DIOCESE OF DUNEDIN.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume 07, Issue 23, 7 June 1900, Page 18

DIOCESE OF DUNEDIN.

Pontifioal High M«sg wag celebrated by his Lordship Bishop <?etdon*t Sr. Joseph's Cathedral on Sunday, the Feast of Pentecost. The Rev. Father Murphy was deacon ; Rev. Father O'Malley, subfietoota ; and Rev. Father Cleary, assistant priest. The Rev. Father Mnrpby preached a sermon appropriate to the feaßt. The mnsic of the Mess was admirably given by the choir under the leadership of Mr. W.T; Ward,. Mr. Vallis presiding at the organ. The soloists were Misses Rose Blaney and M. Drumm, and Messrs. W. Woods and Carotin. Ottb Waitahuna correspondent writes :— On Sunday last Mass was celebrated here by the Very Rev. Moneignor O'Leary, this being hitt first visit since his return from Europe. Needless to tay he received a hearty welcome from his flock. Monsignor O'Leary expressed his satisfaction wifch the progress made during his absence by the choir, under the direction of Mr. Kirby. Instead of a sermon at Maw he gave an interesting account of his travels from the- time be left Dunedin on his homeward trip until he arrived in San Francisco. Monaignor O'Leary intimated that he would continue the subjeot on a future occasion.

A concert and social will be given in Naumann's Hall, South Dunedin, on June 29, in aid of St. Patriok's Basilica organ fund. A meeting of the Catholics of Dunedin is being called by his Lordship the Bishop for Wednesday evening next to take steps to utilise St. Joseph's Hall to the best advantage. The hon. secretary of the Father Sheehan Testimonial Committee wires as follows : — ' A splendid banquet was tendered to Father Sheehan at Ophir on Monday night, the 4th inst., on the occasion of his departure to take charge of the parish of Riverton. At the same time a valuable presentation of over a hundred guineas was made to him a« a testimony of the good-will of the people among whom he has so long lived and labored. The whole affair was a pronounced success ' The Rev. E. P. O'Donnell, who for the past eighteen months had been attached to Stt Joseph's Cathedral parish, left Dunedin en route for Bathurst, New South Wales, on Thursday morning. Father O'Donnell was to stay for a few days with his brother, Rev. Father P. O'Donnell, at Gore, before catching the steamer leaving the Bluff on Tuesday for Melbourne. At the social tendered Father O'Donnell by the Cathedral ohoir the evening prior to his departure from Dunedin he was presented with a combined pen and pencil cose. The presentation was made in a very appropriate speech on behalf of the choir by Mr Carolin. Father O'Donnell, in returning thanks, said he would carry away with him from Dunedin the warmest feelings of gratitude to the people for the many kindnesses he had received at their hands. Tbe members of the South Dunedin Literary and Social Institute and a number of their friends enjoyed a very social evening on the 30th ult., games of various descriptions pleasantly helping to pass the time. The Rev. Father Coffey assisted materially in making the meeting a succees, and at its conclusion thanked the visitors for their attendance. The Rev. Father also made allusion to the departure of Father Geary for the Lawrence district, saying that he felt extremely pleased with the energy and zeal displayed by Father Geary during his residence at South Dunedin. Father Geary, who by his unassuming manner had made himself very popular with the members of the congregation, and taken a great interest in the working of the parish and also the newly-formed Institute, has left for Lawrence, where he will assist Monsif nor O'Leary. He carries with him the best wishes of the members of St. Patrick s for his future welfare. The weekly meeting of the Dunedin Catholic Literary Society Was held on Monday evening, the 4th inst. The president (Rev. Father Murphy) occupied the chair. Mr Leo Pastorelli contributed one of Thackeray's inimitable readings with good effect, and the members seemed also well pleased with the delivery of a recitation from ' Macbeth 'by Mr. James Hill. A paper by the Rev. Father E. P. O'Donnell, entitled 'Advantages of Antiquarian Research,' waa read. The writer gave Egypt the credit of offering the widest and most varied field for the antiquary, as out of the soil of that once marvellously cultivated country excavations had proved the truth of the assertion that ' there ia nothing new under the sun.' The inseparable connection between the Btudy of antiquities and that of history was clearly shown. Ireland, ' the land of the saint and the sage,' as a fruitful field for the antiquarian was also discussed, and the labors of O'Clery, Petrie, Donovan, Wakeman, and Dc Comerford, received their due acknowledgment. The Rev. Father was accorded a hearty vote of thanks for his scholarly paper on Mr. H Miles'a motion. The question ' That Irish soldiers are the best in the world ' will form the subject of debate for next meeting.