HOKITIKA

New Zealand Tablet, 18 October 1906, Page 23

HOKITIKA

(From our own correspondent.)

There was a go.ad attendance of ".members present at . the .Catholic Debasing Socie,ty > s ,- meeting' held on September 25. /Hie. president, .before commencing the business of ,the meeting,' staged .he had a pleasant duty to perform - that evening. ' That "day" the Rev. Father Aubry was celebrating the twenty-fifth anniversary of his A . ordination to the, priesthood,, and the society could not let the occasion pass without, pre-senting-their spiritual director with"- some .slight token of their esteem. He. extended -the .hearty^congratulations of .the- society to- the Rev. Father^ Aubry, -am then called on Mr. ,W. A. Dixpn to make the\ presentation. Mr. Dixon, on behalf of the society, asked Rev. Father Aubry to accept an enlarged photograph of • late Yen. Dean Martin, as a mark" of appreciationfor . the excellent services he had rendered to the so- '. ciety. Messrs. Daly and. Burger., testified., to the good, work done by their" spiritual -director. -Rev. Father Aubry thanked the society 'for "their beautiful present, stating he would treasure it - as- a memento of the. many pleasant days . spent amongst them. l The Catholic Debating Society brought, the session to a close on the evening ,of October 9, with an oratorical competition, held in St. Mary's schoolroom. The president occupied the chair, and/ the Rev. Father % Taylor (Greymouth) Mi\ J. Park, and the Mayor (Mr. Michel) acted as judges. There were four competitors, who with the subject, of their addresses were .—Messrs. M. Daly (' Mr: Michael Davitt '), W. Dixon (' President Diaz, of Mexico '), W. Cutt a nce" (' Oliver Cromwell '), and J. Sellers (' R. J. Soddon'). AHer the speeches, Mr. Park announced theresuit of the competition, first place being' awarded Mr. Sellers, and second to Mr. Daly. All .the speakers, he said, had done remarkably well, and he was quite pleased with their speeches. T/he Mayor congratulated the competitors on their very pleasing .discourses, saying he had "spVnt a very pleasant hour, and concluded by wishing the Debating Society every success in the future. Rev. Father Aubry stated he would, in the course of a 'few* days, be in receipt of the diplomas from the executive of the federation of Catholic Young Men's Societies, for presentation to the successful candidates. He congratulated all the. competitors, and especially the "winner (Mr: Sellers)".