DIOCESE OF CHRISTCHURCH

New Zealand Tablet, 10 December 1908, Page 14

DIOCESE OF CHRISTCHURCH

(From our own correspondent.)

December 7. His Lordship the Bishop leaves for Timaru to-day (Monday), where he is to consecrate a new altar in the fine chapel of the Sisters of the Sacred Heart, and preside at the convent school prize distribution. Of fourteen pupils of the Marist Brothers' School presented at the examination held on November 23 by the North Canterbury Board of Education examiner, eleven obtained certificates of proficiency and one of competency in Standard VI. • At a representative meeting of ladies of the Cathedral parish, over which the Very Key. Father Price, Adm., presided, it was "notified, that His Majesty's Theatre had

been secured for the projected carnival. The arranging of seven stalls was decided upon, including the tea and refreshment rooms. Mrs. T. Cahill and €he Misses "White are to have control of the latter. The remaining six stalls were allotted as follow : — Mrs. G. Harper^ Misses Wilson and Sloan; (Addington) Misses Brophy and Taskerj Mesdames Devane and Dwyer; Miss Harrington and friends; Mrs. Horan and friends; Miss Bunker and friends. Since his reurn from his recent episcopal visitation of the diocese his Lordship the Bishop has filled engagements on several local public bodies with which he is connected, and was prominent at the send-off to the ship's company of the ' Nimrod ' prior to the departure of that vessel for " the Antarctic regions to get in touch (if possible) with Lieutenant Shackleton and party of brave explorers, who left Lyttelton on last New Year's Day. Later his Lordship, accompanied by the Very Rev. Father Price, was present at Lieutenant Knox's lecture in connection with the Navy League. Owing to another engagement and absence from the city, his Lordship was unable to accept an invitation to the civic welcome tendered this week to Admiral Sir Richard Poore, of the ' Powerful,' now at Lytfelton with other vessels of the Australasian Squadron. Mr. H. St. A. Murray, our young Catholic fellowcitizen and successful athlete, who went to the Home country to participate, as a representative of the Dominion in the Olympic Games in London, returned to Christchurch lasb week. Although not securing first place in his own particular contests Mr. Murray's performances were in other respects meritorious. The members of the Canterbury Centre of the New Zealand Amateur Athletic Association gathered last week to welcome him home again. Mr. C. J. Cooper, vice-president of the Association, presided, and said that it was a very great pleasure to see Mr. Murray back amongst them once again. His conduct throughout the tour had been a pleasure to them all, and his performance in the hurdle race, against the pick of the world's athletes, was one of which they were all proud. His work at the Olympic Games had been watched with great interest, and his successes in other portions of Great Britain were of a meritorious character. On rising to respond, the guest was loudly applauded. He said that it was a great pleasure to be among all his friends once more, and thanked them for their kind reception. He had seen a great deal and had learnt a great deal. The meeting had been the greatest of its kind ever held, and though there had been quarrels between the English and American athletes, there was no doubt that many troubles had been magnified, and that there were equal faults on both sides. It would be a very bad thing for sport if Britain and America were to split on these questions, and he hoped that any bad feeling would be buried. The Americans were a fine body of men. The hospitality that had been extended to the teams had been great, and the 3000 competitors had behaved excellently.