A PASTORAL VISIT

New Zealand Tablet, 19 May 1910, Page 771

A PASTORAL VISIT

HIS LORDSHIP BISHOP GRIMES IN WESTLAND

Considerable space is devoted by the Hokitika Guardian of May 5 (writes our Christchurch correspondent) to an account of the visitation of the South Westland portion of the diocese by his Lordship Bishop Grimes. As previously stated (says the Guardian) his Lordship Bishop Grimes, accompanied by Rev. Father Hyland, left Hokitika in the steamer Jane Douglas on Wednesday, April 20. The journey down was a very pleasant one, and after going on with the steamer to Jackson's Bay and staying a night at anchor at Open Bay Island, the settlement of Okuru was reached on Friday, April 22. Here a stay was made till the following Monday morning. The whole of the residents of the settlement turned out in full force to welcome the visitors, who were the guests of Mr. J. Cuttance at his homestead' and their reception there was of a most hospitable nature. The settlers of the district for twenty miles -around came in to attend the services that were held during the visit. The schoolroom was found too small for the services, and the public hall which had been tastefully decorated for the occasion was then utilised. On Sunday morning Mass was celebrated, and afterwards nineteen candidates received the Sacrament of Confirmation. The Bishop referred in special terms to the good work among the children by Mr. A. J. Saville, who was giving them a splendid education. The weather during the stay was perfect, with one slight exception, a little light rain falling one morning. Thanks to the kindness of the owner, Mr. Molloy, and Captain Vendore, of the Jane Douglas, who went to a considerable amount ? trouble to make the journey as enjoyable as possible, his .Lordship and Father Hyland were enabled to again join the steamer at Okuru and journey to Bruce Bay, thereby savins a long, wearisome horseback ride from Okuru to Bruce Bay health™ & trying journey to those in the strongest of xi. On arrival at Bruce Bay on Monday night, April 25 the settlers were present in full force to meet his Lordship' In landing by means of the surf boat, at the landing place Mr T. Condon drove into the surf right up to the surf boat, and the visitors were enabled to get into the conveyance without even getting their feet wet. They were then driven out to Mr T. Condon's homestead at Mahitahi a stay being made there until the following Wednesday! Instruction to the children was given by Rev. Father Hyland until Wednesday morning. Services were held each fiXJI a™ Wedlesda corning ten candidates were conS2X a a n apea i Was also made on behalf of the Cathedral tuna, and it was very generously responded to a Bimil On W 1 & k i iru - l a t° bein S like ™ 6 well received. Mr On Wednesday, April 27, at 10.30 a.m., the visitors left Mr. Condon's comfortable homestead at Mahitahi, the owner accompanying the visitors as far as Bruce Bay A short y eno a f "I 6 f&'fe J " whwi dS was pa'rtaken of. In the afternoon the partv left for Weheka a distance of 31 miles, a stiff day's ride The travelling c was frdfr %£2L$? e fair + y l 0W ' and the track w^sin g good order, while perfect weather prevailed. The journey was broken with a short stay at Mr. A. 0. Scott's homestead Wstead hlP wTth SUrprise ? to , find buSi apSSJt Si«« £ i ■ x ? .l-Preserved plantation of virgin ftlnn lock tha *l&s> and were met there by Rev L^&gS^ r t d a = 3sr,*£* 4v£ was made at Weheka from the Tuesday St until tK sible attention at Mr. and Mrs. Williams's hands PS sible atte n t lo n at Mr. and Mrs. Williams's hands * P lowestin%heVor V r t A a b S .^ + a -ti t 0 Gla ? e? one of bacl a mlnilo eautlful 7 ie * was obtained, and on Enty P The next" mS„^' ng * sight of storing in full force to wekome h» f otShS™ °a ? e di ? trict came and receive the Sacraments andfc &nd }-° A assist at Ma «« firmed. sacraments, and five candidates were conMessrs 1 . Sn r fe aia r wi?l?» m ?!,,; i^ orS Wr omi)anied h * reaching jfr. DlileS ' was SXTaSeS -caption morning Mass wascefebSted and 1 ffl™' 0n Saturday Sacraments. Shortk'after fw l f + Um r 6r a PP roa ched the Father O'Connor haSn?fl,»riL y t H ? atric k's, Rev. and buggy. The tor Sal Z ° f * Pair *? f sturdy'horses The crleks on this part of th 7? P ° Ur contlmied unabated, uu img part of tne journey were found to be

