DIOCESE OF AUCKLAND

New Zealand Tablet, Volume XXIX, Issue 38, 19 September 1901, Page 6

DIOCESE OF AUCKLAND

September 12.

(From our own correspondent.) September 12. Hia Lordship the Bishop haa been among the victims of the influenza epidemic. He had a Bevere attack, bat is now, happily, oonvalescent. Mother Borgia, of the Sisters of Meroy, if, I regret to say, dangerously ill. This pood Sister came to Auckland in the early sixties and has labored incessantly in our midst for the good of others ever since. Dr. Darby is attending her unremittingly. A poll of the municipal ratepayers took place yesterday, when authority was given to the Corporation to (1) properly eq'iip the oity fire brigade, (2) procure a destructor, (3) erect larger abattoirs, (4) new water supply, Qo) pave Queen street. The proposils for the erection of a town hall and two purchases of land in the heart of the oity were decisively negatived. That our schools did well under the Government inspectors is beyond doubt. The chief Inspector, Mr. Petrie, however, saw fit to write to the Education Board and pointed out that the ' class subject* — science and history — were almost neglected in the Catholic schools, and asked the Board to communicate this fact to the manager of the said schools.' The reading of this communication caused one of tne member's, Mr. Lamb, whose pationymic misfits him, to say : ' This is a serious matter, and shown that those attending Roman Catholic schools do not receive the same instruction as those in the public schools.' Now, considering that science and history are not pass subject?, the above is a positive slander upon our schools. The success won by them is accountable for the display, no doubt. A paltry and mean attitude to take up. The half-yearly meeting of the N Z. District, No. 3, H.A.C.B. Society was held last evening in the Hibernian Hall. The D.V.P. Bro. Stead, in the unavoidable absence of the D.P., Bro. M. O'Sullivau, presided. Ihe funeral fund amounted to £4513 U Id, and, though the abnormal sum of £120 was paid in funeral cKim->, for the last six month*, a balance of £108 reculted. The management fund showed a balance of over £40. A loug correspondence was read from the new E. D. in Sydney, which evoked a long discussion. It was eventually decided to leave the question of recognising the new executive in abeyance, and to allow the branches to consider the matter. Reference was made to the inauguration of three new branches — viz., St. Patrick's (Waimate), St. Columbkille's (Denniston). and St. Canioe's (Westport). Regarding the two last-named, Bro. W. Beehan, P.D.P., Timaru, moved and Bro. W. Kane, D.S., seconded that this District Board accords its hearty appreciation and thanks to Bro. M. J. bheahan, D.T., for his efforts in establishing St. C.olambkille's and St. Canice's branches at Denni&ton and Westport. Bro. Sheahan suitably responded, and said the greatest thanks were doe to the Yen. Archpriest Walshe, of Weetport, and to Eev. Father

Coetello for their valuable assistance in this matter. Upon the motion of ,Bro. P. J. Nerheny, Auckland, the secretary was directed to convey the Board's thanks to the two rev. gentleman. The following offloers were nominated for next term :— President, Bros. Stead and O. Little ; vice-president, Bro. W. Beehan ; secretary Bro. W. Kane ; treasurer, Bro. M. J. Sheahan ; auditors, Bros. F. J O Meara and P. O'Kane. The meeting closed at 1 1 p.m. The Jubilee ordered to be celebrated by his Holiness the Pope in every diocese throughout the world, and whioh was oommenced last year in Rome with great pomp and splendor, to inaugurate the new century, was begun last Sunday at St. Patrick's Cathedral. It is necessary that a special visit be paid to four ohurohes upon one day. This is to be repeated three times. St. Patrick's parishioner! gathered at the Cathedral at 2 p.m., mustering fully 1000. Rev. Father Patterson, Adm., assisted by Rev. Fathers Moore and Buokley, conducted a short service Five Piter and Ayes were unitedly recited for the intentions of the Holy Father, Leo XIII., aftei two hymns were sang to the Blessed Saorament and the Sacred Heart of Jesus. The vast congregation then filed out of the church, and, headed by the olergy, proceeded via Hobson street to St. Benedict's, where Rev. Father O'Hara, of that parish, joined those from the Cathedral. Father Patterson again conducted the service, after whioh the vast concourse proceeded to the Sacred Heart Church, Ponsonby, thenoe to St. Mary's Convent Chapel, in both of whioh the same servioe was gone through. Before dispersing, Father Patterson addressed his people and thanked them heartily for the splendid manner in whioh they had responded to the oall of their priests, and hoped that on next Bunday and the following even better results would be shown. As St. Patrick's people were leaving the oonvent grounds the parishioners of Parnell entered, headed by the altar boys. Rev. Father Kehoe was in charge of his people. They first held a service in their own church of St. John's, Parnell, and then proceeded to St Patrick's, St. Mary's Convent Chapel, and, finally, to the Sacred Heart Church. In the evening, at tit Patrick's, the Rev. Father Benedict, 0.P., prefaced his discourse by saying that his Lordship, Dr Lenihan, had directed him to tell them that he (the Bishop) had experienced the greatest satisfaction at seeing the large number who that afternoon had given suoh a noble exhibition of Faith. The Rev. Father Benedict then preached a splendid sermon on ' Devotion to the Holy Cross.' He dwelt on the antiquity of this devotion, and scouted the ridiculous assertion that it had emanated from the middle ages. He instanced the ruling lately given by an English judge in a case of Ritualism brought before him. He concluded by exhorting them all to love and cherish and treasure the Cross, the emblem of man's salvation. It was a magnificent discourse, and made a deep and lasting impression upon those who had the good fortune to hear it.