DIOCESE OF DUNEDIN.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume XXVIII, Issue 24, 14 June 1900, Page 17

DIOCESE OF DUNEDIN.

The quarterly meeting of the Sfc. Patrick's Altar Society, South Dunedin, waa held on June 3. There was a good attendance of members, and the usual routine of business for the quarter decided upon. This admirable society is to be commended for the many good works done in the matter of church decoration. A concert and social are to be held at Naumann's Hall, South Dunedin, on the 29th inst., in aid of the organ fund for St. Patrick's Basilica. Great credit is due to Messrs. M. Tynan and G. Neill for their exertions in collecting on behalf of the fund. They have so far been very successful in their undertaking, and with the proceeds from the concert and social it is anticipated that the fund will be considerably augmented. A very pleasing musical evening was given on Friday week by the Children of Mary at South Dunedin as a mark of appreciation and esteem to one of their number (Miss M. A. Tierney) previous to her departure for Broken Hill, where she has decided to enter the Order of the Sisters of Mercy. This young lady has always taken an active interest in the working of the various religious associations in South Dunedin, and especially the care of the young children when attending Holy Mass and Catechism. She carries with her the fervent wishes of her friends that she may be spared for many years to labor in the good work of the Sisters.

The Rev. Father Delaney who has been officiating in this district for the past two years or more (says the Tuapelta Times'), left Lawrence for South Dunedin on Tuesday, where he is now stationed. Father Delaney's duties as a clergyman while in Lawrence were largely confined to the outside districts, and he had, in consequence, a good deal of travelling in all kinds of weather to do, and generally this work was of a very arduous nature. The suddenness of his departure prevented the Catholic people of Lawrence and of the outßide districts from giving practical testimony of the esteem in which he was held and of showing their appreciation of his labors on their behalf. We understand, however, it is intended to take an early opportunity of doing so when the rev. gentleman will be invited to Lawrence to meet his friends and former parishioners. The weekly meeting of the Dunedin Catholic Literary Society was held in St. Joseph's Hall on Monday evening, the 11th inst. A very large number of lady visitors responded to the Committee's invitation and Rev. Father Murphy presided. The debate on the question ' that the Irish soldiers are the best in the world ' was opened in the affirmative by Mr. John Hally supported by Messrs. H. McCormack and Patrick Hally. The negative side was represented by Messrs. T Hussey, T. Drumm, H. Miles, and Edgar Bush. Although the merits of English, French, German and Russian soldiers came in for much commendation yet the discussion was eventually narrowed to a choice between the Scotch and the Irish and an amendment to substitute ' Celtic ' for ' Irish ' in the motion was lost and the original motion carried by a small majority. The resignation of the Secretary was accepted and Mr. Harry McCormack appointed to the position. The Society's journal will be read at next meeting. Our Queenstown correspondent writes : — A few lines regarding Catholic matters in this district might be of interest to your readers. Mr. Patrick McNamee has donated two acres of land as a site for a Catholic church at Garston, and £20 towards its erection. Other subscriptions received bring up the amount on hand to £100. Plans and specifications for the building are being prepared by Mr. Petre, architect, Dunedin, and it is expected operations will begin early in spring. — At Cardrona the hall which had hitherto been used for church purposes has been sold, and a new church is to be built similar in design to that about to be erected at Garston. Building operations will commence immediately after the winter. — At present workmen are engaged in erecting a new porch and finishing off the interior of the church at Arrowtown. When these improvements have been effected the church will present a very attractive appearance, and will be one of the most complete for its size of any m the diocese. The Catholics of Port Chalmers held a social gathering in the parish Bchoolroom on Wednesday evening of last week for the purpose of bidding farewell to the Rev. Father McMullan, who had been their pastor for the past three years. There was a very good attendance. Mr. A. Smith, on behalf of the congregation, expressed their regret at the departure of Father McMullan, who had endeared himself to all. The Catholics of the Port, said Mr. Smith, could not allow their pastor lo leave without some tangible expression of their esteem, and he had much pleasure in presenting a purse of sovereigns and an illuminated address. Father McMullan, in returning thanks for the address and gift, briefly reviewed the work that he had done during his three years' residence amongst them — a work which was due in a great measure to the loyal assistance rendered by the congregation. He assured them that Port Chalmers ocupied a warm place in his heart, and that he would ever remember the kindness of the people. During the evening several songs were excellently rendered, and the gathering broke up with the singing of ' Auld lang syne.' The Very Rev. Father O'Neill, of Milton, provided the members of the bouth Dunedin Literary Institute with an intellectual treat at the lecture given by him on ' The Defence of Limerick by Patrick Sarsfield.' The rev. lecturer traced the various events of those stirring times from the Boyne and Aughrim to the siege of Limerick in such a graphic and masterly manner as to show his hearers that Irish history was a subject that received careful study at his hands. Being a native of the City of the Violated Treaty, Father O'Neill was enabled to thoroughly enlighten his audience as to the various places of interest where Sarsfield and his brave comrades time after time repelled the well-disciplined Williamite army in their attacks on the city. The rev. lecturer also mentioned that Sarsfield was assisted by Brigadier Wauchope during the siege. General Wauchope, lately killed in the Transvaal War, was a descendant of the latter, and while stationed in Limerick a few years ago took a great interest in tracing out the old landmarks where the defenders most heroically held the invaders in check. Several amusing stories were told during the course of the lecture in Father O'Neill's well-known racy style. A hearty vote of thanks waß accorded the lecturer on the motion of Mr. W. Carr. )The Rev Father Coffey presided.