DIOCESE OF CHRISTCHURCH

New Zealand Tablet, Volume XXXII, Issue 15, 14 April 1904, Page 6

DIOCESE OF CHRISTCHURCH

(From our own correspondent.) April 12. The Very Rev. Dean Foley returned to Oh<ri&tch,urch last week and intends visiting the Very Rev. Dean Smyth prior to the latter leading the Colony on a journey to Europe. St. Mary's Church, Manchester street, was very tastefully adorned for the Easter festival 1 . Solemn High Mass was celebrated at 11 'o'clock by tlhe Rev. Fattier O'Dwyer, w&o also preached. Owing to the recently expressed desire of his Holiness the Pope in regard, to church music, Dumont's Mass was suing by tlhe choir on the occasion. Mr. W. H. Corrigan conducted and Mr. G. R. Fleming was at the organ. The Rqv. Father Marnane preached at Vespers. His Lordship the Bishop and Rev. Father Price were at Hanmer last week. Whilst there the Bishop intended giving an illustrated lecture on Venice, in aid of tlhe building fuwd of the local Catholic church. This lecture, into which many beautiful views are introduced, including one of St. Mark's, was given some years ago by the Bishop in this city. Since then, of course, the accession of his present Holiness the Pope, whose patriarchal city was that of tine ' Ojueen of t<he Adriatic,' ad#s greatly to the interest of the event. In apologising for absence from the valedictory banquet to Lord Ranfurly by the citizens last week, his Lortdship Bishop Girimes, in a letter to the Mayor, paid the following tribute to the Governor and Lady Ranfurly : — ' Dear Sir,— Unavoidable absence from Christchurch this week prevents my presence at the farewell gathering in honor of his Excellency the Governor. I regret this the more that I should have been glad, had the occasion occurred, to express my real sorrow at the approaching departure of one wto has proved himself, not alone t?he most popular, but one of the most painstaking Governors New Zealand has ever had. No representative of our gracious Sovereign has kept more in touch with all classes of the community. Not to mention any other work in which Lord Ranfurly has shown great interest, the noble work of the Veterans' Home will, I am confident, be a standing memorial of his successful efforts on behalf of the needy and most deserving. The deep knowledge acquired by trying journeys in parts of the Colony hitherto considered almost inaccessible cannot but be of invaluable service to New Zealand whan his Excellency takes his place in the councils of dur beloved King at Home. T!he departure of Lady Raniurly has already left a deep void in the hearts of thousands. So great were the charm of her personality and winning ways that she could not but endear herself to all whose privilege it was to come in contact with her. May I ask you to convey to his Excellency my best wishes for a happy and prosperous voyaJge, with the renewed expression of my regret at being forced to be absent to-morrow ? Wishing the gathering every success.'