ARCHDIOCESE OF WELLINGTON

New Zealand Tablet, Volume XXXII, Issue 1, 7 January 1904, Page 5

ARCHDIOCESE OF WELLINGTON

(From our own correspondent.) January 2. A mission will 'be given at the Church of the Sacred Heart in February. The Very Rev. Father Keogh, of St. Patrick's College, left for the south on Thursday. The retreat for the priests of the archdiocese will be preached by Rev. Father O'Danmell. It begins on February 3. Rev. Father Serv&jean, of Blenheim, who is taking a' brief and well-earned rest, passed through Wellington on his way north on Wednesday last. The retreat for the Sisters of St. Mary's Convent is being preached this week by Very Rev. Father O'Farrell. A picnic of the Hutt parishioners was held at Father Lane's grouadß on New Year's Day and proved a most successful gathering. The Hutt Band played selections of music throughout the day and a capital programme of sports was carried out. The following gentlemen of the committee rendered valuable assistance during the day : Messrs. P. Casey (hon- sec.), W. Neazor, J. Duggjan, E. Hayes, D. Connolly t E. De Rosa, C. O'Connell, and J. Rosengrave. The annual picnic of the Christian Doctrine Society was held at Seatown on New Year's Day. The party left town by the 9 a.m. boat and were accompanied by the priests from the^Newtown and Te Aro parishes. All kinds of games were indulged in during the day, including a ladies' cricket match. Luncheon was served in the priest's house and the prizes given by Rev. Father O'Shea for the best currant a£d plain cake were won by Misses Hackett and Lawlor. The picnickers returned to town in the evening after spending a most enjoyable day. The annual picnic for the schoolchildren took place on Boxifcg Day at Belle Vue Gardens and proved one of the most successful yet held. Fully 3000. persons visited the grounds during the day, including the priests from the different parishes. At 8.30 a.m. about 800 children assembled in Boulcott street and marched in procession, headed hly Jupp's Band, to the Te Aro Railway Station. There they were joined by the Newtown children, and at the Thorndon Station by the children from that parish. The beautiful gardens and grounds were thrown open to the picnickers, and in an adjoining paddock the programme of sports was carried out. The chief interest of the day was centred in the tugt-of-war between teams from Te Ato, Newtown, Thorndon, Petone, and the Hutt paxished. The Te Aro team holds the cup for this year. Mr. John Hyland was an active secretary for tihe picnic , Mr. P. Guthrie acted as starter ; Mr. J. Doyle was referee in the tugs-of-war ; Mr. J. Curran was the judge 1 of the dancing, which was carried' out under the direction of a sub-committee consisting of Messrs. D. R. Lawlor and B. Nolan, Messrs. Lawlor and Jeremiah Nash supplying the music. Other members of the committee who rendered valuable service were Messrs. J. J. Dougherty, Hill, Waite, Roughsedge, Murphy, and Feeney.