DIOCESE OF AUCKLAND.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume XXVIII, Issue 24, 14 June 1900, Page 5

DIOCESE OF AUCKLAND.

(From our own correspondent.) June 7. The Rev. Father Patterson is announced to give at a future date an organ recital at St. Patrick's. Advice has been received that Bishop Lenihan left Liverpool for New York during the first week in May, and expected to catch the Mariposa, which leaves San Francisco on June 13, and is due in Auckland on July 3. An Irish flag was displayed on [one of the principal business places in Queen street on the occasion of the celebrations in connection with the taking of Pretoria. Some miscreant tore it to shreds, and the irate owner now offers £5 for his discovery. An endeavour is being made to consolidate the Auckland Parliamentary representatives in order to advance and protect the interest of the province. On the face of it this seems an impossibility, as t'^e Government has but to sound the party tocsin, and party will most assuredly come first and province second. St. Patrick's Cathedral was crowded last Sunday evening, many were obliged to go away unable to gain admission. The Right Rev. Mgr. O'Reilly preached a very fine sermon on the gospel of the day. The choir under Mr. Hiscocks, rendered the Vesper and Benediction music most efficiently. St. Benedict's social last evening waß a pronounced success, much of which was due to the indefatigable exertions of Mr. J. J. A. Callaghan. During the evening a drawing took place for a beautiful oil painting of the late Very Rev. Mgr. McDonald, the proceeds of which are to be devoted to the new fence about to be ereoted around the fine Church of St. Benedict. The North Island Trunk Railway bobs up serenely once more, the acting Mayor, by request, having called a public meeting to discuss it to-morrow evening. Hitherto Wellington has pulled one way, favoring the central route, whilst Auckland has pulled the other, favoring the Stratford ; consequently each Government has looked quietly on ; the trunk line meanwhile hangs like Mahomet's coffin in mid air. The Rev. Father Corcoran took passage from London by the Rakaia, but at the last moment the British Government chartered the »hip to carry war material to the Cape, in consequence of which no passengers could be taken, and the Rev. Father got a refund of his passage money, and expected to get away at an early date by another ship. Father Corcoran is one of the priests selected at Home for this diocese. The ladies of the city and suburban parishes met last Sunday afternoon in the Marist Brothers' schoolroom to discuss the best means of worthily receiving the Right Rev. Dr. Lenihfcn on his arrival next month. The Right Rev. Mgr. O'Reilly presided. Those present resolved themselves into a committee and undertook the management of the conversazione to be held in St. Benedict's Hall on the evening of the day after the arrival of the Bishop. The ladies volunteered to provide the refreshments for the evening. The question of decorating the hall, and many other details were \ Harassed, after which the meeting decided to meet that Sunday afternoon fortnight The Bishop's reception by his people gives ""promise to be hearty and widespread. The Grand Jury at the recent Supreme Court Session in Auckland presented to the presiding judge a resolution deploring the depravity and immorality amongst the young children, particularly girls, and suggested very drastic measures in order to cope with the evil. This has opened the flood-gates of eloquence of the social

reformers in press and pulpit. Divers reasons are advanced for the epidemic, but only one writer, who signed himself ' Anglican,' has the courage to strike at the root of the evil— vie., ' Our secular system of education.' 'Anglican's ' effusion bore the stamp of learning and ability, but it wbb marred by aspleneticand too apparent attack upon the one Church which maxes such heavy sacrifices to combat the evil by carefully guarding and inßtructing its children. To read the multitudinous reasons adduced for this state of affairs one would conclude that all were engaged in solving a Chinese puzzle, yet the answer is in two words, * pecular education. 1 Official information arrived by the 'Frisco mail in Auckland on Wednesday, June 6. that the widely known and deservedly redacted Dean of St. Patrick's had conferred upon' htm by his Holiness the Pope the very exalted dignity of Domestic Prelate to his Holiness the Pope, with the title of Right Reverend Monsignor, When the welcome news spread throughout the city the whole Catholic community were highly gratified, and this gratification extended beyond our community, as the new Monsfgnor is respected by all classes. At the Thame s and throughout the province the news was received with pleasure Ihe Right Rev. Mgr. O'Reflly was torn in Roscarberry, County Cork, and came to Auckland whilst quite a lad. He was ordained at St Patrick's, Auckland, in the year 1866. With him was ordained the much respected Yen. Archpriett Walshe, now of Westport. He was appointed by Bishop Oroke to the charge of Coromandel parish in 1871. The late Dr. Moran appointed him to the Thames in 1878. In 1895 he Was appointed diocesan consultor, and in 1899 he was created Dean, and at the request of the Right Rev. Bishop, Dr. Lenihan, he assumed charge of St. Patrick's Cathedral during his Lordship's absence in Europe. The high title now conferred is a just and fitting reward for one who has ever worked energetically in the high and holy office to which he has devoted his life. May God spare him many years of service to the Church is the wish of his^devoted people.