PRESENTATION TO FATHER MAHONEY, THAMES.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume XXIX, Issue 11, 14 March 1901, Page 6

PRESENTATION TO FATHER MAHONEY, THAMES.

On the evening of February 24 an address and purse of sovereigns were presented at St Francis's Churoh, Thames, to the Rev. Father Mahuney by Mr. J. M. Foy on behalf of the congregaticn. Father Mahoney (says the local Star) holds a large place in the affections of his people and in the estimation of the general public. Mr. Foy made a few introductory remarks and then read the following address :—: —

* Dear Rev. Father, — We, the Catholics of the Thames, assemble here to-night to express our Borrow at your departure from as, and to wish you every happiness in the new and extended sphere of usefulness to which the voice of God, in that of your superiors, has i appointed you. During the short space of time in which, owing to 'the absence of our revered pastor on a more important mission, the care of this parish was assigned to yon, we have seen how nobly and faithfully the onerous duties which that charge entailed have been discharged by you. Your prisstly example has during these two years been the gliding star of those who outside the Sanctuary gates strive for the heavenly crown, and your kindly words Lave never failed to cheer thow» who have toiled with you, to comfort those on whom God's chastening hand has been laid, and to reclaim to His love and service the erring children of our holy mother the Church. Whilst assuring you of our hearty appreciation of theee services and wishing you many years of health and happiness to continue your noble work, we wish also to assure ourselves of your kindly remembrance by your acceptance of the accompanying purse of sovereigns as a token of our good wishes in your regard, which will, we hope, often remind you also of praying for every temporal and spiritual blessing for your devoted children, the Catholics of the Thames.' With the address Mr. Foy handed a purse to Rev. Father Mahoney, which was well filled with sovereigns. In the course of his reply Father Mahoney said that he was afraid that the Catholics of the Thames were giving him credit for far more than he deserved, as they must not forget that when he oame here he found he would have no difficulties to contend with, for owing to the administration of Monsignor O'Reilly everything was in perfect order, and bo the kindly construction they placed on his efforts was perhaps not so well merited as it would be if the progress of the parish were due to his own initiative. He had come to the Thames with most pleasant anticipations of his stay here, which had been most fully realised, for everybody he met in Auckland who knew the Thames and knew he was coming, promised him that he would like his sojourn among the people of the district. One of the last persons he spoke to before leaving was an Anglican olergyman of his acquaintance, formerly stationed here, who assured him that he would like the iThames people of all classes and creeds, and he now found that after a stay of two years that such was indeed the case, for he could not wish to dwell among a more friendly and sociable class of people on the whole than those of the Thames, and he could quite understand Father O'Reilly's reluctance to leave them. What he appreciated most about the address and presentation was the cheerful and spontaneous manner in which they were given, and that his people should have shown their esteem for him in such a substantial way considering the short time he was among them. He would never forget their kindness wherever he might be, and hoped that he might yet be permanently located among them. On Friday, March 1 (writes a correspondent), the pupils attending the Convent High School met in the schoolroom to say 'good-bye ' to the Rev. Father Mahoney, who had been in charge of the Thames parish during the past two years. A 9 a small token of tbeir gratitude and esteem they presented him with a handsome reading lamp, and an address was read by Miss Nelly McDonnell, in which the children expressed their sorrow at having to s-ay farewell to one in whom they had always found the kindest of friends and wisest of counsellors. They hoped he would carry with him many a pleasant memory of the Thames, and as they wished also to be kindly remembered by him, they trusted their little gift would serve to brighten many a dam hour, and be a constant and cheerful reminder of the many little friends who would treasure his memory at the Thames. In reply, the Rev. Father thanked them from his heart for their beautifully worded address, and assured them that their trif t would be highly treasured by him and would constantly remind him of the many bright hours he had spent with them. Aleo that he could find no words to express fittingly his gratitude to their parents and themselves for their great generosity towards him, and that in return he could only pray for every blessing for them. After giving his benediction to them he bade farewell to each child and left by the afternoon boat for Auckland. Crowds of people assembled at the wharf to say a last farewell to the Rev. Father, who during his stay at the Thames had endeared himself to all classes and creeds. The Right Rev. Mgr. O'Reilly is expected back at the Thames in a few weeks, and until his return the parish will be served by different priests from Auckland

During the Pontificate of Leo XIII. — 1878 to 1900— no fewer than 134 of the Cardinals have died. Only four still live who were his fellow Cardinals under his predecessor, Pius IX. One applicant for an old age pension at Bendigo, Victoria, in giTing evidence as to his antecedents, claimed to be a nephew of William IV., and stated that his father was the British admiral who first planted the Union Jack on the Island of Ceylon. He was granted a pension of 5s per week. Bishop Gaughran, who died recently at Kimberley, South Africa, and whose name was prominently before the public during the siege, was a distinguished member of the Oblates. Dr. Ganghran, who was a powerful and brilliant preacher and a devoted Prelate, was also a very effective platform speaker and an ardent advocate of Home Rule. So far back as September, 1887, when Bishop of Kimberley, he not only attended but spoke at a great mass meeting of Irishmen in favor of Home Rule which had been convened to hear an address on ' An Irish National Cause ' from Mr. Swift MacNeill. It was then stated, and the statement was not traversed, that Dr. Gaughran had broken the record in being the first Colonial Bishop who had addressed the audience from the platform in favor of Home Rule.