DIOCESE OF AUCKLAND

New Zealand Tablet, 5 November 1908, Page 23

DIOCESE OF AUCKLAND

(By Telegraph from our QWirTTorrespondent.) - --. - November 2. A sad sudden death occurred, at the Sacred Heart. Church on Sunday morning, when Mr. D. G. MacDonnell, who" for years has been a prominent figure in Church and business circles in Auckland and Thames, passed, away. He was born in Limerick, educated in Dublin, and studied for the"" law.. He was a cultured gentleman, and.' it was always a pleasure to converse with him. He was a staunch Catholic and a sterling Irishman, and his place will be difficult to fill. His purse was always open to all' good works, and his sterling worth it- would be difficult to appraise. He leaves a widow to mourn her loss. — R.I. P. Rev. Father Tigar, 0.P., who has been in charge of Thames during Monsignor O'Reilly's illness, left on last Saturday for

Gisborne, and will be on the East Coast, including Tolaga Bay, for some time. Before leaving Thames he was accorded a send-off in the Oddfellows' Hall, where a large gathering of parishioners assembled. The Children of Mary presented Father Tigar, through Miss V. Twohill, with a handsome travelling bag ; Mr. John Connolly, on behalf of the young men, gave him •a gold mounted quartz pendant ; and Mrs. David Stewart presen ted him with a box of beautiful- silk handkerchiefs with Father Tigar's initials handsomely worked in the corner of each. Father Tigar thanked those present for their handsome gifts which, liv said, he highly appreciated, and referred to the many kindnesses extended towards him during his stay at Thames, and hoped God's blessings would be bestowed upon them and their district. A fine musical programme was rendered, a plentiful supply of refreshments was liandcd round, and a most pleasant evening was spent. Throughout the week the sale of work in the Ponsonby Hall, in connection with the Sacred Heart parish debt, was carried on with unabated success. When opening the bazaar on last Tuesday the Mayor of Auckland stated that five months ago the debt on the Sacred Heart Chinch was ;£B6o, but owing to the untiring exertions of Father Edge it had been reduced to .£3OO, and- he hoped that at the conclusion of the present bazaar the debt would be extinguished. Very Rev. Dean Gillan, V.G., Right Rev. Mgr. O'Reilly, and Mr. M. Casey also spoke. The' display in si alls was very fine, and those in charge and their numerous attendants were most assiduous in their attentions to numerous patrons. The ladies in charge of stalls are Mesdamcs Ralph, Browne, Simpson, Reid, and Miss Haven. Rev. Father Doyle (secretary) and Mr. C. Reid (treasurer), and Rev. Father Edge wero unremitting in their labors.