Farewell to Very Rev. Dr. Kennedy MEEANEE

New Zealand Tablet, 8 July 1909, Page 22

Farewell to Very Rev. Dr. Kennedy MEEANEE

(From our Napier correspondent.) a * • July 2 - A farewell concert was given to the Very Rev. Dr. Kennedy, S.M., in the Meeanee Mission Schoolroom last Wednesday evening prior to his departure for Wellington^ to take over the rectorship of St. Patrick's College. The esteem in which Dr. Kennedy is held not only by the people of the district, but by all sections of the community, was unmistakably shown by the fact that many of those assembled came from other districts, including a large number from Napier, and several had travelled many miles to be present. Mr. W. J. McGrath occupied the chair, and a capital concert programme was rendered by Mrs. O'Reilly, Misses Rae and O'Reilly, Messrs. Treston and F. O'Shannassey. The accompaniments were played by Misses Scott and O'Shannassey. A liberal supply of refreshments was provided by the ladies of the parish. During the evening Mr. J. V. Brown, M.P. for the district, on behalf of the parishioners and a number of other friends, presented Dr. Kennedy with a purse < f sovereigns, and also an illuminated address on vellum, which was read by Mr. P. T. O'Shannassey. In so doing Mr. Brown said it was with great pleasure that he acceded to the request to make the presentation, for he knew of no one whom he deemed more worthy i;o receive such a presentation; but still greater was his regret that the occasion for such a presentation should be the departure of Dr. Kennedy. He had known Dr. Kennedy for many years, and he supposed many present had known him much longer, but he regarded him as a warm personal friend, and one whose great scientific and educational attainments, combined with the gentleness and kindness of his dispositio-i and the exceedingly broad-minded views which, he held, made his departure a great loss to the community as well as to the people of his. own Church. Few realised the important scientific work carried on for many years by Dr. Kennedy, and it had been a matter of great surprise lo many leading educationists and scientists of the Dominion whom he had taken to Meeanee to see such work carried on by private enterprise. He felt that the valua of this work to Napier could not be estimated in money, and, though it might appear selfish, he was glad to learn that this branch of the work would still be carried on. The Rev. Father McDonnell, pastor at Meeanee, expressed his extreme regret at parting with so esteemed a colleague and so faithful a friend and counsellor as Dr. Kennedy, whose self-sacrificing work was in reality only properly understood by the students of the seminary. The following is the text of the address : 'To the Very Rev. Dr. Kennedy, S.M. Dear Reverend I'ather, — On the eve of your departure we ask you to accept this small token of our esteem and gratitude. Though burdened with your own cares' and labor, you have been ever ready to place your many talents at the disposal of all who approached you. St. Mary's parish especially owes to yoa a debt of gratitude for the interest you have always taken in the services of the Church. While we deeply regret the necessity that obliges you to leave us, we will follow you in spirit to your new sphere of labor, remember you in our prayers, asking the same favor of" you. We have the' honor to be, yours gratefully in Christ — P. Dooney, M. Downing, R. J. Neagle, T. H. Moynihan, M. Curtin, P. O'Reilly, P. T. O'Shannassey; T. O'Reilly (hon. secretary).' Dr. Kennedy, in replying, said he was deeply grateful for the many kindnesses which he had received during his sixteen years' stay at Meeanee, and for the totally unexpected kindness they had shown him that evening. Meeanee had been the "first place to which he had been called in New Zealand, and though he had travelled -in many lands,' in none had his stay been so long and none held such a place in his regard as that held by Meeanee. He was leaving Meeanee and its warm-hearted people with very great regret indeed, and the only thing which in any way lessened that regret was the knowledge that lie was going amongst friends, for most of the teachers at St. Patrick's College had been students of his at Meeanee, and he was proud to say also that their priest, Father McDonnell, w<w also a Meeanee student. He again thanked the speakers for their kind remarks and the parishioners and friends for their splendid present. The Very Rev. Dr. Kennedy, S.M., was presented yesterday by the members of St. Mary's, singing class, Meeanee, with a large and handsomely framed photographic group of the class to mark their appreciation of his interest in their work and the kindly advice and assistance always extended them. ____________________