ARCHDIOCESE OF WELLINGTON

New Zealand Tablet, Volume XXXII, Issue 8, 25 February 1904, Page 6

ARCHDIOCESE OF WELLINGTON

(From our own correspondent.) February 20. Rev. Father Johnson, of Waipawa, left for Europe by the ' Paparoa ' on Thuisday last A bazaar will be opened at the Oddfellows' Hall, Lower Ilutt, on Monday evening next by Sir Joseph Ward to raise funds for the installation of gas in the church, presbytery and school The ladies of the parish have 'been working hard loi several months past, and a fine collection of -works of art, needlewoik, etc , will be displayed on the stalls. At the ha/f-past ten o'clock Mass on Sunday last a three weeks' mission began at the Church of the Sacred Heart There was a large congregation present A short address was given by his Grace the Archbishop, who declared the mission opened Mass was then celebrated by the Very Rev Father Lewis, V G The sermon was' pleached by Re\. Father King, CSS R. In an eloquent discourse he stated the object of the mission, and explained that the one about to be preached had the approval of his Holiness Pius X. and his Grace the Archbishop At the evening demotions the church was crowded The sermon was preached by Rev Father MacDcnnott, who spoke on the importance ol eternal safratiom . Solemn Pontifical Benediction was given by his (iiace the Archbishop, assisted by Fathers MacDermott and King The morning and evening services duiing the week have been well attended Special sen ices have also bfcen held durum the week for the children, concluding to-day with First Communion Confirmation will be administered by his Grace the Archbishop to-morrow At the Druids' Hall on Tuesday e\enmg the welcome homo tendered to Dr Cahill by his numerous friends passed oft most successfully A ropresontatne gathering was present, including members of the Ministry, representatives of the Legislature and the medical profession Dr Martin occupied the chair On Ins right were the guest of the evening, Sir J. G Ward, Very

Rev. Father Keogh (Rector oof St. Patrick's College) the Hon. T. Kennedy Macdonald, M.L.C., Dr. Collins and Mr. J. Holmes. On his left were the Right Hon the Premier, the Hon. Mr. Mills, Very Rev. Father Lewis, V.G., Mr. A. McDonald, Mr. Nicholas Keid, and Dr. Ewart. "*Th proposing the toast of ' Our Guest,' the chairman said he had known Dr. Cahill since 1884, since when he had practically lived his whole life in the full blaze of publicity, and if he had made enemies it had been the enemies' fault. He had made many friends, and those friends he made at first were now a hundredfold more his friends. In no public movement was Dr. Cahill in the rear ; in any private movement he was always in the van— but no one ever knew it. His kindness of heart and his ever-ready charity were Dr. Cahill '£ greatest commendations. Dr. Cahill, who met with a cordial reception, said he was deeply grateful and thanked them most heartily for the warm and kindly greeting they had given him. It was indeed a great pleasure to return once more to one's friends and to be greeted in such a generous manner. Dr. Cahill then proceeded to give a brief sketch of his travels through America, Canada, and the Old Country, making special reference to the wonderful scenery and almost boundless resources of Canada, and deplored that it was to such a great extent in the hands of monopolists and that it already contained a very large alien population. Regarding Ireland, he spoke with enthusiasm of the great change for the better brought about by the passing of the Land Act, and remarked that the Irish peasant was at last master of his own destinies, the shackles under which he labored were almost completely loosened, and he was now free to adopt his own methods for his own progress. The recent Land Act had done more to make friends between the English and Irish peoples than all the legislation for the past eight hundred years. Ireland, however, still needed a native Government,. He was, he said in conclusion, delighted to get back to New Zealand, and he could confidently assure them that he had seen no more beautiful, no more prosperous country than the one we had the good fortune to live in, and he was sure that no country was ever inhabited by a more kindly and generous people. In replying to the toast of ' Parliament,' proposed by Mr. J. Holmes, the Premier said it gave him great pleasure to join with them in extending a hearty ' cead mile failte 'to Dr. Cahill. He went on to compare the laws of New Zealand with the laws of those countries that Dr. Cahill had visited, urging that the curse of monopoly and the millionaire could never be experienced here, and in regard to Ireland expressed the conviction that if there had been an Imperial Council in existence the troubles that existed in Ireland would have disappeared long ago. He also suggested that the land laws of! New Zealand had had something to do with the passing of the Irish Land Act. During the evening songs and recitations were contributed by Rev Fathers Ainsworth and Moloney, and Messrs J. Holmes, J. F. Carr, J. Dykes, and Mr. Morgan. Mr If M'Keown carried out the duties of honorary secretary in an efficient manner.