running high in flood. Especially was this found to be gLS-K *1 McDonald'si where the buggy was bodily and w/ ™?r f °^ 6 ° f tl?e cl,rrent ' , Rot father O’Connor and nis pair, however, were equal to the task nnrl +i lo party crossed safely. Mr. F. Heveldt’s at The Forks was leached in good time. A stay was made here for a couple of hours awaiting information as to the condition of the 37cloc°k Mr HeVeldt h ae eventually left The Forks Lout little difficult; W«- accompanying as pilot. With some Rn+L’o £ ty the Waitangi river was crossed, and Mr J Butler s + homestead T as reached shortly after 4 o’clock’ the to eher There 8 Stage was r 6 worst experienced during .lour. mere .was a continuous heavy rain accompanied by some of the most vivid lightning and heavv thunder ever experienced by the visitors. Le crash of thunder in particular was exceptionally severe and was the cause of much comment by the settlers. at which tba I l°, l l l , Ullg . and evening devotions were held FatW LllnJ settlers in the vicinity assisted. Rev. lather Hyland was busily engaged in P reparin g the candiuates tor next; day s solemnities. On Sunday mornimr his K ?hip v, de f icated t]lie new church recently erected at Waitangi, about a mile distant from Mr. Butler’s homestead fnrtl Slt mr te -’ and surrounded by the beautiful virgin forest. The incessant rain of the previous day still continued, and the rivers being in heavy flood some of +h« vice 6 dl Thi settlers could not get in to the morning Service. There as in spite of this a very good attendance and four candidates were confirmed. After the last Mass Tnr^v' 68 ' ° f r^ 01 il e Was P rese «ted by the settlers to his Lordship in which they expressed their great pleasure at his presence once more in the district, and their hope that at an early date his Cathedral would be free of debt and ready for consecratmn. They likened his Lordship to the Apostle of the Gentiles, who braved the perils of sea and land to dispense the consolations of Holy Faith to the members of his flock scattered in the remote districts of the diocese. The ,- settlers who were prevented by the floods from putting in an appearance at the morning services managed to get in during the afternoon owing to the rivers subsidmg a little, and they ' assisted in the devotions that night. On the Monday morning after Mass, Confirmation was again administered to those who were prevented from attending on the previous day. ... After Mass on Monday morning, May 2, the northward journey was continued The travellers “had a fairly good trip. , The rivers, including the Little Wanganui, were somewhat highland there were a number of minor washouts caused by the floods. On the way the ravages of the storm of a month ago were very noticeable in some places large areas of bush being wholly uprooted by the force of the wind. Mr. J Adamson’s comfortable homestead at Han Han was reached in good time and a stay was here made, every possible comfort and attention being given 0n Tuesday morning considerable doubt was felt as to the possibility of crossing the Big Wanganui river, and had it not been for the assistance received at the : hands of Messrs. J. Diednch and H. Hende they would not have been able to have crossed the river so soon. Mr. Diedrich and Father U Connor took the conveyance over and H. Hende ferried the Bishop, and Father Hyland across by boat. The onward journey was then continued, a stoppage being made at Mr.. Urquhart s for lunch, a considerable improvement being noticeable here since the last visit. The party then pushed on, and though the Mikonui river was in flood, Ross was safely reached that (Tuesday) night at 6 o’clock, after a very trying day. General Impressions.

Commenting on the visit generally, his Lordship expressed his great satisfaction, which had proved very consohng to him, to find the intelligent way in which the candidates for Confirmation had answered the various questions put to them. He recognised that this was largely due to the care and attention of the Sunday school teachers and the settlers, and' the organisation of the catechism classes by the priest in charge of the extensive district which was by far the largest in the whole diocese. The teachers deserved every praise for their devotedness ,and the careful manner in which they : attended to their good work. He had been deeply impressed (his Lordship continued) with the loyalty of the settlers to their faith, and they showed they deeply appreciated that treasure which had been handed down to them. Describing the scenery of South Westland, his Lordship referred to it as incomparable in beauty. He had been all over the world, but he had rarely seen anything to equal those vast forests’, the snow-capped mountains, and the picturesque lakes which are' to be seen on all sides in the southern district. Among the many improvements noticeable since his visit nine years ago there was nothing, continued his Lordship, that had proved such an immense boon to the settlers as the extension of the telephone to Okuru. The value of this convenience could hardly be estimated, and in many ways it was daily proving its great value. Personally, he would never have been able to have gone through the district with . such despatch but for the telephone, which was invaluable to travellers in obtaining information as to the state of the rivers on their difficult journey. The people of the whole district highly appreciate the convenience. Since his last visit he had found many of the roads much improved. There were still a great number of requirements needed by the sturdy settlers of South Westland, who deserved

every encouragement from the Government, One boon would be the widening of the track from Waiho to Cook’s River, into a dray road to enable goods to be carted in, and cattle and produce to be taken to market easier. 'At present the settlers experienced a considerable amount of hardship from the want of proper road access, but if the road were widened it would considerably lessen the difficulties they were under at present. When the Big Wanganui and Waiho rivers, were bridged, and access generally was improved. South Westland would become a famous tourist resort, for its numberless beauty spots were unequalled anywhere. His Lordship stated he had experienced excellent health during his journey, which had proved a very enjoyable one. Naturally the heavy travelling had somewhat fatigued him, and at the end of a long trying day he was considerably fagged, but that he had expected, especially as he had not been on horseback for some nine years. Tuesday’s journey had been the most trying of the whole trip, and he was extremely glad to reach the haven of Rev. Father O’Connor’s presbytery at Ross. Yesterday morning the Bishop appeared to have quite recovered from the previous day’s exertions, and stated he felt in good form. He expressed his keen appreciation of the hearty hospitality extended to him during his journey by all shades of the community, and it had made his tour a very enjoyable and successful one. Subsequently Bishop Grimes referred to Rev. Father Hyland, He was loud in his praise of the valuable assistance rendered to him by Rev. Father Hyland, who was brought from Canterbury for the purpose of accompanying his Lordship on his southern trip. Rev, Father Hyland knew the district thoroughly, and was highly and deservedly esteemed by the people. During the south journey Father Hyland had given every spare moment he had to instructing the people, more especially the children, who can only receive visits from their pastor, Rev. Father O’Connor, of Ross, at rare intervals during the year.