DIOCESE OF AUCKLAND

New Zealand Tablet, 15 July 1909, Page 1104

DIOCESE OF AUCKLAND

(By Telegraph from our own correspondent.) Right Rev. Mgr. O'Reilly is still enjoying his wellearned holiday in Sydney. A most successful social in connection with the Sacred Heart parish was held last week. A meeting, thoroughly representative, in connection "with the forthcoming bazaar at St. Benedict's, was held in yesterday. Great interest and activity are being displayed, and the results should prove ominentfy satisfactory. Last week reference was made" to the delay in starting certain municipal works. During the week the first instalment of a general drainage loan of £100,000 came to hand, and in two months a start will be made with the undertaking, which embraces Auckland and its extensive suburbs and boroughs. Very Rev. Father Keogh, of Wellington, returned last Saturday from Rotorua after his firs^ visit to our wonderland. He was astonished at its peculiar and awesome character, and expressed the opinion that no idea can be gained of it from reading or hearing about Rotorua — ' you must see it,' he said. Father Keogh preached a charitj T sermon at the Cathedral in aid of the St. Vincent de Paul Society. His Lordship the Bishop, accompanied by the Right Rev. Mgr. Gillan, yesterday viewed a site in St. Benedict's parish which, it was thought, would be a desirable place for a school, and which it was proposed to purchase. Tn the Mount Eden district a property has already been secured for church purposes. The Bishop is keenly alive to both the present and future needs of Church in our growing city. The monthly social, under the auspices of St. Benedict's Old Boys' Club, wa3 held on last Friday evening m St. Benedict's Hall, which was croAvded. The social proved a magnificent success. A billiard tournament commences to-night at the club rooms. On August 10 a dinner w'll be held to commemorate the anniversary of the opening of the Marist Brothers' Old Boys' Club. Rev. Father Holbrook, at the Cathedral last evening, delivered a discourse on cremation, which attracted the attention of the Auckland Star, which devoted over half a column to it. The rev. preacher showed the reasons wh,"» cremation was a practice which the Church condemns. The arguments put forth by the advocates of cremation were interestingly treated, and the large congregation listened with keen attention to it. A pleasing testimony to the popularity of Father Carran, of St. Francis' Church, was to be found in the largo gathering at the Oddfellows' Hall last night (says the Thames Star of July 3), when a valedictory social was accorded him. The programme opened with a pianoforte duet by Miss Dunbar and Mrs. Mullins. This was followed by vocal items by Misses Mountain, McPike (2), and Messrs. Rickit and Armstrong. Master Cooney delivered a recitation, and Mr. Chapman delighted the audience with a recitation and ventriloquial items. Mr. T. E. Mullins then briefly stated the object •of the meeting — viz., to. bid farewell to the Rev. Father Carran, and as a slight token of this appreciation and the general esteem in which he" was held he asked him to accept a purse of sovereigns, and with it the heartiest wishes of his people that he might be long spared to continue the good work he had so nobly begun. Father Carran suitably replied, stating that when he was first informed of his appointment under the Right Rev. Mgr. O'Reilly and -among his own folk, he was more than gratified. A few evenings previous, at St. Francis' Church, Mr. Ed. Whittaker presented Father Carran with a handsome travelling bag prior to his departure from Thames. The choir was present in full muster, and general regret was expressed at Father Carran's contemplated departure. Mr. Whittaker,

in making the presentation, wished him, on behalf of the choir, who subscribed to the gift, a successful career. The recipient suitably responded, and said that he would always reservo a warm place in his heart for Thames.