ARCHDIOCESE OF WELLINGTON

New Zealand Tablet, 10 September 1908, Page 13

ARCHDIOCESE OF WELLINGTON

(From Our Own Correspondent.) '.-,_._ „'' . " ■ -- • - ; . September 5. ' - The Rev. Father Creagh, C.SS.R., began ..yesterday a retreat for the -boarder at -the Convent of the -Sisters of Mercy; Hill street. * ' c _ ,^ , 'On Tuesday evening 'next the "Catholics of- the Hutt are to hold a social gathering in aid 'of the schools. . Special- train arrarrgoments have beeft made-;for ther C onvenience of city friends. - , The Rev. father 'O'Cbnnell'/ %M.; has" been conducting a retreat for the students of "St.- Patrick's College: The Rev Father begins next week a retreat Tor the .Sisters of Compassion. - The concert on Monday evening next in aid of the Home of Compassion promises to be as" successful as usual." Mr RobertParker has kindly arranged- a varied and" attractive programme vf high merit. . ' --.-.. - At a meeting of the Catholics of Karori, held a few weeks ago, a committee was set. up to devise ways and means for the • speedy erection of a church for the district. ' Members of the - committee are now busy, with the necessary^arrangements,' * From the tone of the meeting it could be easily gathered" "that the parishioners regard -the erection- -of a church at Karori as an urgent matter, and are determined to do their best in this direction. s - ' It. has been found > necessary for, the -Sisters .of Mercy to' concentrate their efforts on the schools in the city. The business of conducting schools at Petone and the -Hutt has therefore devolved on the Sisters of the Mission-, who will shortly enter on ' their new labors. Their convent will probably be located In Petone. The Sisters of Mercy , have done splendid work at the Hutt and Petone, and their efforts have been heartily appreciated by residents of these localities. Last evening members of the_committee that arranged presentation to the .Very Rev. Father Keogh, S.M., 8.A., met at the college to consider ,the report, submitted by the secretary •and treasurer. Mr. Martin Kennedy presided. It was announced that the total receipts to date came to It was decided to have the many letters of appreciation from men of all classes and creeds throughout „ the Dominion bound and presented to the -Rector. The latest donation with letter of appreciation was one from the Chief. Justice,. Sir Robert- Stout. After votes of thanks had been passed to the secretary and treasurer, Messrs. F. W. Crombie and M. Kennedy respectively, the attendance r.f the Very Rev. Rector -was- requested. Mr. Martin Kennedy, in v an appropriate speech, made Father Keogh. a presentation of a further .instalment of from subscribers. Father Keogh, in a- feeling reply, thanked-«the committee for their great kindness, * ; and expressed his warm appreciation of what. had been done to mark the. occasion of his jubilee.

tFrom an occasional correspondent.)

■••'".-■ - August 31. A large number- of Wellington Catholic Club members paid a return visit to the St. Peter.'suXAnglican) Club rooms on Tuesday evening; when ' -they • were hospitably "entertained by the members. - . - • A very old : identity of the West Coast arfd a respected member of St. Joseph's congregation, Mn'-Malachi Richard Taylor, passed .away, at his residence in "College ~ street,'- Wellington,- on Friday last. Deceased Jleaves a "widow and 'family; of. nine^ for "whom ■ sincere sympathy is felt in their bereavement. R.I. P. . The- annual inter-club, billiard, tournament will commence jn Thursday. Messrs. L. A;«.Frqst.and H^Rees Mil represent the Wellington Catholic Club and- Mr. S. Bryce the Petone Catholic Club.' The tournament-has been won -by.- Mr. George Grimstone (Civil Service Club) for' the^past two years, and Jf he succeeds in winning" it this year the cup- will become his property. - A concert and social "gathering; in~aid of St. Francis' Church fund, were held in the Assembly Hall, Island Bay, on Wednesday evening. There was a large attendance, including the Yen. Archdeacon Devoy and several; of the local clergy. The following, contributed: items :— Miss O'Neill, Messrs. Campbell and Christie, and Masters > Christie, Hayden, Mackay,^ and Sullivan. -: A very enjoyable concert," organised by "the 1 Rev. Father Finnerty, was held at the Victoria Home for Incurables r on Wednesday evening. Mr. W. McLaughlin was conductor," and the fol-

lowing contributed vocal items : — Misses Hamilton and McKay, and Messrs. Harkins and Parkes, and Mr. J. Vitetta gave" a harp solo. A largo cichestra- rendered some splendid selections. The conrert was yre^atly- appreciated by the inmates, .and it is the intention of the organisers to give . another entertainment, during the coming month,- . ... - - >.

(From an Occasional Correspondent.)

, September 5. It is with great" regret that I record the, sudden death of Miss Norah Byrne, who passed away qn Wednesday at Island Bay. The interment took place at the Karori Cemetery. The funeral was attended by a large number of friends. — R.I. P. The Gatholic Club Junior Debating Society discussed • the question of Home Rule for Ireland on Tuesday, when Mr. Leydon took the affirmative and Mr. Hickmott the negate side. The chairman (Mr. Moran) announced the verdict in favor of the negative side. This branch of the club is making great headway under the able direction of Mr. Moran. An oratorio, in honor of the Holy Mass, was given by St. Joseph's choir in Buckle Street Church on Sunday. The music chosen for representation was Gounod's Messe Solennelle (St. Cecilia), the soloists being Miss McKay, Mr. Harkins, and Mr. J. Hines. Rev. Father Finnerty preached an impressive and instructive sermon on ' The Sacrifice of the Mass.' A collection was taken up in aid of the organ fund. One of the two semi-final debates in the annual tourney promoted by the Wellington Provincial Literary and Debating Society's Union was decided on Monday night, when the representatives of the Kent Terrace Presbyterian Society met and vanquished the Catholic Club team by the narrow margin of i\ points. There was a very good attendance. Dr. Elliott presided. The subject for debate was as follows : — ' That the interests of Australasia would be better served by Great Britain forming a defensive alliance with the United States than by the present Anglo-Japanese alliance.' Messrs. M. Fjascr, E. C. Jack, and C. S. Falconer represented the Kent Terrace Society, and Messrs. M. O'Kane, L. M. Frost, and R. G. Butcher the Catholic Club. Each speaker was allowed fifteen minutes. In announcing the result of the debate, Mr. F. E. Baume, K.C., M.P., the judge, said that he had had considerable difficulty :n arriving at his decision, as there was really very little to choose between the teams. The debate ,on the whole, gave indication of a good deal of reading on the part of the speakers, ' and had been marked by careful investigation. One element of weakness in the Kent Terrace team was that the programme laid down by the leader had not been fully carried out by his followers. The language used by__the Catholic Club men, on the whole had been superior to that of the other side, but in matter there had been very little indeed to choose between them. Both teams had really shown a considerable amount of merit, in regard not only to matter, but also to method and delivery. The marks he had awarded were as follow : — Kent Terrace Society — Mr. Fraser, 61 ; Mr. Jack, 595 ; Mr. Falconer, 65 ; general arrangement, 16; total, 201 J. Catholic Clvb — Mr. O'Kane,. 53; Mr. Frost, 63 ; Mr. Butcher, 65 ; general arrangement, 18 ; total, 199.