DIOCESE OF AUCKLAND

New Zealand Tablet, 3 July 1913, Page 36

DIOCESE OF AUCKLAND

- (By telegraph, from our own correspondent.)" ;;-::" _ June 30. • ; A new branch of the Hibernian Society was opened yesterday at Huntly. Rev. Father Cahili and a band of willing workers have been for some time engaged in arranging matters, and when : the time was ripe an invitation was sent to the District Officers to visit Huntly, and Bros. Flynn, Martin, and Sheahan, the district president, vice-president, and treasurer respectively, and Bro. Little, P.D.P., motored the whole one hundred and thirty miles on Sunday to open the new branch. Rev. Father Edge, of Ponsonby, said the last Mass, and exhorted all eligible young men to join the new branch. In the afternoon Rev. Fathers Cahili and Edge, the district officers, and a large number of men assembled in the anteroom of the public hall. The district president addressed the assemblage and twenty candidates presented themselves for initiation. The district president, assisted by Bro. Little, performed the ceremony. The following officers were elected: President, Bro. M. G. Darby; vice-president, Bro. T. McGill; secretary, Bro. T. Molloy; treasurer, Bro. T. J. Farrell; warden, Bro. M. McLeod; guardian, Bro. T. Edge; sick visitors, Bros. W. Ryan and V. Dean; trustees, Rev. Father Cahili and Bros. J. Mohan and J. Robertson. The president assumed control, and conducted the first meeting. The branch will be known as St. Anthony's. The district president briefly congratulated the members, and stated that a finer body of men would be hard to find. He was of opinion the branch would prove to be amongst the most progressive in the district. Bro. Little also congratulated the members. Rev. Father Cahili expressed his keen delight at having a branch of the Hibernian Society in the parish. He intended to have members drawn from Taupiri, and Ngaruawahia. The branch would prove its worth, and would repay the officers for their long journey to open it. The district officers were known personally to him for many years, and their association with any undertaking was sufficient to recommend it to priests and people. Rev. Father Edge spoke in eulogistic terms of the Hibernian Society. He was* not an Irishman, but came from Lancashire, the most Catholic county in England. It afforded him great pleasure to be with them in spreading the work of the Hibernian Society. He knew those who guided the destinies of. the society, and they were amongst the most honored citizens of Auckland. President Darby and Father Cahili thanked the district officers for their visit, and the district president responded. The branch is to meet every alternate Monday. .The district officers, on leaving for Auckland, were accorded a most enthusiastic send-off. "~"~-- A well-attended and enthusiastic reunion of members of the Auckland Young Ireland Society, and their friends was held at Tiffin's on Saturday night to celebrate the sixty-seventh anniversary of the birth of Charles Stewart Parnell. There was a large attendance, and after the toast of the 'King' had been honored, Mr. J. J. Sullivan (president of the society), who was in the chair, proposed the toast of the evening, 'Charles Stewart Parnell.' Mr. Sullivan outlined Parnell's political history from his entry into Parliament in 1870, to his early death in 1891.' The name of Parnell, he said, was held in esteem by all classes in Ireland, and by Irishmen in every part of the globe. In Parnell's character were combined sterling patriotism and unswerving fidelity to the land of his fathers, and he strove with all his power to secure justice for her. Fighting against the strongest opposition, he raised the Irish question from merely an academic one to the principal plank of the Liberal platform, and when he died, he left Home Rule within measurable distance of realisation. Parnell gave all he had to Ireland, and his name would ever hold an honorable place in. the history of the struggle for Irish freedom. Mr. J. R. Lundon supported Mr. Sullivan's remarks. The other toasts honored were ' The Irish Parliamentary Party ' ('Messrs. G. O'Dwver and F. A. Dean), 'lreland, a Nation' ('Messrs. G. Hanson and J. Mason), 'Friends of Ireland.' 'The Parliament of New Zealand.' 'Exiles of Erin,' ' The land we live in,' ' The future of Ireland.'

and 'The Young Ireland Society ' (Messrs. Harle, J. T. Sullivan, and B. A. Good). A number of songs and recitations were given. . The gathering broke up i.with the singing of ' God save Ireland.' In the course of the evening a vote of thanks was passed to Mr. G. Higgins for a gift to the society of a fine portrait of Parnell. . The Marist Brothers, after twenty-six years in Pitt street, removed to Ponsonby about two or three months ago. The authorities realising "that the old ; Pitt Street School had done good service, and was now altogether unfit for scholastic purposes, decided that a new school for Catholic boys was necessary. A fine site, 120 ft x 300 ft, was secured in Vermont street, Ponsonby, and on this block stands a magnificent brick building which is a credit to Catholics. The school is divided into six class rooms, 25ft square, and a central hall, 80ft x 25ft. All is well lighted and ventilated. The foundation stone was laid by his Lordship Bishop Cleary on October 13, and on February 9 it was formally opened, under the patronage of St. Columba. During the first week after opening the number of boys on the roll totalled over 200, which number has since been steadily increasing. The first important ceremony held in the school was the celebration of Mass by Rev. Father Finn last Friday, when the edifying spectacle of 220 boys receiving Holy Communion in their own school was witnessed. Among these were six boys who had the privilege of receiving Communion for the first time. The choir boys, under the direction of Brother Henrick, sang hymns appropriate to the occasion, and Miss J. Rist presided at the organ. After Mass the boys partook of breakfast, which was kindly provided by the ladies of the Sacred Heart parish. It was Mr. Patrick Gleeson, not Mr. F. Gleeson, as inadvertently stated, who gave the donation of £IOOO to the building fund of St. Mary's Orphanage. Ohinemuri (From our own correspondent.) June 27. The lectures, which were to be delivered by hid Lordship. Bishop Cleary at Paeroa and other parts of the goldfields district, on the Bible-in-Schools question, have been indefinately postponed owing to his Lordship's indisposition. As his Lordship is now improving in health, it is expected that in a very short time he will -be'able To complete his engagements. The petitions now being circulated were signed by a very large number of Catholics at Karangahake, after the 9 o'clock Mass on Sunday, and also after the evening devotions, Messrs. Poland and Fallon being in charge of the list. After the 11 o'clock Mass at Paeroa on the same day, the ladies only signed, the following Sunday being reserved for the men. In this instance Messrs. Crosby and Quaine, secretary and treasurer respectively, of the Catholic Federation at Paeroa, had charge of the list. Great credit is due to the Ven. Archdeacon Hackett, who has spared no efforts in bringing Catholics, who were inclined to be lukewarm on questions where their Church is concerned, into line with their co-religionists. Mr. George Crosby, an old resident of Paeroa, who is leaving the district on account of ill health, was entertained at a smoke concert in the Paeroa Hotel on. Friday evening. Mr. Crosby was the recipient of a very handsome travelling rug, the gift of the residents of the township. The meeting was presided over by Mr. Porritt, who proposed the toast of The Kirg,' after which the guest of the evening was duly honored. Amongst those present was the Ven. Archdeacon Hackett, who spoke of the many acts of kindness which he had received from Mr. Crosby, who had taken an active part in all movements having for their object the well-being of the district. His departure from the district would be much felt. Several influential townspeople spoke in glowing terms of Mr. Crosby's untiring zeal in the advancement of educational and other local matters, with which he had identified himself, and expressed a hope that he would be back again amongst them, completely restored to health. The speeches were interspersed with recitations and musical items, and the singing of ' Auld lang syne 'brought a most enjoyable evening' to a close.