Diocesan News

New Zealand Tablet, Volume XXXVII, Issue 14, 8 April 1909, Page 534

Diocesan News

ARCHDIOCESE OF WELLINGTON

(From Our OAvn Correspondent.)

April 2,

Mr. D.-McMurrich, _a member of St. Mary of the Angels' congregation, and chief engineer in the Wellington branch of the "Union Steam Ship Co., will take the position of superintending engineer at the head office in Duuedin. His many friends congratulate him heartily on his promotion. A special general meeting of members of the Wellington Catholic Club Avas held in St. Patrick's Hall, Boulcott street, last night (Friday); to devise Avays and means for farthering the erection of a neAV Catholic hall and club rooms. A canvassing committee Avas elected to wait on members, and ascertain from them how much they would contribute monthly. There is every prospect of a large amount being collected shortly. Tho quarterly meeting of the city branch of the , H.A.C.B. Society Avas held in St. Patrick's Hall on Monday evening, March 29. Bro. E. F. Reichel presided. [Notwithstanding the boisterous weather there Avas a large attendance of members. Four neAV members were initiated and two candidates proposed. The triennial movable jneeting of the District Board takes place in Wellington next year, when it is anticipated a large gathering of delegates from all over the Dominion AA'ill be present. The question of entertaining these delegates Avas discussed. It is now over sixteen years since the District Meeting was held in Wellington. On Tuesday night, afc St. Thomas' Hail, the St. Anne's Catholic Club minstrel troupe gave their first public performance, the proceeds from which are to aid the funds of the bazaar Avhich AA'ill be held in the Skating Rink at Easter. There AA'as a large and appreciative audience. In the first part of the programme the following contributed items : — Messrs. J. Bradley, E. J. Foote, G. Foote, O. McErlean, S. Parkinson, and E. Reade. In the second part Messrs. D. Kenny, H. P. Clarke, Joll, E. Reade, and C. Webb with songs, and Mr. V. Raymond with his clever conjuring tricks met AA'ith great favor from the audience. The entertainment concluded with a farce, ' The Same One,' which was given by members of the Wellington Catholic Club dramatic club, Messrs. F-. Eller, F. Hickmott, J. Quinn, T. Tiller, and J. Webb. Messrs. E. Reade and J. J. Butler acted- as stage manager and hon. secretary respectively. It is Avifch sincere /egret that I record the death of Mr. Joseph Veara Cordoza, of Wellington, at the age of 66 years. For many years he kept a fruiterer's shop on Lambton Quay. A Spaniard by birth, he came to New Zealand in the early sixties, and settled at first in Wanganui. The death of Mr. Cordoza recalls the sensational Maungatapu (locally called Mokotap) murders by the Sullivan, Burgess, Levy gang, Avhich took place in 1865-6. Mr. Cordoza is said to have been the last man to pass along the road- to the Ahura in the Nelson district, a few miles out of Grey mouth before the murders AA r ere committed. He AA'as arrested on suspicion of being connected Avith the higliAvaymen, and Avas submitted to a private examination before he AA'as released. The funeral took place on March 27, the remains being interred in the Petone Catholic Cemetery. The Rev. Father Maples officiated at the graveside. — R.I. P. At Levin on March 23 there died an old pioneer, Mr. James •Darragh, in his 76th year. Born at Liverpool and educated at Manchester, he, Avhen quite a young man, came out to Australia in 1850. He spent some years on the Ballarat gold diggings, being amongst the first on the field Avhen the licenses Avere issued in September, 1851. Mr. Darragh had ..experience of the riots and the hostility between the miners and the Government, -which culminated in the siege of the Eureka Stockade, in 1854. He then went to Sydney, and in 1859 left for Dlmedin, arriving there at a time Avhen it was mainly native bush and flax swamp. As one of the very early settlers the deceased saw Dunedin grow to its present proportions. He AA r as attended in his illness by Rev. Father Cognet, and died fortified by the rites of Holy Church. Mr. Darragh leaves a groAvn-tip family to mourn their loss. — R.I. P. A very successful sports' meeting took place on the Basin Reserve, Wellington, on Saturday, March 27, Arhen the Wellington Catholic Club and H.A.C.B. Society held their annual gathering, there being over a thousand per-

sons present; " Whatever profit is made will go towards the new club rooms fund. A feature of the meeting was the efforts of W. Woodger, who won thd 100 yds and 220yd8 races at the' championship meeting recently held in Dunedin. Messrs. McKay, Wilton; Fitzgerald, and Burge, other cliampions,' competed, only the first-named being successful/ He won the high jump. .The officials worked hard- ,a,nd everything passed off without a hitch. The secretary, Mr. H. McKeowen, deserves great credit for the way the gathering was conducted, the arrangements being most complete. The following is the list of officials: — Referee, Dr. A. K. Newman; track judges, Messrs. E. A. Dawson, W. H. Pollock, W. G. Talbbt, R. W. McVilly; field judges, Messrs. J. Doyle, M. Hogan, T. S. Ronaldson, W. H. Jones; / starter, Mr. T. W. Leslie; marksmen, Messrs. B. A. Giiise, W. Larkin, A. H. Casey, J. Hecnan ; timekeepers, Messrs. W. Tucker, W. F. Ross, L. W. Ludwig, A. Smith; result board, Messrs. J. J. Callaghan, P. J. McGovern, A. W. Travers; clexk of course, Mr. J. W. Callaghan; marshal, Mr. W. Coif ey ; call stewards," Messrs. F. Crewcs and C. Gamble; press steward, Mr. J. JYJcGowan; handicappers, Messrs. J. Hecnan and W. H. Pollock.