TARANAKI

New Zealand Tablet, Volume XXXIV, Issue 10, 8 March 1906, Page 27

TARANAKI

An esteemed correspondent, who paid a visit recently to Taranaki, sends us the following notes on the religious progress noticeable all through that district : Bright was the appearance of the fast-rising and prosperous town of , Stratford 'on the occasion of the fiisfc visit of his Excellency the Governor. From an early hour in the morning the main streets had been decorated with bunting, strings of flags, evergreens, and tree ferns. The first visit of his Excellency after his official reception by the Mayor and citizens was to the Catholic school. The event is recorded by the ' Stratford Evening Post ' as follows : ' Before leaving, the Governor complimented Father Treacy on the splendid property owned by the' Catholics of Straltford, and the substantial and neat appearance of the church, presbytery, convent, and school —buildings that would reflect credit on> any town in ISfew Zealand. The compliment was well deserved. The Rev. Father has not been more than five years in our midst, and yet a complete transformation has taken place in matters parochial. He has added to the church and convent, erected) (a school, and wiped ofi a large 1 ide)bt, the amount collected by him, without the aid of bazaars or art unions, being over £2000.' The Church shows signs of great progress in every parish in Taranaki. Everywhere we hear of new churches having just Jieen or being in course of erection, and of new schools being opened. In fact, I doubt whether there is a single parish in the archdiocese without its Catholic school. For instance, Feilding can now boast of a pretty convent, a two-storey building, occupied by the Sisters of St. Joseph from Wanganui, who have just opened a school in this prosperous town. Thanks to the zeal- aod devotedness of the Rev. Father O'Meara, the number of pupils is increasing daily. A new school, conducted by the Brigidine Nuns, has also been opened at Pahiatua, whilst the Sisters of the Missions, of the New Plymouth and Stratford convents^ tetfch 1 daily in the newly-erected schools of Inglewood and Eltham, and Very Rev. Father Power, of Hawera, has a very flourishing school at Manaia,, conducted by the Sisters of St. Joseph. Are not these so many proofs of the great value Catholics' set on their) faith, and of the sacrifices they are willing to make in order to transmit it to their children ?