DIOCESE OF AUCKLAND.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume XXX, Issue 37, 11 September 1902, Page 5

DIOCESE OF AUCKLAND.

(From our own correspondent.)

September 4. The St. Benedict's 'At home ' took place in St. Benedict's Hall last evening, and was a pronounced success. The annual social is fixed for Friday, October 3, in the same hall. The Very Rev. Dean Lightheart, Superior of the Maori Mission, preached an excellent sermon at St. Patrick's last Sunday evening. The Sydney steamere* freight capacity from this port is taxed just now to the utmost and weeks beforehand it is all secured to carry produce across. The San Francisco steamers are ruahed also. The eager competition for land in the province is very great just now, and the Government is very slow in meeting the demand. This week 236 i) acres were balloted for in the Waikato, and many applicants were left disconsolate. M. Mistowski, who conducts the practical musical examinations throughout the Colony for Trinity College, London, arrived by the Sierra last Monday from San Francisco. On Tuesday he lunched with his Lordship Dr, Lenihan at the palace, and yesterday began the local examinations which will terminate next Saturday.

The < Stabat Mater ' is to be given on Friday evening, September 12, at St. Patrick's Cathedral by the choir, under the conductorship of Mr P. F. Hiecocks, The eoprano solos are to be taken by Miss Lillian Tree, a vocalist of much merit who has lately come from the Old Country. The proceeds are to be devoted to the presbytery debt fund. Last Wednesday and Friday evenings in the Hibernian Hall the half-yearly meeting of the H.A.C.B. Society, New Zealand District, took place, Bro. J. B. Stead (District president) in the chair, and Bro. W. Beehan (D.V.P )in the vice-chair. There were also present — Bro. W. Kane, D.8. ; and Bro. M". J. Sheahan, DT. ; Bros. P. O'Kane, Masterton ; C. Little, Christchurch ; Whalen, Thames ; Owen Kitty, Onehunga ; D. Flynn, Gisborne ;J. Patterson, Leeston ; P. J. Nerheny, Tiniaru ; C. Sfcead, Grey mouth ; Jaincs Smith, Dunedin ; M. Carmody, New Plymouth ; John MacNamara, Napier; Y. Williams and F. Gordon, Auckland; John O'Brien. Deniston. The District officers' report phowed that the funeral fund had increased £119 18?, though £120 were paid in death claims during the half-year. The fund now stood at £4813. The management and guarantee funds were also in a flourishing condition. A new branch had been opened at Gisborne, with every prospect of success, while another was to be opened at Reetton. The report was received and adopted. The motion on the orderpaper in the name of the Christchnrch branch, viz.. ' That a scheme be deviped whereby delegates' expenpes to movable meetings be defrayed out of district funds,' was, by the permission of the meeting, withdrawn, the t-xecutive promising to bring forward a scheme to deal with the pubject. The motion for increa°e in the district secretary's salary, standing in the name of the Timaru branch, was held over for the next annual meeting. A large amount of routine business, principally concerning the Wellington branch, was discussed at some leng'h. A vote of pympathy was accorded to the Bey. Father Mulvihill, of Gisborne, on account of his severe illness, and hopes for his speedy recovery were expressed. A congratulatory motion wan passed to the recently-appointed Registrar of Fiiondly Societies, Mr George Leslie. Nominations of officers for thp ensuing term were agreed to as followe : — District presidents, Bros. W. Beehan and C. Little ; vice-presidents, Bros Littlu and Y. Willi mis ; district secretary, Bro. Wm. Kane; district treasurer, Br-i. M. J. Sheahan ; auditors, Bros. O'Meara and O Kane. It was to continue printing the half-yearly report* of meetings A vote of thanks was passed to Bro. P. O'Kane for his services a3 minutes secretary. The meeting then terminated. The members of the local branch of the H.A.C.B Society and the whole of the district officers assemble! last Sunday morning in St. Patrick's Hall and from there in their regalia they marched to the Cathedial to assist at the nine o'clock Mass and receive Holy Communion. Rev. Father Patterson, Adm., celebrate i M.it-s and his Lordship the Bis-hep attended specially to assist in the ceremony. The Bishop as Mass iproceeded explained its various parts After the first Gospel he delivered a Bhort and instructive sermon, and alluded to the presence of the Hibernians and said it was a most edifying and con-oling sight to see euch a large body of men gathered to approach the Lords Table and to proclaim publicly their love for the faith which was ever dear to the hearts of all true Catholics. He f xbort'd every young man to join this most excellent society, which cared for, as no other friendly society did, their spiritual as w< 11 as temporal rectsfntiea. After Mat-a the members returned io the hall, where the officers had provided breakfast. His I crdsbip the Bishop presided, supported on the light by the braroh's chaplain, Fatht-r Patterson, and on the left by Bro. Y. Williamn, pitsident. The district preficknt, Bro. Stead, ■was in the vice-chair and was supported by Bros. Beeban, D.V P., and D. Flynn, P. I). P. Aftfr breakfast the Bir-hop addressed the members and told them be felt a genuine pleasure in being with them that morning. It was so encouraging to their Bishop and priests and edifyirg to the congrrtgat'on. He exhorttd e^ch one present to enlist one recruic aud so rouble their membership with a little effoit Pres. Williams, vice pie*. Gordon, Bros. Stead, DP , Beehan, D.V.P. , Little, and Nerhtny, D.V P.'s also delivered shore and interesting ppeeches. The table was laid out and the members attended to by the Sisters of the Sancta Maria brant b, to whom a hearty vote of thanks was, on the motion of Pres. William?, carried by acclamation. _____^__^_^_____