marks for her singing of ' The young recruit,' her encore number being "The Swanee River.' Later on she gave a very acceptable rendering of 'The cows are in the corn,' repeating the last verse in response to an encore. Mr. ,T. Woods was very successful in his song, • Thou art my life" (Mascheroni). Miss Moloney contributed a pianoforte solo in her usual finished manner. The accompaniments were played by Miss Moloney. Mrs. J. Woods, and Miss Bush. The seoond part of the programme consisted of a little dramatic piece. ' Kathleen, or the cost of a promise,' performed by the pupils of the Convent of Mercy High School, and a very successful recitation by Master Marlow. Ths principal parts in the play were taken by Misses Brennan (2). Twomey, A. Paton, M. Sharkey, M. and N O Mahoney, Sheridan, Mcc, and R. Grindley. The following also took part: — Misses K. Meade, N. Cunningham, E' Sheridan, and M. Curran. The piece was very appropriately staged and very nicely acted. As 4 Topsy ' Miss N. O' Mahoney created great amusement. Tne performance was creditable alike to the pupils and their teachers. 'Ihe playing of the National Anthem brought the performance to a conclusion. Before the audience dispersed his Lordship Bishop Verdon' thanked those who assisted at the entertainment for their services, and paid a well-deserved meed of praise to the members of the Sr. A'incent de Paul Society who did so much for the poor and neglected.

The attention of dredging and mining companies is directed to thj* advertisement of Messrs. Cossens and Black, engineers, blackbmiths, millwrights, and ironfounders, Crawford street, Dunedin, which appears elsewhere in this ii-sue. They are manufacturers of pumping and winding machinery, hydraulic and mining plants including sluice valves, elevator castings, fluming, dredge machinery, buckets, links, and gearing of all kinds. Messrs. Coisens and Bluck have just added to their plant a wheel moulding machine, capable of making wheels up to 12ft in diameter, with any number of teeth. Having greatly enlarged their premises they are in a position to execute all orders entrusted to them with promptitude.— -„%