OTAKI.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume XXIX, Issue 38, 19 September 1901, Page 5

OTAKI.

was filled to overflowing, large numbers being nnable to gain admission. His Grace, in the course of an eloquent sermon, expraß6ed himself as highly pleased with the result of the mission, and said it was evident the Otaki ohuroh required to be enlarged, whioh he hoped to see done before his next visit.

(From an occasional correspondent.) Last Bunday, September 8, the feast of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin, will be long remembered by the Catholics of Pukekaraka During the week a wide and easy track to the top of the historical Pukekaraka Hill had been made by voluntary labor. On Sunday afternoon the weather being very beautiful, large orowds of Catholics assembled for the purpose of taking part m the Jubilee procession. The cross-bearer and acolytes were followed by the convent school children carrying banners and several statues on nedeetals beautifully and symbolically decorated. Four tiny girls, dressed in white with veils and wreaths, carried a statue ot Our Saviour • four bigger girls also in white, carried that of the Blessed vTg™- the boys Lrifd those of the Blessed Chanel (patron of the school)' and the Sacred Heart. The children were followed by a very large number of people, and his Grace the Archbishop, accompanied by the local priests, brought up the rear of the prooession Rev. Father S. Mahoney, who possesses a beautiful voice, sang ' Faith of our fathers,' and other hymns. Arrived on the top of the hill the procession rounded the Jubilee Cross, erected seven years ago, and then walked over the hallowed ground of the first ohurch erected on this coast, nearly 60 years ago. One could not help picturing to himself how crowds of faithful Maoris, in times past squatted on the floor of their humble place of worship listening to their great and powerful missionary, Father Comte, praying and singing with a fervor unknown in our day. Several graves around th« consecrated ground bear witness to the natural Christian feeling which created in former ages the Catholic cemeteries around the ohurches. A flagstaff stands at the entrance of the old church. The procession next passed in front of the whare erected on the site of the first whare of Father Comte the founder of the Otaki mi For one who wishes to admire the works of the Almighty no better site could be selected. On one side we have the ocean, and in the distance we see the Kaikouras, Mount Egmont, Tararua, Range, and towards the north the Ruapehu Mountains. Here and there along the path heaps of broken shells (called pipi by the Maoris) remind one of past life and activity by our now silent On the side of the hill above and between the presbytery and the sohool, facing the church and convent on the flat, stands a large statue of oar Lady of Lourdes recently erected. His Grace having blessed the statue, entered the ohurch with the procession and administered the Sacrament of Confiimation to 41 candidates. Regarding the closing cf the mission the Otaki Mail says :—: — The Jubilee mission was brought to a close in Otaki on S^ay last. Mass was celebrated in the morning, and was well attended. At three o'clock in the afternoon a large concourse of people attended to witness the third and last procession, prior to the Confirmation ceremony. The sight was a beautiful and most impressive one. About 40 candidates were confirmed by the Archbishop. Both in the afternoon and at the evening service the sacred edifice