DIOCESE OF AUCKLAND

New Zealand Tablet, Volume XXXII, Issue 16, 21 April 1904, Page 6

DIOCESE OF AUCKLAND

(From our own correspondent.) April 14. Re<v. Father Benedict, 0.P., leaves to-day for Pu^kalaohe, where he will give a mission which he will continue throughout the extensive parish. ReJv. Father O'Carroll, of Kihikihi, has departed for Ireland on a holiday trip, and expects to return in a short while. Rev. Father O'Connor has taken charge of the parish in his absence. • The Pacific Cable Depot is to be erected at Devonport on the eastern side of the Calliope dock This wiil mean the spending of a considerable aum of money in the port of Auckland. The total quarterly customs duties (after ded/ucting refiunds) collected at the port of Auckland ending March 31, 1904, were £187454 7s Bd. For the corresponding quarter of 1903 they were £175,889 19s Id, which shows an increase of £11,564 8s 7d. Refv. Fathers Jos. Zanna and John Jansen arrived from Europe by direct steamer via the south v last Thursday. They helong to the Order of St. Joseph, and will therefore labor m'the Maori Missioji. The former has gone to Dargaville, on the Northern Wairoa, and the latter to Hokianga. Rev. Father O'Gallag>her, of Huntly, leaves for Ireland next Monday via Australia and Suez Canal The Rev. Father ls undertaking the journey for his health, and his numerous friends earnestly hope that he may receive the full benefit of the trip and be speedily restored. There were carried by rail to Rotorua last year 17,000 passengers, from whom £14,000 was received. The year previously 11,000 were borne, and £9,000 received. This is a substantial increase, l and justifies the daily express train which the pessimists assured Sir Joseph Ward would spell disaster. Like his penny post and sixpenny telegrams, his railway policy ' nolds His Lordship the Bishop left for Wellington yesterday and hopes to be back again in about a fortnight's time Rev. Father Kelly, of Chicago, accompanies him as tar as Wellington, where he takes staamerifor Calcutta While in this Colony Father Kelly is stludyn^ our labor laws, which in America are reported to he well-nigh perfect In labor matters in America he is deeply interested Father Kelly was interviewed by a representative of our morning paper, and on Japan and its people, where he had been fox some weeks, he had some interesting items to relate. The Children of Mary confraternity, connected with St Patrick's parish, held a picnic yesterday at Northcote 1 The Rev. Fathers Patterson, Adm , and Holbiook attended. The usual games were indulged in, and in the evening in the hall a musical programme was pone throjugh. The Rev. Father Patterson, and Misses Donovan' E McGuire, L. Thorne, N. Rist, and Mary Shechan contributed vocal items 1 Miss Julia Rist and Miss R Thome accompanied on the piano. Miss Agnes McGmrc gave a \ery spirited recitation The party returned to town at eik'ht o'clock after a most enjoyable day All Souls' Chiirrh at Devonport, under the charge of Father Meagher, which has been iust enlarged and innovated was re-opened last Sunday. His Lordship I)r Lemhiui, the Rigbt Rev Mpr. O'Reilly Rev. Father Kelly (Chicago), Very Rev. Father O'Neill (Mmnn\ and Rev. Fathers MeagJier, Holbrook antt McMillan wer<? .present Re-v. Father Benedict 0P , celebrated Mass, and Monsipior O'Reilly preached a very fine discourse on the Sacrament of the Holy Eucharist. The choir, under I Terr Johaan Wielacrt, rendered in good style Weber's 'Mass in G. The soloists were Madame Wiclaert (soprano), Mrs. Boylaln (alto), Mr^ Walter Whyte (tenor), Mr. R. Mantell (bass). Miss M. Anderson ably presided at the organ. The altar was nicely decorated by the Sisters of Mercy. The Bishop strong-

ly appealed to the congregation to subscribe I berally in order to lessen the debt incurred by the enlargement of their church, an undertaking which was carried out by their good pastor for the honor and glory of God, and for the people's own convenience and comfort After Mass the Bishop, clergy and a number of the laity adjourned to St. Leo's Academy, where an excellent luncheon was provided by the ladies' committee. Father Meagfher warmly welcomed his guests, and said £100 had been received, left the debt now at £100, and before this year was over he fully anticipated that t/he residue of debt would be wiped ofi. A new presbytery would then engage their attention. Mr E. W. Alison, M.H.R., for Waitemata, and Mr. W. J. Napier congratulated Father Meagher upon the excellent results of the work which he had accomplished during the very short period he had labored amongst them. Mr. Napier was of the opinion that in five or six years hence the church would be deemed too small for tin© large congregation. tHs Lordship the Bishop warmly congratulated Father Meagher upon his great labors, and hoped that within twelve months a new presbytery woUld be erected for him.