DIOCESE OF CHRISTCHURCH.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume XXX, Issue 49, 4 December 1902, Page 5

DIOCESE OF CHRISTCHURCH.

(From ou» owo correspondent.) December 1. His Lordship the Bishop was at Rakaia on Sunday last, and next Sunday will lay the foundation stone of the new church at St. Andrew^s, South Canterbury A bazaar at Aldington in aid of the building fund of the new school is to be opened on Tuesday by his Lordship the Bishop and will be continued over the two following days. The Rev. Father Buckley, of Auckland, arrived in Christchurch during the week, after an extended tour of the South Sea Islands and Australia. Ha was the guest of the Very Rev. Father Ginaty at Mount Magdala over Sunday.

Congregational singing" is to be introduced, commencing on next Friday, at the monthly meetings of the Sacred Heart Society in the Pro-Cathedral. The circles are steadily increasing in number, and the Ilev. Father O'Connell, spiritual director, is sanguine that the confraternity will flourish and reach that point of success which it has reached m other large centres. The arrangements are well advanced for the Christchurch Catholic Club's excursion to and picnic at Rhodes Bay on Anniversary Day, December 16th. By present indications it promises to be very largely attended and likely to assume the proportions of a General Catholic gathering. The reasonably small outlay of half-a-crown covers all individual expense. Regarding the elections wo have, on the whole, a good deal of cause for satisfaction both in the city and province. If we haven't been the means of helping to elect many friends we have at least aided in returning to obscurity a few avowed and unrelenting enemies, notably among whom is the late member for Ashley, who was left far down the poll in the new electorate of Hurunui. A match was played between St. Mary's and East Belt Methodist Cricket clubs on Saturday' at the Richmond Domain, and resulted in a win for St. Mary's Club by 12 runs. The following were the scores :— St Mary's, 42 and 58 (McNamara 39) ; East Belt, 10 and 78 (Dean 38 and Goodman 15 not out). B. Hart C Sullivan, and W. Brown bowled well for St. Mary's' while Goodman and King trundled for the losers ' During the course of his remarks at Masa in the Pro - Cathedral on Sunday the Rev Father O'Connell drew attention to the dilapidated state of many of the graves in the Barbadoes street cemetery. Although) now but very rarely interments take place there, still it was painful* to see the sad, neglected state of the last resting places of those dear departed ones, whose bodies in life were temples'of the Holy Ghost. In marked contrast appeared the graves of those of other denominations, which denoted the tender and loving care bestowed upon them feo far as we are concerned, it is obvious that want of thought rather than wilful disregard is accountable in a great measure for such apparent omission. On Thursday evening last St. Patrick's boys' schoolroom Barbadoes street, was crowded on the occasion of an entertainment organised by the Catholic Club for the purpose of raising funds to renew the furniture and other requisites for the girls' parochial school, under the control of the Sisters of Our Lady of Missions Amonir those present were his Lordship the Bishop, the Very Rev. Father Le Menant des Chesnais, V.G., Rev Fathers Marnane, McDonnell, and O'Connell. The following programme was admirably carried out, to the evident satisfaction of the large gathering, frequent recalls moving how well the efforts of those taking part were appreciated. Overture, march, 'The cowboy,' Geoghegan's Orchestra ; song, ' The heavenly song,' Miss A. WcLaughlan ; song, 'The yeoman's wedding song' Mr E McNamara ; humorous dialogue, ' The soldier boy's re^

turn,' Misses Kate Haughey and Katie G op-Tin (convent ?? T upi i^ '- \ ecl }^ t tin'? n ' ' The piece oi weddinrr cake, 1 Misses N. Aldrick, R. Nelson, N. Cronin, A. Clark N Waestaff I. Dunphy, M. Cowell, E. and K. Hannah' fennvent pupils) ; song, Mr. W. McKay ; selections, Edison's latest gramaphone ; son?, ' Ncrvana,' Mr. C. Iteid • sonff ' r l he mission of the rose,' Miss \niy Carter . recitation' ' The little girls best friend,' Misses 1.. Foote and M O'Rlalley (convent pupils) ; song, ' The Matador ' Mr F Evans ; pianoforte duet, ' Don Pasquale.' Misses Picken ?,? ,M^ sko ( conv ent pupils ; recitation (humorous^ Mr W. McKinney duet, 'In the dusk of twiliirht,' Misses C! Puncan and M. Loader ; cornet solo, ' Cleopatra ' Mr Chas. Ueosfhegan . exhibition, ' plijsical ('.enelopVnt ' The accompaniments were played by Miss Finibton and Mr J. F. Shanley was stage manager Much credit i<* due to the joint secretaries, Messrs. G. Dohbs and 1' McAnally. who were untiring in the efforts to make the entertainment the unqualified success it pro\ ed Apologies were received from Mis.ses render and McAnallv who hoped to have tak/en part in the Concert, but weie unable to do so.