Pahiatua

New Zealand Tablet, Volume XXXII, Issue 33, 18 August 1904, Page 5

Pahiatua

The Rev. Father Dufrf' experienced a pleasant sufl* prise at the conclusion of Mass on Sunday, August 7 (says the 'Pahiatua Herald'), when Messrs, T., Quirk, Sullivan, and Lundon, on behalf of tho parishioners, presented the rev. gentleman with a well-filled purse of sovereigns to enable him to take a holiday attar his long and severe illness. They also gave him a souvenir of the event in the shape of a gold mounted greenstone shamrock pendant.

In making the presentation Mr. Quirk apologised for the absence of the Rev. Father McKenna, who was to say that the presentation had his entire sympathy, no one being better pleased than hinnself that Father Duffy had recovered. Mr. Quirk assured Father Duffy that though he was a comparative stranger in the district he was very popular amongst his people, who had thus* given tangible expression of their sympathy, the presentation having been subscribed without any effort by the collectors, from Eketahuna to Waipawa. In conclusion he hoped that Father Duffy would have an enjoyable holiday, and be spared many years to mmisrter amongst the people in this parish.

Father Duffy, in replying, said he thanked the parisih-» ioncrs from the bottom of his heart, for their spontaneous and handsome gift. He did not merit it, and on that account he appreciated their generosity all tho more. He liked tho parish since his first coming into it, due largely to the fact of the harmonious relations) existing between the parish priest, ' Father Tom,' and himself. He hoped these relations would long continue, and that, with health restored, he would spend many happy days amongst them. He took the present opportunity of thanking the collectors, and also those who had been Und to him during his illness, particularly Drs. Dawson, of Pahiatua and Woodville, arid Cahill, Wellington, but for whose skill and attention he might not have been alive that day.