Napier

New Zealand Tablet, Volume XXXVI, Issue 21, 28 May 1908, Page 30

Napier

(From our own correspondent:)

May 17. A meeting of the men of the parish was held last Sunday night"- in reference to the paying off of the balance of the cost, over and .above the amount already in hand, .for the rebuilding of the Marist Brothers' School. Collectors were appointed for the various districts of the town. The toundation stone of the new school was laid yesterday morning, the members of the building committee being present. Rev. Father G-oggan performed the ceremony of blessing .the stone, under which were placed coins of the realm, and copies of the daily, papers and ' N.Z. Tablet.' Mr. P. Gleeson placed a cheque for £50 on the stone for the building fund. The building is to be out of tlie contractors' hands by July 15. • Mr. and Mrs. Daniel O'Rourke, prior to leaving Napier for their new home in Pahiatua, were entertainedat a social gathering by their numerous friends. Rev. Father O'Connor spoke of the- great assistance Mr. and Mrs." O'Rourke had given to -the Catholic Church during their residence here, and the regret Iclt at their departure. Rev. Father O'Connor, on behalf of those present, handed Mr. O'Rourke a handsome travelling rug, and" Mrs. O'Rourke a silver cake basket and butter dish. Mr. O'Rourke thanked all for their great kindness. Mr. O'Rourke was also the recipient of a solid silver tea service from the members of the legal profession. Mr. F. Logan (President of the Hawke's Bay Law Society), in making the presentation, referred to the regret felt by the Bar at the departure of Mr. O'Rourke from Napier, but was pleased at his promotion to the position of Clerk of the Court at Pahiatua. The presentation was inscribed : 'Presented to D. O'Rourke, Esq. by the legal profession on his leaving Napier, May 13, "1908.' * In a detailed account of a successful meeting of Glasgow Nationalists, pleasing reference is made by a Belfast newspaper to a speech by Mr. James Gleeson, son of Mr. P. Gleeson, of this town, and late secretary of the Catholic Club, and who left Napier last year as financial manager of the New Zealand Professional Football Team to tour England. Mr. Gleeson was introduced to the Glasgow audience of 3000 by Mr. Joseph Devlin, M.P. The newspaper, after referring to the reception accorded the 'New Zealander, goes on to say : — The reason was pleasant and creditable to that bond of nationality which prompted the audience to accord the splendid type of manhood before them a reception of which any man might well feel proud. They welcomed Mr. Gleeson as a son of an exile of Erin, and they received him as a living proof of the pathos of the story which tells of the millions who have to fly to all corners of the earth from the cradle land of the race. Mr. Gleeson proved himself to be very much more than a visitor, for in a few minutes he had the ear of his audience and disclosed himself to be a ready platform speaker with a singularly pleasing style. To a delighted gathering the New Zealander told of the love for the Old Land in his antipodean country, and declared in passionate tones that, large as had been the response to the mission of Messrs. Devlin and Donovan., it would be extended should the necessity arise. In years to come Mr. Gleeson will make a big name for himself, but in the dizziest heights of that success he may ' well look back with pride and pleasure to the reception given him— at that meeting on March 17, 1908. Writing on March 27, a London correspondent says : — ' Mr. Gleeson has been" approached s by several leading members of the Irish Party to stand for a seat in the House of Commons at the next election, or earlier if circumstances would permit. Mr. Gleeson will return to New Zealand in about two months, but will return to England in 1909.'