Hokitika

New Zealand Tablet, Volume XXXVII, Issue 7, 18 February 1909, Page 259

Hokitika

(From an Occasional Correspondent.) February 9. The work of transforming the presbytery grounds into a presentable state is now being completed, and they should presently bear a very ornamental appearance. The Rev. Father O'Connell, S.M., has been in Hokitika on two occasions recently, prior to and after the visit of Father O'Reilly. On the first occasion he preached a retreat to the Sisters of Mercy. For the past few weeks the Rev. Father Ainsworth has been absent from the parish, on a visit to Christchurch, where he has attended the annual retreat. His place has been temporarily filled by the Rev. Father O'ReiUy, S.M , of St. Patrick's College, Wellington, who, it may be mentioned, is a native of Westland. Father O'Reilly was enabled during his stay to renew numerous acquaintances and his many friends were very pleased to meet him. ' On Sunday last at Vespers the Rev. Father O'Connell delivered a most instructive sermon on ' Catholic Education.' He treated the question in all its aspects, and put forward a most convincing case for the Catholic schools, referring to the permanent influence for good resulting from the training imparted in them, the duty of . Catholic parents to provide and utilise them, and the injustice of the attitude of those who opposed them. Father O'Connoll also referred in highly eulogistic terms to the series of

articles on 'The Secular Phase of Our Education System,' from the pen of the Rev. Dr. Cleary, which are at present appearing in the Tablet. He hoped they would be read widely by Catholics and others throughout New Zealand, as they could not fail to forward the cause which they advo■cated, being, in his" opinion, . the ablest presentments of the subject that had been advanced in the' Dominion.