DIOCESE OF CHRISTCHURCH

New Zealand Tablet, Volume 08, 8 October 1908, Page 13

DIOCESE OF CHRISTCHURCH

(From our own correspondent.) October 5. In a private letter Miss Irene Ainsley, the talented vocalist whose concert company is now touring the North Island, states that in many of the towns visited they have had record audiences. An equally satisfactory tour in the South Island is ."onSdcntlv anticipated. The Marist Brothers' Old Boys visited Burnham on Saturday week, and played a drawn game with the Industrial School ' each side scoring 9 points. The visitors assisted the inmates of the school to give an enjoyable entertainment. Mr. J. Donnell ' thanked the masters and boys, and especially , Messrs. Archey , (manager) and Anderson, for the welcome that was accorded the visitors. At the great public meeting on last Wednesday evening to promote the construction of a ship canal, to connect Christchurch with the sea at Sumner, his Worship the' Mayor (Mr. C. AlHson) who pressed, commenced his address by reading the following telegram from his Lordship Bishop Grimes :— « Wish-meeting and patriotic scheme every • success ; canal, methinks, would make Christchurch chief and- wealthiest city in Dominion.' These', sentiments were loudly applauded. In the course of a sermon, recently in the Anglican Cathedral, Bishop Julius, as reported in the local papers, indulged- in some characteristic plain speaking. • There were hundreds (he said) who came to the Cathedral had a prayer-book provided for them joined heartily ,n the hymns and listened a while to the service • and when the plate went round they " went blind." They gave nothing, and never meant to.' He was speaking thus because on the congregation lay the claim for help for the poor and struggling round the diocese, and he implored them to give.

The devotion of the. Forty Hours' Adoration was commenced at St. Joseph's Church, Lyttelton, on Sunday morning last. Both Masses were celebrated by the Rev. Dr. Kennedy, who also preached morning and evening. On Monday and Tuesday Masses are to be celebrated at 6.30 and 9 a.m. . On Monday evening the Rev. Father Hoare, S.M., will preach, and the devotion will terminate after the* last Mass on Tuesday morning.'

At the ordinary meeting of the North Canterbury Board of Education held last week the agitation for religious instruction during school hours received its quietus probably for a considerable time. The Appointments Committee reported .that it had further considered the 1 matters of school" hours and religious instruction in schools, and recommended the adoption of the following regulation, which, embodied the principles laid down in previous resolutions of the boards— ' The ordinary hours of instruction in every district or aided school in the North Canterbury Education District shall in 'all the standard classes be five .hours each day. during five days of each week, but for the preparatory classeif need not exceed four hours ; and the teaching shall oe entirely of a secular character. •No teaching of a religious character shall be given in any school between the time of opening the school in" the forenoon and the- time of closing the school for the day. ' The recommendation was adopted.. . ■ "

Preaching at St. Mary's Church, Manchester street; tit the 11 o'clock Mass on last Sunday week, the ' Very - Rev. Father Regnault, S.M., Provincial, taking as a basis for his discourse the lives and labors of the early missionaries in the Dominion, enlarged in eloquent terms on the excellent work now being- done in compiling the records of these noble men of past days. Th-j reading of these 'Memoirs ' in the pages of the Tablet are (said he) an inspiration, and those responsible for their production are performing a magnificent service ' not alone for the benefit of present-day readers, but for the edification and enlightenment of posterity. It is a work, he continued, that has not been^taken in hard a day too soon, and were it not for the devotion of those ," ow so engaged a vast amount of most valuable and interesting information already collected would have probably been lost for all time. ' .

