DIOCESE OF AUCKLAND

New Zealand Tablet, 17 July 1913, Page 26

DIOCESE OF AUCKLAND

(By telegraph, from our own correspondent.)

July 14. Kev. Father O'Doherty returned by the Main Trunk express from the south yesterday morning and celebrated the 9 o'clock Mass at the Cathedral. His Lordship the Bishop, who left for the Goldfields district on Monday last to continue his lecturing tour in connection with the Bible-in-Schools movement returned to the city on Saturday evening. ' Rev. Father Carran, who has been in indifferent health for some time past, left for Australia last week During his absence Rev. Father Finn is attending to the parochial work at Ormond, and Rev. Father Golden takes Father Finn's place at Ponsonby. Right Rev. Mgr. Brodie addressed the confraternity at St. Patrick's on Tuesday last, and dwelt on the lessons Catholic men might learn from the life of Daniel O'Connell. The lecture was eminently practical, and was greatly appreciated by the men Miss Myrtle Pritchard, who has been an enthusiastic member of St. Patrick's Cathedral Choir for some years, left last night for Wellington. After the 11 o'clock Mass yesterday, Rev. Father Ormond, on be*- 1 * of the choir, presented her with a solid silver mirror' and expressed his appreciation of the great assistance given by her to the choir. , 4-t, Jo-morrow afternoon the children from the Star of the Sea Orphanage, which was recently destroyed bv fire, will be transferred to 'The Pah,' the- property

lately- acquired by the Sisters of Mercy. • The children will leave Takapuna by, the 2 o'clock train, and will be met on this, side of the water by several members of the Automobile Association, who have kindly volunteered to drive the children to their new home. The Pah' has been thoroughly renovated at a cost of £IOOO. "' " h -' '■' ' " -' ; " Rev. Father Wright's address to the Holy Family Confraternity on the 'Reformation' period, particularly with regard to Mary's reign, and the' unfortunate alliance with Phillip, and its disastrous consequences to the old Faith and England particularly, was most interesting. The review was eminently impartial from a historical standpoint, and the continuance of the subject is eagerly awaited by the members of the confraternity.

■„ ~•;jrt, v Taumarunui (From our own correspondent.) On Thursday evening at the Theatre Royal, a complimentary farewell social was tendered to Miss McGuirk by the residents of Taumarunui, and was largely attended. Miss McGuirk has been here over three years, and during the whole of that time has rendered valuable service in all social and charitable functions. To the Catholic church choir especially she has rendered devoted assistance. The esteem in which she is held by all classes was strikingly shown by the large, gathering present at the valedictory social, and the love, with which she has inspired those who know her best, by the very beautiful presentation made to her from the Catholic choir and congregation. During the evening songs were contributed by Miss McGuirk, Miss Hannan, Mr. Parr, and Mr. Wilkinson. After the supper interval, Rev. Father Williams, in a very appreciative little speech, presented to the guest of the evening a very handsome solid silver toilet set. Father Williams said that Miss McGuirk had always used the gift that God had given her —the gift of a beautiful voice—with the utmost willingness and kindness in every good cause. He also referred to her exceptional knowledge of the theory of ecclesiastical music, and to the help it had been to the choir. It was the wish of all that her departure from Taumarunui would not be for ever, but that she would be soon back among them again. Mr. J. E. Slattery, in replying on behalf of the recipient, s thanked the donors very cordially for their splendid gift, which would always be dearly prized. Miss McGuirk felt, he said, that anything she had done was a labor of love. She was only too glad to be of some service, and she was deeply grateful to her friends for the beautiful present they had made her. The duties of secretaries were ably carried out by Messrs. Irvine and Wilkinson. A choice supper was provided by Miss McGuirk's lady friends, who were assisted in serving it by young ladies among the guests. Many visitors were present from Manunui, Kakahi, and other places, and altogether Miss McGuirk's farewell will be remembered as one of the pleasantest social functions ever held in Taumarunui.