Diocesan News

New Zealand Tablet, Volume XXXVII, Issue 22, 3 June 1909, Page 853

Diocesan News

ARCHDIOCESE OF WELLINGTON

(From Our Own .Correspondent.) May 29. The Very Rev. .Dean Regnault, S.M., Provincial, has returned to Wellington, after being about three weeks in the Canterbury district. Tenders are invited for the erection of additions to St. Mary's Scholasticate, Meeanee. Mr. J. S. Swan is the architect. The St. Joseph's Christian Doctrine Society held, a progressive euchre party on Wednesday evening in the Geisha tea rooms, the proceeds of which go towards the Sunday school children's prize fund. For the purpose of erecting a convent and private chapel the Sisters of Notre Dame des Missions have purchased a seven-roomed house and section in Britannia street, Petone, which is alongside the present school. The price was £1025. Tenders for the erection of the new buildings will be called for shortly. A debate on ' Compulsory Military Training ' was the programme for the evening at the Palmerston North Catholic Club on Monday night, May 24. Messrs. W. Scanlon and F. Herring spoke for the affirmative, and Messrs. W. McLean and L. Hanlon for the negative. The arguments brought forward on both sides were very good, and the debate was thoroughly enjoyed by those present. On a vote being taken, a tie resulted. Mr. M. J. Kennedy (president) occupied the chair.

The usual fortnightly meeting of the Hibernian Society took place on Monday evening, Bro. E. F. Reichel presiding. Three candidates were proposed and one member initiated. The report of the Delegates Reception Com-

mittee was unanimously adopted. Bro. Joseph Saunders, president of the Dunedin branch, who was passing through Wellington from Wanganui, was present, and addressed the meeting. The officers of^the branch are endeavoring to enrol as many new members as possible this year, and for this purpose are" distributing circulars, setting forth the benefits and the aims of the society, at the church doors. The clergy are ably assisting the officers in this matter by exhorting their respective congregations to join the only Catholic benefit society in New Zealand. A very enjoyable evening was spent on Tuesday, when the Children of Mary, Newtown, assembled in the St. Anne's Convent Schoolroom for the purpose of making a presentation to the Rev. Father Herbert, S.M., late spiritual director to their confraternity, who has been transferred to the Thorndon parish. The schoolroom was artistically decorated, with palms and flowers. A short address from the Children of Mary was read by Miss Maisie Webb, after which the presentation was made by the Rev. Father Herring, S.M. In reply, Father Herbert said that the gift of which he had been made the. recipient would be much appreciated by him as a token of the respect and esteem in which he was held. During the evening the following contributed items: — Misses K. Gallagher, Moya O'Sullivan, Agnes Segrief, Nellie Strickland (songs), and Misses Alma and Una Simon (pianoforte items). Father Herbert also contributed songs, and Rev. Father Macdonald, S.M., violin solos. The committee of St. Mary's Sewing Guild, Te Aro, in their first annual report, say : ' Our society was started on April 10, 1908. We then had no funds and no material. Each member present made an offer to bring material for the following week. Very quickly three machines and some 0 drapery were donated to the society. ' In a short while the library of St. Mary's became a busy little work room. There are now ten active members. The average attendance is six. Last winter was rather severe for us. It was rather difficult to keep up with the many calls made on us last winter. We not only assisted Te Aro parish, but also Thorndon and Newtown. Excellent work has been done during the year. Active members made 239 gax'ments. This is very satisfactory. Ninety-one cases were attended to, and 220 new garments and 42 parcels of secondhand clothing have been sent out, and about 46 parcels of clothing (new and second-hand) have been received. We are able to show a credit balance of £2 15s 6d. We must thank St. Mary's (men's branch of the St. Vincent de Paul SociebyX and the conference of the Sacred Heart (men's branch) for their very helpful donations. The guild meets every Wednesday afternoon at St Mary's presbytery, Boulcott- street. All the ladies of Te Aro are invited to share in this good work. Some may not be able to come "on the Wednesday afternoon" to the meeting room, but yet find it convenient to do some sewing .in their own homes. We shall be grateful for any work done for the society. Others might wish to assist with a donation, and thus become honorary members.' Mr. P. J. O' Regan was admitted by Mr. Justice Chapman on May 24 as a barrister of the Supreme Court. He was complimented by his" Honor on having passed all the examinations prescribed for admission of barristers. Mr. P. J. O'Regan's admission to^ the Bar (says a local paper) is a striking instance of what can be accomplished by perseverance and industry. He was born in Charleston, West Coast, in 1869, but three years later his parents settled in the Inangahua- Valley, • where they have since resided. He had no chance of attending school in those days, an-1 was instructed at home. At the age of fourteen he went to a boarding school,, but left before he was fifteen. Thence he had to fight his own way in the world. He early evinced a liking for journalism, and joined the staff of the Beefton Guardian in 1891. A year later he became editor of the Inangahua Times. At a bye-election he contested the Inangahua seat in 1893 against Sir Robert Stout, being then only twenty-four years of age. He was defeated, but secured election for the same electorate at the general election a few months later. On tile readjustment of the electoral boundaries in 1896, the Inangahua electorate was abolished. Then he stood for Buller, and was elected, but was defeated at the general election in December, 1899. He then determined to take up the study of law, and passed the solicitor's examination in 1903, being admitted to practise in 1905. Since then he has practised in Wellington, and in addition to taking part in many other things managed to find time to pass all examinations prescribed for admission as barrister.