The Solemn Triduum in honor of the Blessed Sacrament in the Cathedral was commenced on last Friday morning. In the evening there was a good congregation, when the Rev. Father Hyland (Rangiora) preached on the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass, with a fervent exhortation to his hearers to more fully realise the inestimable privilege and duty of assisting thereat. On Saturday evening the Rev. Father Bell, S.M., delivered an instruction in simple but effective terms. The concluding sermon was preached on Sunday evening after Vespers by the Rev. Father Cooney (Lyttelton) to a crowded congregation on the '.Divine Institution of the Blessed "" Sacrament and the Real Presence.' Procession and Benediction of the Blessed Sacrament concluded the beautiful devotion, in which very many participated and approached /the Holy Table. During the afternoon of Sunday especially the 'faithful in numbers attended at Adoration.

Mr. John Coakley and his family, mud? respected Catholic residents of Waiau, who are leaving the district, were the recipients of an address from their co-religionists. They were also entertained at a social farewell gathering in the local hall on last Friday evening. The hall was crowded with people from all parts of the Amuri, and the Rev. W. R. Campbell, of Hanmer, presided. Mr. D. D. Macfarlane, on behalf of his numerous friends in the Amuri district, presented Mr. Coakley witfe an illuminated address, which testified to the esteem in which Mr. Coakley was held during his residence of thirty-three years in the district, and, a massive tea and coffee service and a pair of silver candle-sticks. Eulogistic speeches were made by Messrs. F. S. Northcote and R. A. Chaffey, the Rev. John Watt, and the Rev. Father Richards. Colonel Chaffey, on behalf of the Waiau Hack Racing Club, presented Mr. Coakley with a pair of field-glasses, as a mark~ of appreciation of his services- foe nearly' thirty years as clerk of the scales. ' Miss Coakley was presented by Misses Lyford and Mannion, on behalf of her Amuri -friends, with a silver-backed comb and brush, while Miss Irene Coakley received a very pretty- brooch, Misses D. Creed and E. Procker making the presentation. Miss Coakley -was also the oi a presentation from the Waiau Ladies' Hockey team. Mr. J. Leonard Coakley, .in the unavoidable absence of his father from indisposition, thanked the donors for the presentations made to the family; A programme of music, etc., followed.

The adjourned annual meeting of the Christchurch Catholic Club was held on last Tuesday evening. The Rev. Dr. Kennedy was present, and there was" a 'good attendance of members. The

president (Mr. D. Edmonds, jun.) occupied the chair. ' Ths annual report and balance sheet were presented by the secretary (Mr". J. Ainger), and adopted. 'The auditors in an appended report complimented the secretary on the excellent manner in which the books and accounts of the club had been kept by him. An animated discussion ensued on the prospects of the club. The balance sheet revealed a satisfactory working condition and financial position, the figures showing the total receipts to have been 3s 6d, expenditure 6s nd, cash in hand £13 16s 7d, deficit on profit and loss account £38 2s; assets over liabilities, .£lO3 18s nd. Sir George Clifford retains the position of patron, and the Rev. Dr. Kennedy has been appointed spiritual director. The election of, officers for the ensuing year proved an example of unanimity to such an extent that 'in no single instance was there a contest. The following is the result :— President, Mr. J. R^ Hay ward ; vice-presidents— Messrs. G. Dobbs, E. T. Harper, and T. Adams; treasurer, Mr. W. Hayward, jun. ; secretary, Mr. J. Ainger assistant secretary, Mr. Harold Salmon ; executive committee, Messrs. P. McN*amara, M. O'Reilly, J. McNamara, R. Beveridge, and T. O'Connelll jun. ; trustees, Messrs. J. R. Hayward, A. Mead, and M.' O'Reilly; auditors, Messrs. Eiic Harper and D. Edmonds, jun. ; librarian, Mr. E. O'Connor. On the motion of Mr. G. Dobbs, a bonus was voted to the secretary for past valued services, and on the motion of Mr. J R. Hayward a hearty vote of thanks was accorded to the retiring president, other officers, and members of executive committee.- The retiring president, in acknowledging the compliment, gave some useful hints as to conserving the interests and extending the influence of the club. A proposal in the direction of appointing a house committee was delegated to the incoming committee.