DIOCESE OF AUCKLAND.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume XXXI, Issue 35, 27 August 1903, Page 6

DIOCESE OF AUCKLAND.

(From our own correspondent.) August 20. The ' Te Deum ' was sung in St. Patrick's last Sunday evening in thanksgiving for the election of his Holiness Pope Pms X. The half-yearly meeting of the New Zealand No. 3 District Board of the H.A.C.B.S. is fixed for Wednesday evening. On Sunday next his Lordship the Bishop will visit Onehunga, the parish over which the venerable Monsignor Paul, V.G., has to long and faithfully presided, when the Sacrament of Confirmation will be administered. I regret to say that his Lordship is far from well, and his devoted priests and people pray that he may be soon restored to health and strength. On Sunday there was Solemn High Mass at St. Benedict's, Rev. Father Furlong being .celebrant, Rev. Father Tormey deacon, and Rev. Father Gillan, sub-deacon. The music was Haydn's Imperial Mass, which was done full justice to by the choir. There was Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament from Mass until Vespers, and in the evening there was a renewal of baptismal vows. The Austrian Consul in Auckland notifies his countrymen, through the local press, that on next Sunday the 1 Te Dcum ' will be sung at St. Patrick's in honor of the anniversary of the birth of their present Emperor, Francis Joseph, and inviting them all to be present on the occasion. The Hon. Wm. Beehan, M.L.C., District President H.A.C.B. Society, left Auckland for Wellington last Sunday. He will open the new branch of the Society in Palmerston North on Sunday next, 23rd inst. It is to be hoped that Wanganui will fall into line, and once more establish a branch of the Society. The Royal yacht squadron, of Auckland, last week cabled to Sir Thomas Lipton, New York, wishfng success to his racer the Shamrock 111. in the forthcoming contest for the American Cup. The cable was sent in the fine old Irish tongue, and on Saturday Sir Thomas cabled in reply, and heartily thanked the Club for their good wishes and kind thoughtfulness. The thirtieth anniversary of the local branch of the H A C.B Society was fittingly celebrated by a most successful ball, which was held in the Hibernian Hall last Fridayi evening The net proceeds were devoted to the new Marist Brothers' College. The hall was nicely decorated, while the table was all that could be desired.

Bros. Gordon, Stead, and Prince admirably performed the duties of M.C.'s. The committee comprised Bros. Little, Kane, Watson, Buckley, Flynn, and Kelly. Bro. V.* W, Williams, as,hon. sec. to the committee, was indefatigable in carrying out his onerous duties. , mu A contribut °r in yesterday's ' Herald,' writing on The Anglican Church,' concluded thus : « His (Bishop Neligan's) strictures re contributing to the Church are only to be responded to when the laity are assured of the loyalty of the bishops- and clergy of the Church to the doctrines and practice of the Church.' Here is custom reversed and theology propounded from the pew instead of the pulpit.

Sunday trams is the engrossing question in city and suburbs now. The Tram Company, according to their terms of agreement with suburban boroughs, are enabled to run the cars through the said boroughs, but must stop at the city boundaries. In the city busses are allowed to run, but not electric cars. Hence the company run busses to the city boundary and connect with the cars. The Nonconformists are up in arms against introducing what they term ' the Continental Sunday ' ; while the Rev. Father Gillan, of St. Benedict's, has written to the manager of the Tram Company congratulating him upon inaugurating Sunday cars ; the manager, in turn, communicated to the press Father Gillan's opinions.