DIOCESE OF CHRISTCHURCH

New Zealand Tablet, Volume XXXII, Issue 3, 21 January 1904, Page 4

DIOCESE OF CHRISTCHURCH

(From our own correspondent.) January 18. The Very Rev. Archdeacon Devoy, S.M., Provincial, is attending the clergy retreat. The ex-students of St. Patrick's College in and about Christchurch intend this week entertaining the present Rector, the Very Rev. Father Keogh, S.M. The diocesan clergy retreat was brought to a close this (Monday) morning with the customary ceremonies. The annual synodal session was opened immediately afterwards. The spacious grounds surrounding the new presbytery of St. Mary's have been tastefully laid out by Mr. J. Joyce, of Papanui. Lawns, carriage drives, shrubberies, and flower plots all contribute towards rendering' the site one of the prettiest in and around the city. On Sunday evening at the Pro-Cathedral, Miss Leonard, of Dunodin, sang in Italian with fine effect the sacred solo by Zardo, 'To the Angels.' Miss Katie Young, the Cathedral organist, played the accompaniment The outbreak of smallpox in the city furnishes in outside matters the chief topic of the week, daily, and even hourly, since the first case came to light, as each batch of infected or contacts are discovered and dispatched to the infectious diseases hospital or quarantine at Bottle Lake, the excitement increases What puzzles most people is the fact that in a healthy and open city like Christchuich the dreaded disease should get a hold, whereas in the overcrowded slums of cities like Sydney and Melbourne one does not hear of it breaking out. People here are rushing wildly for vaccination, and probaht'y one result of the scare will be that a great proportion of the two thuds of children annually registered but not vaccinated will be operated upon Owing to the outbreak no usitors are permitted at the hospital or asylum at present. The Chief Health officer, Dr. Mason, is reported to ha\e said :' We have a big job on hand, but with the powers we possess and the ready assistance of the Oity Council we are getting on very well, and there is nothing to worry about ' Many visitors to the city have packed up and cleaied out, and no doubt the, tourist traffic, just now as its zenith, will be \ery materially affected. This fact, so far as Christchurch is locally concerned, is unfortunate. There were Pontifical Vespers in the Pro-Cathedral on Sunday e\emng His Lordship the Bishop was celebrant. The Bishop imparted the episcopal blessing and afterwards addressed the congregation. He gave a general retrospect ,of diocesan affairs during the year. Speaking of the retreat, he was gratified at the increased number of priests, secular and regular, now in the diocese, all of 'whom were present excepting three, who were absent by permission of their ecclesiastical 1 uperiors Referring, to special works in the diocese, his Lordship expressed admiration and appreciation of the noble mission in progress at Mount Magdala. The devoted Sisters of the Good Shepherd there were doing a work of God in the salvation of souls Ho an extent that few of his hearers probably realised. Reference was made to another great work of charity soon to 'be undertaken, that of the home for the aged poor, foundlings, and incurables. As previously announced, a suitable

habitation has already been secured, and those to take charge (the Sisters of Nazareth) had written to him announcing that all on their part was prepared, the only delay to their departure being the approaching chapter of the Order. His Lordship gave some interesting particulars regarding the cathedral and quoted figures to show that up to the end of last year the subscriptions amounted to just upon £31,000. Of this huge amount about £23,000 had been received in actual cash. He gave a warm tribute of ,pradse to the contractors (Messrs. J. and W. Jameson), of whom he had the kindest possible things to say. He was convinced that their interest in the construction of the cathedral was truly a labor of love ; the conscientious methods adopted and their closest attention to the smallest detail proved that it held a secondary place in their minds as a business venture.