DIOCESE OF CHRISTCHURCH

New Zealand Tablet, 26 July 1906, Page 19

DIOCESE OF CHRISTCHURCH

(From our own correspondent.) July 23. The Rev. Father O'Connell was last week at Geraldine on his mission in aid of the Cathedral fund. He is expected back in the city at the end of the week. At Mount Magdala on Sunday, the Feast of St, Mary Magdalen was observed with befitting; solemnity. A Miss a Cantata was celebrated by the Rev. Father G&lerne, S.M., who also preached.. Under the auspices of the Christchurch Catholic Club a social gathering was held at the Alexandra Hall on last Thursday evening. Progressive euchre and atti actions of a varied nature went to make up an enjoyable programme. The secretary, Mr. W. F. Hallins, and members of the Executive Committee, with the assistance of a few energetic ladies, contributed to the success of the event. On the Feast of Our Lady of Mount Carmel in the chapel at the Convent of the Sacred Heart, there was the impressive ceremony of reception of four young ladies in the Congregation 1 of 'Our Lady of Missions. 1 The Very Rev. Vicar-General presided, and others of the clergy present were the Very Rev. Dean Ginaty, Rev. Fathers Hyland, Richards, Hickson, and Galerne. Many of the relatives of the young aspirants were also 'present. The annual meeting of the Cathedral Conference, Society of St. Vincent de Paul, was held on last Wednesday evening at the presbytery, Harbadoes street. It was decided that the annual appeal in the Cathedral in aid of the funds should be on Sunday, August 20, on which occasion a chanty" se-mon is to be preached by a Redemptorist Father, who at the time will be engaged conducting a retreat for the listers of Nazareth. All the retiring officers were re-elected unopposed They areas follow :— President, Bro. E. O'Connor, J.P. 1 -; vice-president, Br 0 . J. McCormick ; hon treasurer, Bro. F. O'Connell ; hon. secretary, Bro. E. Shanly ; wardro'be-keet:er, Bro. F. O'Jonnell. It was decided to establish a library in connection with the conference, and Bro. J. Hen-dron was appointed to the position of librarian. The duties of spiritual director are retained by the Very Rev. Father Le Menant des Chesnais, S.M., V.G., The adjourned half-yearly meeting of St. Patrick's branch of the H.A.C.B. Society was held on July 12, when the officers for the ensuing term were installed by Bro. P. Pearce, P.P., who congratulated the ■branch on its steady progress during the past six month-5 A vote of thanks was accorded the retiring officers, Bros. J. Nelson, T. Pender, E. Will, and P. Tearce. The business slieet for district meeting was dealt with, and the delegate instructed to vote against the moCTon to be brought forward by the Onehunga branch. On Monday, July 16, a special meeting was held' to discuss a number of amendments and additions to rules, which were carried unanimously. During the evening four new members were initiated and one received by clearance, and three candidates we~e nominated for membership. The secretary was instructed to convey the sympathy of the branch to the widow of the late Bro. J. Shannon, of Westport. In honor of the palronal feast day, a general meeting of members of the various conferences of the Society of St. Vincent de Paul, including the Cathedral iwif ° f Ch^ nt > r . A y as * eld at the presbytery on last Thursday evening. About thirty were present. The Ye . r F Re /\ F ather Le Menant des Chesnais, S M V G spiritual director presided, and gave a n impressive " adfnulL2* the special methods which should be ri Zi ', n< i * he v spmt that should animate those who fnvin P 5 w!2£ *° be a - s^? i ated in a work so near to the the Pa^Sfiar 0 n ° Ur •, DlVin 1 c • Saviour - T he president of the Particular Council explained that the meeting, and nSvS^ f a ?im ?^ ar nature ' at stated Thtervals, were PnnirP nl *" ° f the SOCiet *> alld nOW that Conferences were sufficiently organised would be reeuConferee? rv+tSU 0 ' ?" lAnthon^1 Anthon^ (President St. Joseph's i£J? SET* k? ttelto ?) also addressed the meeting. It 7n ,? I dent a"7 mentioned that an effort will be made to arrange a retreat shortly for all members

Among the awards for bravery made -at the annual meeting of the Royal Humane Soc.oty (New Zealand: branch) held last week, appears the following :— ' A certificate to Fhilip Cardon Dwyer (aged fourteen), for rescuing Jane Larragh (aned twelve) and Samuel Darragh (aged three), from drowning at lliccarton Racecourse on December 2b, 1905.' The occurrence in this connection, it may be remembered, was at the Catholic picnic last Boxing Day. Whilst on the subject of brave deeds, another on the part of one of our Catholic boys not yet sixteen years ~of age has been brought under my notice, but which has, so far, not received any public record. Master D. Haughey, engaged in the oflice of a large manufacturing firm, whilst out on a message a few weeks ago, observed a child floating down the Avon. Dismounting from his bicycle and divesting hjmself of his coat only, he wadbd into the \-ater up to his chin and brought the child out safely. His nsk was the greater owing to the fact that there was a deep layer of mud on the rivel bottom at the spot, which made- the rescue all the more difficult It is hoped notice will be taken of the incident in the right quarter. a The convent girls' school (Cathedral), conducted by the bisters of the Missions, was examined on June 22 by Mr E X Mulcan, Inspector under the North Canterbury Board of Ed-wation. In his detailed report the Inspector writes : • The result of the annual visit shows !i ra-&r a -&° 0 ? dca of useful work— the outcome of earnest and faithful effort— has been done in this s-.-hool durinc the year In several directions a creditable state of efnciency has been reached, and some commendable workhas been done in most classes.' Whilst specifyinc certain work he writes: 'It is but fair to add that the imfa\orable conditions under which the work of the school 55 a £ b^ n .f arri&d on duriiiEr the year make it extremely difficult, if not impossible to reach a high level of efficiency This has reference to the interior arrangements of the school buildmg, a matter which is receiving the attention desired by a committee set up for the purpose Another point raised m this connection is one in which ihe parents and not the teachers are lo blame viz irregular attendance.' Whilst a preat percentage in ail standards were promoted, the failures in this connection wee so placed in nearly every case, through absence from the examination. lh standard VI., out of a class comprising 24 pupns U were granted certificates of pro* ficiency and 5 certificates of competency, 13 years and 7 months bemg Irr average a-e of pupils. Whilst'satisfactory was bracketed against most of the compulsory subjects, sin^no; and needlework were stated as 'good ' which was emphasised also in repaid to the order discipline, and tone of the school.