Diocesan News.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume XXVIII, Issue 49, 6 December 1900, Page 5

Diocesan News.

AROHDIOOESE OP WELLINGTON. (From our own correspondent.) December 1. At St. Mary of the Angels' Church on Sunday last Miss Lili Sharp sang at* au offertory piece Gounod's ' Aye Maria,' M Bafalewski played a violin obligate, Mr. McLaughlin accompanying on the organ. The Rev. Father Tymons generously donated the proceeds from the Bale of goods left over at Palmerston bazaar to the hospital in that town. With the Government subsidy added, the funds of the institution will benefit to the extent of about £20. Rev. Father Ainsworth is finishing the mission in the Hutt distnot this week. He then goes to the West Coast to give a mission m Westport, on his way to spend Christmas with his parents in Greymouth. r Mias Gwen Flanagan has been successful in obtaining the surer medal given by the Board of the Royal Academy of Music, London, for the second highest marks obtained in the Australasian colonies for singing. Miss Flanagan is a pupil of St. Mary's Convent. At a representative meeting of Catholics held at St. Patrick's Hall on Sunday last it was decided to hold the annual picnic for the children at the Very Rev. Father Lane's grounds on Boxing Day. A strong committee was formed to draw up the sports programme The Very Rev. Father Lewis, Adm., is ohairman, and Mr. Hyland secretary. ' The ceremony of ordaining four deacons and subdeacons was performed by his Grace the Archbishop at Meanee on Friday, the feast of St. Andrew. One of the deacons to be ordained a priest to-morrow is the Rev. Francis Kerley, for many yeary a student at St. Patriok's College. He is a native of Geelong, Victoria, and a nephew of the Rev. Father Marnane, pastor of St. Mary's, Chriatchuroh. The weekly meeting of the Marist Brothers' Old Boys' Literary and Debating Sooiety was held last Thursday evening, the Rev. Father Goggan being in the chair. The evening was devoted to original papers. ' The Press of the Colony,' by Mr. McKeown, and a very able paper, ' Oar State system of Education,' by Mr. E. Fitzgibbon, caused a great deal of discussion. At the next meeting the parts will be allotted for ' Trial by Jury,' which the Society is to produce. On Sunday last Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament was held at St. Joseph's Church. A Missa Cantata waa sung by Rev. Father Hills, the choir rendering Weber's Mass in G. The soprano solos were sung by Miss Hiokling, who is at present in Wellington. At Vespers the church was well filled, the usual procession of the Blessed Sacrament taking place. Rev. Father Herbert preached an excellent sermon, taking for hia text, ' Woe to him by whom scandal cometh.' The services concluded with Benediction. Lieutenant R. W. Collins who, it will be remembered, was wounded in the left wrist at Zeerust some time ago, returned from South Africa on Wednesday. His injuries were much more Berious than previous advioes had shown. The invalided officer is fortunate in only losing the use of one finger, the army surgeons at first considering amputation of the forearm a necessity. It will be some time before he will be able to take up the commission recently offered him in the Imperial forces. The Sisters of Mercy have for some years past been laboring under the disadvantage of not having a convent attached to their school at Newtown, which is undoubtedly the most rapidly growing district of Wellington city. This long felt want has at last been supplied and a handsome two-storey building, which should admirably meet all the requirements of the nuns, has just been erected. The new convent is 40ft by 36ft and has access by both Biddiford and Daniel streets. A flight of steps leads up to the entrance hall, part of which is screened off with lead-lights and embossed glass, which enhance considerably the appearance of the place. Off the vestibule, and at the back of the reception room, is the chapel, which, besides being reserved for the devotion of the inmates, will be open to those who may desire to attend early Mass The refeotory stands to the right of the hall and is connected by means of a slide-panel with the kitchen which is fitted up in the most approved style. Conveniently situated at the back are the scullery, pantry, Btoreroom, etc., all of which are also up to date in style, An ornamental and massive staircase leads to the upper floor, where the rooms and sleeping apartments are all well lighted and ventilated — the cells number seven. Throughout the ceilings are panelled and are finished off in an artistic manner, with neatly moulded cornices in the angles. The paper on the walls is of the latest design and electric light is installed throughout. As a whole the building is unique, and reflects great oredit on those conoerned in its erection. The cost is about £ 1000. The Crown Prosecutor this week notified the withdrawal of the remaining charges against Brother Eilian in the now famous Stoke cases. The hearing of the charges against Brother Wybertus was postponed from Monday until Thursday on account of Mr Skerrett breaking his collarbone ; the result of an accident at polo last Saturday. He was, however, able to resume charge of the defence when the cases were called on. In the first charge of indecent assault against Brother Wybertus, Mr. Bell, for the Crown, asked that the Judge would direct the jury to bring in a verdict of acquittal before the evidence of the first and principal witness was oonoluded. This, he explained during the hearing of the second charge, was ' because the boy told an incredible story.' The case, therefore, on the admission of the Crown, broke down ignominiously. In the second charge of a similar nature the evidence of the prin-

cipal witness was altogether unsatisfactory. Having his attention drawn to a glaring discrepancy on what was probably the most important feature of the case between his version in the Magistrate's Court and that he had just given he said that the copy of his former evidence was wrong, and that though when after having given it, it was read over to him and he noticed the error, he never made any correction but signed it as a true copy. Counsel on each side pointed to the seriousness of the question, and the judge when summing up said that if the jury took as valid an excuse such aa that given society would never be safe. After about a quarter of an hour's consideration a verdict of ' not guilty ' was returned. In the fir't ca«e of onmmon aiwault auainßt the same accused the Crown Solicitor, after hearing the evidence of Brother Wybertus thia morning a^ain peked the Jndg-e to direot the jury to acquit. The remaining charges are to be begun on Monday.